Suggest some constitutional basis to oppose the construction of any dam which may displace the residents of that area.
Answers
Of all causes of involuntary displacement in the country, construction of big dams tops the list, and more than half of the displaced are tribal populations. Their protests and resistance against forced displacement and the mostly squalid resettlement and rehabilitation remain cry in the wilderness. Another such saga is around the corner to get blown up in Andhra Pradesh, the Polavaram multi-purpose dam. The tribal populations in the going to be submerged areas are articulating their concerns in different forms to thwart such artificial disaster. The present paper focuses on the resistance of tribal populations against the construction of Polavaram dam, entangled in very complex political circumstances. The main feature of this resistance is the involvement of various People’s Organizations cutting across various political parties and supporting several forms of protest of the tribal population to build up resistance against the construction of the dam.
Polavaram dam [1] , one of the big dams in Andhra Pradesh, even before its construction led to substantial number of protests over the last two years. As it happened with other projects [2], the local communities are feared of turmoil and misery in this case also. These kinds of social protests form the dynamic aspects of a society and social scientists have reached to a substantial understanding of them by 1970s. [3] . An important one is that ‘everyday forms of resistance’ that constitute a valuable components of the phenomenon are not always organized, violent and macro-mobilizations (Scot 1985, Oommen 1990b). Another important finding is Singh’s (2001) observation that there is a shift in focus and organization of the tribal movements from rebellion to participatory [4]. This background helps understanding the resistance of tribal populations against the construction of Polavaram dam. Along side, we should remember the historical experiences of the tribal populations involved in the struggle [5]
. Therefore, we find some genealogical [6] connections between the political activities of the past and present. This perspective explains the dispositions [7] of the tribal population which are structured ; and, individual’s objectively constructed regularities, practices, rules and goals are based on the earlier collective experiences.
The significant feature in the forms of resistance against the construction of Polavaram dam is the involvement of People’s Organizations [8] due to failure of traditional as well as statutory bodies, representatives and regional leadership of mainstream political parties. There are conflicting and inconsistent standpoints of the Tribal Advisory Council (TAC) constituted by the elected representatives from the Schedule-V areas. The local People’s Organizations believe that the TAC and the elected legislatures are not representing the opinions of the local tribal communities. Instead of upholding the sentiments of the local communities, the elected representatives go by their respective party agendas and standpoints.
(1)Residents of that area can oppose the construction of dam in their area.
(2) Since they are exercising the Right to freedom, nobody even the government has any right to stop them from opposing the dam which would affect the residents of that area and displace them.
(3)The people of that area have a right to equality which means they must ger equal opportunity to live in their residential area.
(4) They can hold protests to stop the building of dam without their permission