Another Marichjhanpi under Creation as Polavaram Evicts Dandakaranya Refugees
Palash Biswas
Contact: Palash C Biswas, C/O Mrs Arati Roy, Gosto Kanan, Sodepur, Kolkata- 700110, India. Phone: 91-033-25659551
Email: palashchandrabiswas@gmail.com
Millions hit by South Asia floods! and the fact remains that the greatest cause of these floods is nothing but the Gignatic Dams, the buring grounds for SC, ST and refugees!
But the Ruling Comradors of zionist hindu post modern US galaxy order die to serve the interests of MNcs, promoters and builders as they opt for Big dams evicting SC ST underprevileged marginal people and the benifit goes to the affluents!
Andhra Govt strated the construction works without having the clearance of Polavaram dam. The clearnce was given by the Ventre without the consent of Orisssa and Chhattish Gargh. And these two states did not care to inform at least those people who have to face the destined environmental disater.
Left is leading a movement in Khammam and all over Andhra demanding land to poor. Whereas they annihilate the peasantry in Left Ruled Bengal. East Godavari, where the reservoir is being constructed in Polavaram and Khammam districts are epicentres of antiPolavaram Dam agitation. One or two tribes have to be wiped out for ever in these areas. More over eviction drive is already on. The Left has not taken up the issue.
Why?
Left is not worried at all that being evicted the Dandakaranya refugees would come to Bengal once again. Would there be another Marichjhanpi?
Worsening floods affecting eastern India, Bangladesh and Nepal have led to millions of people fleeing their homes. About four million people have been affected in the Indian states of Bihar, West Bengal and Assam where at least 30 people are known to have died.
In Nepal more than 70 people have died in floods over the past two weeks.
Thousands of Bangladeshis are also affected, particularly in central areas near Dhaka where water in the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers is rising.
MILLIONS of people have been forced to flee their homes in north-east India as the death toll rose from raging floods triggered by heavy monsoon rains.
"The situation has turned devastating overnight, drowning five more people in separate incidents and displacing another 3 million in 15 districts," said Bhumidhar Barman, the relief and rehabilitation minister of Assam state.
The floods have stranded more than 4 million people and claimed 20 lives in the past week.
The Brahmaputra River is usually in flood in the northern summer from monsoon rains and melting glaciers.
Soldiers used rubber boats and rafts in many places to evacuate people, as communication and transport links were badly disrupted.
A Central Water Commission bulletin said all major rivers and their tributaries in Assam were flowing well above the danger mark.
The worst hit was the eastern Dhemaji district where an estimated 250,000 people had taken refuge in makeshift shelters on raised embankments, in government schools and offices.
A team of doctors and paramedics was sent to the flood-hit areas by boat and raft to treat people with water-borne diseases.
"We have also sent veterinarians along with adequate cattle and poultry feed in several areas," Barman said.
The Regional Meteorological Centre warned of more rain in the next 24 hours.
Floods, drought show no let-up
By Xin Dingding, Liu Weifeng and Li Fangchao (China Daily)
Updated: 2007-07-30 06:43
Floods and drought continued to play havoc last week, raising the death toll across the country, with experts blaming the freaky weather conditions on global warming.
More than 700 people have been killed in floods, landslides, mudslides and storms across 24 provinces and 82.05 million have been affected.
The water level in Huaihe River has started receding but incessant showers continue in the upper and middle reaches of the Yangtze River.
The Huaihe River Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters said yesterday that the water level at Wangjiaba, a key hydrological station in the middle reaches of the Huaihe, dropped slightly below the danger level of 27.5 m on Saturday night. That was the lowest in 26 days.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2007-07/30/content_5445512.htm
Experts demand inquiry into "man-made" floods
Gargi Parsai
"Mismanagement of large reservoirs created this monsoon's disasters"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Central Water Commission, National Disaster Management Authority criticised for failing to prevent floods
Probe into high pre-monsoon storages, downstream releases demanded
Surat floods resulted from sheer mismanagement by Ukai dam authorities
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NEW DELHI: At a meeting on flash floods and dams organised by Intercultural Resources in collaboration with South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People (SANDRP) on Tuesday, water experts have demanded an independent inquiry into whether the flash floods that ravaged parts of northern and western India were "man-made" and could have been avoided with optimal operation of large dams.
