Gram Sabhas from July 18

Times of India, July 4, 2013

BHUBANESWAR/ KORAPUT/ BHAWANIPATNA: Despite Union tribal affairs minister V Kishore Chandra Deo's objections to holding of gram sabhas in 12 villages to decide mining at Niyamgiri, the state government has started finalizing the dates.

While Rayagada has decided to conduct gram sabhas in seven villages between July 18 and August 19, Kalahandi is expected to soon identify dates for five villages. "We will shortly notify the villagers about conduct of gram sabhas," said nodal officer (Kalahandi) Ramesh Behera.

On April 18, the Supreme Court order asked the state government to hold gram sabhas to decide the fate of Vedanta's plan to mine Niyamgiri.

Official sources said the process will begin at Serkapadi village under Siba Padar panchayat of Muniguda block on July 18, followed by Keskapadi (July 22), Batudi (July 27), Khambesi (August 13) and Karapar on August 19. In Kalyansinghpur block's Lamba and Lakhpadar villages, gram sabhas will be conducted on August 1 and 8 respectively.

"We need at least 50% attendance to conduct a gram sabha. One-third of them should be women. If quorum is not achieved, the gram sabha will be cancelled and conducted later," said collector (Rayagada) Sashi Bhusan Padhi.

Gram sabhas in five villages, Tadijhola, Palberi, Phuldumer, Ijurpa and Kunakado, of Kalahandi are also expected by August-end. Secretary, ST and SC development Santosh Sarangi said: "The orientation programme was held in the villages of Kalahandi and those have been photographed and videographed. We would go-ahead in conducting the gram sabhas," he told TOI.

Official sources said the law department has backed the ST, SC development department's decision, but considering the Centre's criticism of the decision to limit gram sabhas to 12 villages the state government has referred the matter to the advocate general. "If the Centre is against our decision, why does it not move Supreme Court against it?" asked an officer.

Small projects prove big support for Kalahandi farmers

By Uma Shankar Kar - BHAWANIPATNA | 02nd July 2013 12:49 PM

Small and innovative irrigation projects have proved a boon for the farmers in the hilly terrains of Kalahandi where big projects cannot be implemented.

In 1970s and ’80s, a tribal Karji Majhi of Malijubang under Lanjigarh block in Kalahandi district applying indigenous knowledge and common sense had constructed more than 20 small irrigation structures by diverting and channelising hilly streams. He diverted stream water by digging small channels and putting wooden boat like structures to facilitate water passage from one elevation to another. With this arrangement, he was able to provide irrigation facilities to the farmers of the area at a very low cost. For his activities and talent, Majhi was popularly known as illiterate tribal engineer and in 1997 he was also honoured in the Kalahandi Utsav. He is no longer alive now but his deeds are remembered. On Friday, late Karji Majhi was remembered as a hydraulic pressured diversion irrigation project constructed at a cost of ` four lakh by Sevjagat, an NGO, was inaugurated at Bengaon in Lanjigarh block.

From a height of 50 metres, the stream water has been diverted with PVC pipes and after one km, three outlets with switches have been set up. The best part of the system is that it will provide water for irrigation throughout the year to about 30 acres of land without any displacement of people or submergence of land.

Satya Pattnaik, the head of Sevajagat, said, “Such small projects are economical and eco-friendly. In Kalahandi’s  hilly region particularly Thuamul Rampur, Lanjigarh and Madanpur Rampur blocks, such small projects are feasible.” During last one year, another similar project at Karengili of Lanjigarh block and two at Sulesur and Khaliamunda in Madanpur Rampur block have been implemented by the organisation. On an average, each of these projects is capable of irrigating 30 to 50 acres of land. Pattnaik said construction of six more such projects has been proposed in Lanjigarh and Madanpur Rampur blocks. The survey for the projects has already been completed. Funds from philanthropic organisations are awaited to begin the works, he added.