The drama being scripted by Tata Steel ?

Chhattisgarh’s most impoverished, militancy-hit, underdeveloped and tribal-dominated district Bastar is all set for a major makeover as Tata group is going to set up its new plant, with an annual manufacturing capacity of five million tones here.

A MOU has been signed between Chhattisgarh Govt. and Tata Steel in June 2005 in this regard to set up a five million ton per annum green field integrated steel plant in two-phases with the help of Rs. 100 billion investment.

The Tata project will cover 10 villages- Badanji, Bade Paroda, Belar, Beliyapal, Chindgaon, Dabpal, Dhura gaon, Kumhali, Sirisaguda and Takraguda- mostly dominated by Gond, Muria and Halba tribes, besides poor families belonging to the Other Backward Castes (OBCs).

The land acquisition for this project by the Govt. is receiving resistance by some locals who are misguided by some politicians and so called social activists.

The committee on State Agrarian Relations and Unfinished Task of Land Reforms said in its draft report , “This open declared war will go down as the biggest land grab ever… the drama being scripted by Tata Steel and Essar Steel who wanted 7 villages or thereabouts, each to mine the richest lode of iron ore available in India.”

 “Villages sitting on tons of iron ore are effectively de-peopled and available for the highest bidder… Both Essar Steel and Tata Steel are willing to take over the empty landscape and manage the mines,” the committee said in its report.

But this draft report does not provide the complete and correct picture of the situation of this region and falsely accused Tata Steel.

In reality on the request of the state government Tata Steel decided to set up its plant in Bastar.  They agreed to go to the Jagdalpur / Bastar area due to the need for development of one of India's most backward areas although it was not the best location - the area does not even have a proper railway connection which is critical for a steel project of the size they have planned.

The Chhattisgarh steel project needs 2063.06 hectares or 5098 acres land in the Lohandiguda block, which falls under the Chitrakote assembly segment in Bastar district, and is located 325 km from state capital Raipur.

Out of total 2063.06 hectares meant for the project, 86.5 percent or 1,784.22 hectares is private land, while 173.03 hectares (8.4 percent) is government land. The balance 105.81 hectares (5.1 percent) is revenue and forestland.

Tata Steel has offered a compensation package that includes Rs. 100, 000 for per hectare of barren land, Rs. 150,000 for per acre of single crop-land and Rs. 200, 
000 for per acre of multi-crop land.

The company has also promised one acre and a maximum 2.47-acre land under “land for land compensation scheme” for those who are losing 75 to 100 percent of their land. They are also offering one job per affected family.

But, four years on, the Chhattisgarh government is yet to complete the land acquisition process.

The state government blames the Left parties for leading an agitation by misguiding innocent farmers for their own political self-interests.

According to Chief Minister Raman Singh, who also holds the industry portfolio “Everybody wants the Tata project in Bastar except some CPI (Communist Party of India) fellows, who have misguided a few innocent farmers,”.

“The Tata plant is a must for development of the backward Bastar region. I want to see the project sail through as early as possible. It has already been delayed,” he added.

As per the recommendation of the committee on land reform which says “Consent of all the stakeholders should be considered before land is acquired. This is imperative for smooth implementation and also for getting the right kind of benefits to the people. Thus, Gram Panchayat should be consulted at the time of acquiring land.”, a public hearing was organised by the state government in which most of the local residents supported the proposed project.

“Most of the villagers attending the hearing gave their consent for the steel plant,” said M.S. Paraste, Bastar District Collector.

But some social activist and environmentalist along with some politicians are opposing this project just for their self interest by misguiding local farmers and tribals. They are working as major road-blockers in the path of development of this region.

Tata’s project in this region is not only going to provide huge business opportunities for local entrepreneurs but it will also bring qualitative improvement in the standard of living of the people be it in education, health services, development of sports activities, increase in income, Entrepreneurship development, Women empowerment etc.

Tata steel is well known as a conservator and protector of tribal culture in India. Its example can be seen in Jharkhand where it has not only worked as a conservator of tribal culture but also contributed immensely for their overall development.

According to the recommendation of the actual Report of the committee on State Agrarian Relations and the unfinished Task in Land Reforms (11.3)            “The Land Acquisition Act should be amended to incorporate Rehabilitation &Resettlement Act for all projects.  Rehabilitation should be undertaken in such a manner that the displaced tribal persons have a clearly improved standard of living after resettlement.  Their ecology, culture and ethos will have to be given due consideration in the resettlement plan.” The rehabilitation and resettlement plan of Tata Steel for the tribals of this region is completely in agreement  to this recommendation. 

For the displaced families of Kalinganagar, they have gone beyond the stipulations of R&R policy to give long term assurance for better quality of life and this has led to the formation of concept of 'Tata Steel Parivar' - Tata Steel's own R&R programme. Tata Steel is the only company who is implementing such a benevolent initiative for the rehabilitation of the displaced villagers. This unique initiative apart from ensuring improvement in quality of life is also giving importance to the cultural and emotional requirements of the displaced tribals. Till date, nearly 900 families have been rehabilitated and their progress is monitored closely. They are going to  implement “Tata Steel Parivar” at other Greenfield projects of Chattisgarh & Jharkhand.

Tata Steel is known as a company fully committed to the well being of the communities it serves, especially the tribals with whom they have a hundred year old history of engagement and sharing of the wealth generated by the enterprise in Jamshedpur.

On the environment front company has promised to take special measures to abate pollution, solid waste, water pollution and noise. They are planning to implement state-of-the-art pollution control equipment like electrostatic precipitators, bag filters, dust suppression systems such as water sprinklers, dry fog system etc. According to the official sources company is going to invest Rs.2,000 crore on environment conservation.

In the draft report of ‘Committee on Agrarian Relations and Unfinished Task of Land Reform’ Tata Steel was accused as a supporter and the first financier of Salwa Judum, the anti-naxalite movement going on in this region, it is ridiculous to believe.

It said private companies were encouraging Salwa Judum to gain control over these areas.

“The traders, contractors and miners waiting for a successful result of their strategy are behind the Salwa Judum. The first financiers of the Salwa Judum were Tata and Essar in the quest for peace,” it said.

The panel said a “civil war like situation” prevailed in these districts.

But that’s not the reality. It is a well known fact that the first movement against the Naxalites was the 'Jan Jagran Abhiyan', started in 1991 by Mahendra Karma. That was mostly led by local traders and businessmen. It later collapsed, and the leaders had to seek police protection to survive. In 2005 it was renamed Salwa Judum (meaning "Purification Hunt" in Gondi language) and it is reported that civilians were armed to supposedly fight the Naxalites in the region.  And In mid-2008, the movement's front liner, Mahender Karma announced that Salwa Judum will soon cease to exist.