They urged the setting up of a National Commission on Drainage, as the primary issue from the agriculture point of view was of drainage and not floods.
Criticising the "failure" of the Central Water Commission and the National Disaster Management Authority in pre-empting and preventing floods that caused large-scale loss of lives, livestock and property, the participants demanded an independent inquiry on the issue of flash floods, particularly those due to sudden downstream releases from dams. They also demanded investigation into high pre-monsoon storages and the downstream releases, apart from a review of the dam operation rules. As recommended by the National Flood Commission (1980), States must review dam operations and revision of flood cushion provisions in a transparent manner, they said here.
The meeting alleged that mismanagement and negligent operations of the large reservoirs on Tapi, Narmada, Krishna, Godavari, Mahi and Sabarmati rivers created man-made disasters in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh this monsoon.
http://www.hindu.com/2006/09/08/stories/2006090824780300.htm
PM expresses regret at Andhra police firing
Hindustan Times - 39 minutes ago
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday expressed his regret at the police firing that killed eight people in Khammam district of Andhra Pradesh before leaving for the state to review investment and agriculture projects.
Khammam firing: PM meets YSR, reviews situation Zee News
PM 'regrets' Andhra police firing, to review law and order India eNews.com
Bharath to me
show details 10:36 pm (45 minutes ago)
Dear All
What is the role of Irrigation departments investigation wings, maintenance workshops and so on when the contractors decide design of dams and irrigation projects?
The state of affairs in Irrigation department of Andhra Pradesh speak for itself. A report in today's The Hindu explains the situation.
Many questions are raised about the new method 'EPC', evolved by nava bhageerathas under YSR government, that 'justifies' awards of projects to contractors without clearances from any regulating body and knowledge of people
FYI
bharath bhushan
.................................................................
The Hindu Monday, Jul 30, 2007
A workshop without any work
Swathi.V
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After introduction of engineering, procurement and construction regime, work here has declined
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HYDERABAD: Dilapidated structures, crumbling doors, peeling walls and indiscernible remnants of sofa sets mark the office of the Regional Workshop and Machinery Division in Khairatabad, which easily surpasses any other Government office in haunted looks.
The decibels created by the siren at lunch break seem ridiculously disproportionate to the amount of work done there. For, a break would seem logical only when there is work and there is hardly any here.
It is one of the six mechanical divisions in the State under the Department of Irrigation, and till a decade ago the only recourse in the city for thousands of Government vehicles needing repairs and replacements. "Even repairs to the irrigation dams were carried out from here," confirms an employee.
The division was also the storehouse for cranes and earth moving machinery used by various departments.
"After the introduction of EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) regime, the work here has gradually declined. All departments are procuring vehicles on contract," said an official. Now, the vehicles that come for repairs -- reduced to a trickle -- have to be accompanied by departmental sanction and the relevant cheque.
Recruitment of staff stopped 10-15 years ago, informed an official. Every year 20-30 employees retire, resulting in further erosion in the already stagnant strength.
"Even the existing employees do not have any work," he says.
Similar workshops near the Secretariat and in Vijayawada are functioning well with double the number of employees.
Auctions
Official sources said that the idle machinery was auctioned last year to realise Rs. 21 lakh. Of the previous six or seven, only a crane or two remain now.
Interestingly, only this division has the crane that can carry Khairatabad Ganesh idol to its waters.
The original six-acre spread of the workshop has been reduced by chunks to accommodate buildings of Central Designs Organisation, Hydrology Department and Polavaram Guesthouse.
A proposal to transfer all the technical staff to the Dummugudem Project in Khammam was recently sent to the ministry, says the Chief Engineer and Commissioner of Godavari Basin P. Prabhakar Reddy. Had it materialised, he says, the mechanical staff could have been transferred to the workshop near Secretariat. But it didn't.
