Question

Find out about more recent such struggles in West Bengal (Nandigram) , Odisha (Niyamagiri) and Andhra Pradesh (Polavaram, Sompeta etc).Prepare a poster explaining the main features of the struggle in each of these cases.

Answer 1

Nandigram (West Bengal): 

1. Nandigram is a place on the bank of Haldia and quite far from Kolkata. 
2. In 2007, March the state government of West Bengal sanctioned the land there to set up Special Economic Zone by Salim Group. 
3. People of Nandigram resented it and led mass processions and struggle and 14 people died.

Niyamgiri (Odisha): 

1. Niyamagiri hills in Odisha state are famous for their bauxite reserves. Odisha government gave permission to British mining company Vedanta to mine bauxite from there in July 2013. 
2. People resented this, especially the tribals and organised many processions and later courts involved in this matter and by January 2014 the mining was disallowed. 

Sompeta, Polavaram in combined (Andhra Pradesh): 

1. Sompeta was a mandal in Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh and government at the state permitted Nagarjuna Company Limited to set up a thermal plant there in 2010. 
2. People supported by many opposition party leaders protested the decision of government and for three years there were long drawn struggles. 
3. Polavaram project is to be constructed on Godavari river spreading in East, West Godavari’s and Khammam. Government obtained permissions and started it in 2004. 
4. It has submerging areas and affecting, zones in Chattisgarh and Odisha also. Many conflicts were there to complete it.