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Ecologist's study throws light on human rights abuse

Staff Reporter

BHUBANESWAR: Human rights issues were not addressed properly by governments, in the areas of mineral-based industrialisation in Orissa, according to a study conducted by an ecologist, who served the World Bank more than two decades as its environment advisor.

A 138-page report prepared by Robert Goodland put forward that Orissa government should protect it citizens from human rights abuses.

The report has analysed as to how faulty rehabilitation policies have led to tribal outburst against establishment of an alumina refinery by Utkal Alumina Industries Limited (UAIL), which has been struggling to implement the project for the past 14 years.

Mr. Goodland has pointed out that people were not taken into confidence while the refinery project was conceived.

He says people's apprehension against UAIL's project at Kashipur in Rayagada district stemmed from a similar `forced displacement' of people that happened during establishment of Nalco, India's biggest bauxite mine and refinery, in 80s.

Compensation rates

"Unacceptably low compensation rates, exclusion of many impacted communities and substantially under-estimated assets, resulted in conversion of independent and self-reliant small-farmers into paupers now living in slums," Mr. Goodland says in his report. "There is an impasse and a fierce human rights controversy. The use of violence has polarised positions; the impacted adivasis are more determined than ever to resist eviction, to insist on application of the law and to seek reparations," he points out. "The Indian government needs to foster compliance with its laws against buying and selling of adivasi lands to the private sector. The Central Government should urge the Orissa government to comply with national legislation and immediately halt police brutality and further massacres," he says.

Pointing out that all standard market economics depends on transaction of willingness, Mr. Goodland said: "if there is coercion or force, then willingness disappears and standard economics does not apply. Anything involuntary is not ruled by the laws of economics. In the case of UAIL, force is the prevailing underlying theme." The former WB environmentalist coined idea that villagers should receive rent for any of their lands or natural resources that they are willing to let the company use.

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Ecologist's study throws light on human rights abuse

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