With the demand for the implementation of GO 610 gaining strength, now the fate of the proposal remains uncertain.
The division falls under Zone-6 while Dummugudem is in Zone-5, making it impossible to effect inter-zonal transfers.
Retirement
"A few highly skilled hands here are about to retire. Due to lack of work, even the existing workers are losing on their skills. Private contractors will take care of construction, but will they be available for repairs? What will the authorities do when the projects develop technical snags in due course of time?" the employees of the workshop question.
(end)
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support the struggle against polavaram dam
save koya tribe and eastern ghats
http://telanganautsav.wordpress.com/2007/03/28/polavaram_question_mark_over_future/#more-115
INTERLINKING RIVERS
http://72.14.235.104/search?q=cache:qMEwArJLn3oJ:www.indiatogether.org/environment/interlink.htm+River+link+plan+in+India&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=16&gl=in
Krishna Godavari River Link
http://nwda.gov.in/writereaddata/sublink2images/76.pdf
1
Chapter - 3
Interstate Aspects
3.1 General
The Godavari (Polavaram) – Krishna (Vijayawada) link canal is one of the
components of the Mahanadi – Godavari – Krishna – Pennar – Cauvery – Vaigai link
system for inter-basin transfer of water in Peninsular India. All the major river
basins involved in the interlinking are interstate in nature. The inter-basin water
transfer links are, therefore, to be governed by interstate agreements. The States
involved in this major interlinking are Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra,
Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamilnadu and the Union Territory of
Pondicherry. In respect of Godavari and Krishna river basins, the question of sharing
of waters between the basin-states has already been adjudicated by the respective
water dispute tribunals. In respect of Cauvery basin, the water sharing is currently
under adjudication by the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal.
In so far as the Polavaram – Vijayawada link is concerned, the proposal is to transfer
surplus waters of Godavari to Krishna. Even earlier to NWDA’s studies, such a
proposal had been mooted by Andhra Pradesh for transfer of 2265 Mm3 (80 TMC) of
Godavari waters to Krishna. An agreement had also been reached between the party
States for sharing of this quantum of water which was endorsed by the Godavari
Water Disputes Tribunal (GWDT) in its award given in the year 1979.
The present NWDA’s proposal is to transfer an additional quantity of 1236 Mm3 to
Krishna through the same Polavaram – Vijayawada link canal over and above the
2265 Mm3 of water transfer proposed by Andhra Pradesh.
The details of the award of GWDT and the effect of water transfer from Godavari to
Krishna on the Krishna basin States are briefly presented in this Chapter.
3.2 States Traversed by the Godavari River
The river Godavari is an interstate river. Its catchment area spreads over five States
viz., Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa while
the main river flows through only three States i.e., Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and
Madhya Pradesh.
The total length of Godavari is 1465 km. Originating in Maharashtra, it flows for
about 694 km in that State and forms the border between Maharashtra and Andhra
Pradesh for about 16 km. After flowing for about 281 km in Andhra Pradesh, it again
forms the boundary between Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh for about 48 km. It
also forms the boundary between Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh for about 24
km. Finally it flows for about 402 km in Andhra Pradesh before it joins the Bay of
Bengal. The State-wise catchment area of the basin is given in Table 2.1.
2
3.3 Interstate Agreements on Sharing of Godavari Waters and the GWDT
Award
The competitive claims of the riparian states for the utilisation of the waters of the
Godavari basin have given rise to disputes between them for sharing of the waters.
Eventually in April 1969, the Central Government constituted the Godavari Water
Disputes Tribunal and referred various disputes for adjudication. While the disputes
were before the Tribunal, the party States themselves, after negotiations entered
into agreements from time to time on the utilisation of the waters of the Godavari
and its tributaries. The Tribunal incorporated these agreements in their final
adjudication and ordered that the agreements should be observed and carried out by
all concerned.
