Successive governments are pursuing ‘destructive' development policies and depriving the poor of their right to livelihood and playing with their health, Amit Bhattacharya, a professor from Jadhavapur University, Kolkata, alleged.
At a meeting organised jointly by the Movement for People-Centred Development and the Coastal Corridor Nirmana Vyathireka Porata Committee at the Visakhapatnam Public Library here on Saturday, he felt that any development activity should be people-centric but the works being initiated in the name of SEZ s and industrialisation across the country indicated that the government's wanted to have their way even if that meant infringing on the rights of the poor.
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Prof. Bhattacharya recalled how the beauty of the old city was being destroyed in a phased manner with industrial and coal dust pollution leaving a permanent scar all over the area as also the residents, who were contracting various diseases.
He referred to the Kolaghat Power Plant, established in West Bengal decades ago. The fly ash thrown out by the plant regularly was polluting homes, roads and the entire area.
The drinking water sources had become unfit for consumption and babies were being born with deformities. The electricity generated by the plant was being supplied to Kolkata city while ignoring the power needs of the local villagers.
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He also decried the frequent eviction of farmers in the name of SEZ s and the inadequate compensation being paid to them.
He said that the fertile land of a farmer in West Bengal was acquired and he was given Rs.11,000 after 23 years.
Representatives of the two organisations spoke about the pollution being caused by the industries in the city.
The burning of garbage in between three hills on the outskirts of the city in an ‘unscientific manner' by the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation came in for severe criticism.
The health problems caused by pollutants in the villages surrounded by Hindustan Zinc, the contamination of the coastal water by chemical wastes by the pharma industries were also criticised.
Porata committee convener K.S. Chalam, Privatikarana Vyathireka Porata Samithi representative P.V. Ramana, Revolutionary Writers Association representative Chalasani Prasad, MPCD State committee member J.V. Ratnam, Dalita Vimukti representative S.V. Ramana, Pragatiseela Mahila Sangham representative S. Venkata Lakshmi and APCLC leader T. Srirama Murthy were among those who participated.