AIKS call up on peasantry to rebuff the stand of GOI on Kasturirangan Report

28th February 2014

The failure of MoEF to respond honestly on the issues raised by the peasantry of the Western Ghats was evident in the response of its Minister Veerappa Moily that no change will be there in regulations and restrictions in the office memorandum on 16th November. AIKS call up on the people to rebuff this ant-peasant stand of UPA Government and give fitting reply by defeating its candidates in the forthcoming Loksabha elections.

The Oommen V Oommen Expert Committee appointed by the Kerala Government has failed to point out the crucial ban on developmental and livelihood activities of the people. Instead the Committee was trying to shift the attention from the issue by raising the demand of repealing Kerala EFL Act. The state expert panel and the UDF Government have narrowed down the discussion on the question of reducing the area of eco sensitive zone while sidelining the more important issue of prohibitions and prevention of rights of the peasantry and the people. For example the report of the Committee and Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy are silent on the recommendations in the guideline that no land use will be permitted except when extension of existing village settlement areas to accommodate increase in population of local residents, which virtually prohibit any construction including cattle shed, hospital, library or school in Western Ghats region.

The anti peasant and authoritarian face of the Manmohan Singh Government has been exposed. AIKS reiterates its demand to immediately withdraw the 16th November Office Memorandum and make a fresh panel to look in to the issue. All anti-peasant, anti-people recommendations in both WGEEP and HLWG Reports must be dropped and a holistic approach and plan of action to protect the Western Ghats should be taken up.

Sd/-

Amra Ram, President

Hannan Mollah, General Secretary