As per the award of the Tribunal, waters available in different sub-basins from the
catchments intercepted by major/medium projects proposed on various tributaries
by the States have been generally allocated among the respective States. In
addition, for minor irrigation schemes, industrial and domestic uses, etc., certain
specific quantities have been allowed to be utilised by various States. The remaining
yield from the free catchment available in different sub-basins, as will be flowing into
the river Godavari, is left for utilisation by Andhra Pradesh.
3.4 The Polavaram Project and the Transfer of Water from Godavari to
Krishna
The Polavaram project was originally proposed by Government of Andhra Pradesh as
an entirely State project for extending irrigation facilities to the upland areas in East
Godavari, Visakhapatnam, West Godavari and Krishna districts and for other benefits
like making water available for industrial purposes at Visakhapatnam and generation
of hydropower.
The States of Maharashtra and Karnataka had been agitating for the utilisation of
more water of the Krishna river on account of diversion of Godavari water into the
Krishna. On 4th August 1978, an agreement was entered into between the States of
Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh stipulating the diversion of 2265 Mm3 (80 TMC), at
75% dependability, of Godavari waters from Polavaram Project into Krishna river
above Prakasam Barrage at Vijayawada, thereby displacing the discharges from
Nagarjunasagar project for Krishna delta, and thus enabling the use of the above
quantity for projects upstream of Nagarjunasagar. The States also agreed that the
quantity of 2265 Mm3 (80 TMC) thus made available will be shared in the
proportion of Andhra Pradesh 1274 Mm3 (45 TMC); Karnataka and Maharashtra
together 991 Mm3 (35 TMC).
Dispute arose between the party States regarding the FRL/MWL of Polavaram
Project, which will submerge areas in the States of Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh
and Orissa. This dispute has also been resolved by the Tribunal. It was directed by
the Tribunal that the Polavaram Project should be cleared by the Central Water
Commission as expeditiously as possible for FRL/MWL of 45.72 m (150 ft.). It was
further directed that the CWC should also decide the matter of design and operation
schedule for the project keeping in view the agreements between the States in this
regard as far as practicable.
3
3.5 Interstate Aspects under the Proposed Link Project
The Godavari (Polavaram) – Krishna (Vijayawada) link is one of the several link
proposals under the Peninsular Rivers Development component of the National
Perspective Plan for large scale transfer of water from the surplus to the deficit river
basins. It may not be possible to cover these large scale transfers under the present
interstate agreements of the GWDT award. After a consensus is reached by the
States concerned on the various link proposals, a separate agreement for sharing the
surplus waters may have to be entered into by the States involved. The studies of
NWDA and the provisions stipulated in the award of GWDT are not to be mixed up as
the two have entirely different objectives and different locus standi.
In this context, it is pertinent to note that while the Polavaram Project as proposed
by Andhra Pradesh envisages the diversion of only 2265 Mm3 (80 TMC) from
Godavari to Krishna, the hydrological studies carried out by NWDA indicate the
possibility of diverting a further quantity of 1236 Mm3 of water from Godavari to
Krishna through the Polavaram – Vijayawada link canal. The agreement of 4th
August 1978 between Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka which has also been endorsed
by the GWDT, stipulates that if the diversion at 75% dependability exceeds 2265
Mm3 (80 TMC) due to diversion of Godavari waters from the proposed Polavaram
Project into Krishna river, further diminishing the releases from Nagarjunasagar
Project, such excess quantity should also be shared in the same proportion as agreed
to (refer section 3.4 above).
It is also pertinent to note that the issue of sharing of additional waters that may
become available to Krishna from other river basins, particularly Godavari has also
been gone into by the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal. After careful consideration
of the issue, the Tribunal has directed that in the event of augmentation of the
Krishna waters by the diversion of the waters of any other river, no co-basin State of
Krishna shall be debarred from claiming that it is entitled to greater share in the
Krishna Waters on account of such augmentation when the award of the Tribunal
comes up for review after 31st May 2000.
Eleventh Plan (2007-2012)
The UPA government unveiled an approach paper to the 11th Five-Year plan titled,"Towards faster and more inclusive growth".According to the approach paper the monitorable targets of 11th five-year plan are:-
GDP growth rate to be increased to 10% by the end of the plan;
Farm sector growth to be increased to 4%;
Creation of 7 crore job opportunities;
Reduce educated unemployed youth to below 5 percent
Infant mortality rates to be reduced to 28 per 1000 births;
Maternal mortality rates to be reduced to 1 per 1000 births;
Clean drinking water to all by 2009;
Improve sex ratio to 935 by 2011-12 and to 950 by 2016-17;
Ensure electricity connection to all villages and BPL households by 2009
Roads to all villages that have a population of 1000 and above by 2009;
Increase forest and tree cover by 5%;
Achieve the World Health Organisation standard air quality in major cities by 2011-12;
Treat all urban waste water by 2011-12 to clean river waters;
Increase energy efficiency by 20 percentage points by 2016-17;
Despite the fact that various industrial projects are facing stiff opposition from the people facing displacement, the list of corporate houses showing concern for the State's development appears to be getting longer by the day. One company even goes to claim that it is `committed' to giving everyone in Orissa a reason to smile.In fact, these companies have been operating in the State since a long time. But till recently,they had hardly expressed their eagerness to become a part of the development of the State that has been infamous for child sell, backbreaking poverty and hunger deaths.Interestingly, many of these corporate houses would unofficially agree that they have not been able to do much when it comes to their corporate social responsibility to make things better for the communities in the areas of their operation.
Although those manning the operations of the these companies officially claim that they are doing a lot for the people living in the periphery of their factories and plants in different parts of the State, frequent protests and agitations by those affected
by the `developmental projects' portray tell a different story.
People’s Union for Democratic Rights, Delhi, PUDR
invites you to a public meeting
State Repression
TODAY
a civil rights perspective
Sunday, 5 August 2007
Gandhi Peace Foundation, DDU Marg, Near ITO, New Delhi
10 a.m.
Session I: Attacks on Civil Rights Organisations
Speakers: PUDR (Delhi), PUCL (Chhattisgarh) ,
APCLC (Andhra Pradesh)
12 noon
Session II: Reports from States
Speakers: PUCL( Jharkhand), AFDR (Punjab),
MASS (Assam), PUCL (Nagpur),
COHR (Manipur), PUCL (Rajasthan),
PMHR (Naga areas), PCHR (Jammu & Kashmir), APDR (West
Bengal), LHS (Mumbai), HRF (Andhra Pradesh)
RPL bags Sasan mega power project
Economic Times - 4 hours ago
30 Jul, 2007, 1430 hrs IST, PTI NEW DELHI: The government on Monday awarded the 4000 MW Sasan ultra mega power project to Anil Ambani's Reliance Energy as the company submitted the lowest bid of Rs 1.19616 per kilo watt hour.
Reliance Energy wins Sasan project on 2nd attempt CNN-IBN
Rel Energy wins bid for Sasan UMPP Moneycontrol.com
Times Now.tv
Food, Drinking Water Scarce In Flood-ravaged Bihar
NEWSPost India - 3 hours ago
Monday 30th of July 2007 Large parts of Bihar were faced with food and drinking water scarcity in one of the worst floods in 30 years that has cut off several towns, destroyed hundreds of houses and killed at least 20 people.
Bihar floods:3 districts cut off from Patna Times of India
Bihar flood situation grim, 14 dead NDTV.com
Dear friends,
A four nation Fact Finding Mission (FFM) composed of medical doctors and
social activists was organised recently to look into the impacts of an
industrial aqua farm in Tamil Nadu (India) and the human rights violations
against Dalit villagers protesting against it.
The team, convened by Tamil Nadu Women's Forum and Malaysia-based Pesticide
Action Network Asia Pacific, visited Kolathur (population: 4000) and nearby
areas including the Chinna Aqua Farm, and held extensive discussions with
villagers, particularly women.
Based on its findings, the Dalit community called for immediate closure of
the illegal shrimp pond, and urged the District Administration to withdraw
the nuisance cases filed against villagers, investigate the complaints of
police atrocities and compensate villagers for livelihoods lost due to
pollution.
Please support the struggle of the Dalit community by signing on to the
online petition letter http://www.foodsov.org/html/petition04.php
The petition letter will automatically send the petition letter to different
government officials and institutions in India and encourage them look into
the case.
If you wish to download the documentation of the fact-finding mission,
please follow this link: http://www.foodsov.org/resources/againstallodds.pdf
Kindly pass on this letter to your friends and networks.
In solidarity,
PCFS Secretariat
===============================
People's Coalition on Food Sovereignty
P.O. Box 1170, Penang 10850, Malaysia
Tel: 604-6570271 or 604-6560381
Fax: 604-6583960
Website: http://foodsov.org
E-mail: secretariat@foodsov.org
Jalayagnam: liability period may be enhanced
User Rating: / 0 Saturday, 30 June 2007
Poor Best
Hyderabad, June 30: The ‘liability period’ of contractors building irrigation projects under Jalayagnam holding them liable for any damage to the structure due to poor quality is likely to be increased from the existing two years to 10-15 years.
The Government is contemplating this measure in view Basavadoddi, a part of Gururaghavendra Project in Kurnool district, developed “piping” (holes) during the recent heavy rains, forcing the authorities to empty the reservoir to save nearby habitations. Contractors will have to pay compensation for any structural damage or defect found during the liability period.
Addressing at a press conference here on Friday, Major Irrigation Minister P. Lakshamiah said unlike in the past, the irrigation projects, now being implemented through the EPC mode, were being covered by insurance with the contractors themselves paying the premium.
Also, the quality of the material and finished structure was being checked up by third parties consisting of engineering professionals and reputed organisations. This was in addition to the verification made at site laboratories set up by the contractors under the agreements and the joint inspections by Government officials and the third party, the Minister said.
The quality control system during the TDP regime was so poor that parts of Owk, Veligodu, Kandaleru, Maddileru, Penn Ahobilam Balancing Rservoir, Cheyyeru, Yogi Vemana and Koulasnala projects got washed away or developed defects.
K. C Canal was modernised by availing a huge loan but it developed breaches during the recent rains.
“Will the Telugu Desam own responsibility for this ?”, he asked. He said the irrigation projects were handed over to contractors in 206 packages for execution and their quality was monitored through 38 third party cells. Denying the TDP’s charge that the construction was sub-standard, he said major projects like Polavaram and Pulichintala were designed based on the reckoning of the Maximum Probable Flood discharge for a long period running into tens of decades.
After firing, Chandrababu, Left gun for YSR
Express News ServicePosted online: Monday, July 30, 2007 at 0000 hrs Print EmailKhammam Deaths: Govt announces Rs 6 lakh ex gratia after relatives protest with bodies outside district collectorate
HYDERABAD/KHAMMAM, JULY 29: The embers left by Saturday’s police firing which killed six Left activists agitating for land are unlikely to die soon. With the CPI(M), an important ally of the Congress at the Centre, baying for blood, the road ahead may not be smooth for Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy.
Even as Opposition leaders and top Left leaders made a beeline for Mudigonda, the Chief Minister, Home Minister K Jana Reddy and DGP M A Basit chose not to visit the spot. Police officials are understood to have advised them against going to Khammam citing security concerns as the situation in the town continued to be tense. The state Government has meanwhile announced ex gratia of Rs 6 lakh to the families of the victims.
It was a heart rending scene outside the district collectorate in Khammam where draped in one TDP and five CPI(M) flags, the bodies were lined up as the relatives waited for the Government to do justice. It was only at around 4.30 pm, after Collector Sashibushan Kumar reached the site and announced Rs 6 lakh ex gratia to the kin of the deceased, that they allowed the bodies to be taken for post-mortem. Two acres of land, employment and a house to the bereaved families and Rs 50,000 to all those who suffered serious injuries and Rs 10,000 for minor injuries were also announced. He also said that the CI and the SI would be suspended.
Speaking to reporters in Hyderabad, the CM said a judicial inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the circumstances that led to the police firing besides initiating departmental action against the policemen responsible. “Let us try to find a solution to the problem instead of aggravating it. I appeal to all political parties to help restore normalcy,” he said.
Earlier in the day, accompanied by CPI(M) MLA T Veerabhadram and several party leaders, TDP President N Chandrababu Naidu visited Mudigonda. After consoling the locals, the TDP chief addressed them from a jeep and his message was clear: YSR has no right to continue as Chief Minister any longer.
Later, he arrived at the collectorate and consoled the relatives of the deceased. Launching a scathing attack on the Chief Minister, he announced Rs 1 lakh to the bereaved families on behalf of the TDP and Rs 25,000 each to severely injured and Rs 10,000 to those who suffered minor injuries.
Between the two Left parties which have been jointly waging the land struggle over the past two months, the CPI(M) was more belligerent in the aftermath of the Khammam incident. Politburo member Sitaram Yechuri wanted the Congress high command to realise that there was a visible anti-Rajasekhara Reddy mood in the state and it would be detrimental to the state Government if the same situation continued. CPI(M) state secretary B V Raghavulu minced no words and demanded Reddy’s resignation.
But, CPI state secretary K Narayana felt it was not wise to target one individual though the Government was responsible for the police firing. Moreover, this demand would relegate the main issue of the land struggle to the background, he said.
Not only in Dhaka, but also in Chittagong, Mymensingh, Sylhet, Jessore, Khulna, Dinajpur, Pabna and Kushtia as well as in scores of villages, Yahya Khan’s West Pakistani army committed such atrocities on hundreds and thousands of Bangali women. Even old women and literally kids of twelve years were not spared. All foreign correspondents have testified to this horrible rape of Bangali womanhood.
Another leading U. S. Journal made the comments: “Three is no doubt that the word massacre applies to the situation. It’s a veritable blood bath. The troops have been utterly merciless. It was like Genghis Khan, said a shocked Western official.” (Time, April12).
Here is another report on the carnage in Dacca by victor Chen, who had been visiting Dacca as a tourist (Newsweek April 19,1971).
“The houses were burned down, and some were still smoldering....... literally dozens of dead bodies were strewn all over the place , many of them small kids, all of them riddled by bullets.”
Here are other reports on “ Reign of Terror” let loose in Chittagong.
“The Americans evacuated from Chittagong told Newsweek's Tony Clifton that the bitter fighting there had reduced East Pakistan’s largest port to a ghost town.” (NewsWeek, April 19,1971).
“In a civil war already marked by brutality, the lightning attacks were notable for their savagery. In the port city of Chittagong, Pakistani troops forced Bengali prisoners to ride on the front of a truck, shouting ‘victory for Bengal’ an Independence slogan. When other Bengalis emerged from their hiding places, the Pakistanis opened fire with machineguns.” (Newsweek, April 26,1971). The same issue of Newsweek further reported: “In the cities of Sylhet and Comilla along the eastern border, West Pakistani firepower routed the followers of Mujibur Rahman and left the bodies of scores of dead peasants to the wild dogs.” Martin Woollacott, Guardian’s correspondent, reported from near Jessore, a vital road and rail centre:
“West Pakistani troops have sent patrols out from their cantonments in Jessore to mortar and burn villages close to the town.”
“ Fires were springing up in all direction...... Some 500 yards beyond flames were visible as the thatched roofs of houses in the next village caught fire”.
“In the fields lay farm implements that peasants had abandoned earlier when a Pakistani aircraft appeared overhead”.(Guardian, April 4,1971).
Locked In Arena Of Authorized Slaughter:
The Pakistani Nazis wanted to hide the ugly truth from the world. So they bundled out all foreign journalists of the country and took away all reports, films etc. from them. Here is how Loren Jenkins of Newsweek (April12) describes that episode:
“Two ho
to establish a joint venture power generating company.