Letters

Pruning prawn farms

Orissa Krushak Mahasangh's (OKM) movement against indiscriminate prawn culture has gained momentum. In a tragic incident, 2 persons were killed and several injured when the police fired on a crowd at Andhuan village in Bhadrak district of Orissa.

The OKM'S fact-finding team reported that the unarmed crowd was agitat - ing against the Deep Sun Prawn Company for its illegal encroachment on gochar (pasture area), and also against the arrest of a person. That is when they were lathi charged and fired upon. We have condemned it and demanded the closure of all farms which are violating environmental, forest and revenue laws. I have also addressed a letter of warning to all the district collectors of coastal areas to scrutinise each case of violation.

I request all the environmental and human rights organisations to condemn the killings, and also urge the union minister of agriculture (Fisheries), minister of environment and forests, and the Orissa chief minister to stop this indiscriminate prawn culture. This is not a problem of Orissa alone but concerns all the coastal states of India.

BANKE BIHARY DAS, Orissa Krushak Mahasangh, Bhubaneswar- 751009 ...

Judged wrong

I read your article Watershed Ruling on Narmada in Down To Earth (Vol3, No 18). While you are free to comment on the Report of the Review Committee with regard to the Sardar Sarovar Dam, the article gives a very inaccurate representation of the orders and observations of the Supreme Court. I was present throughout the hearing.

I would like to point out that the Supreme Court never castigated the Report or reprimanded the Committee. It is also incorrect to say that they characterised it as "vague" or "ambiguous". All it said was that the Report was inconclusive and incomplete on certain I points. The Court has therefore, asked the Committee to complete the report and deal with certain points which the Court has specifically referred to.

I would be grateful if you could correct the record.

PRASHANT BHUSHAN, High Court, New Delhi

The words "castigated" and "vague" were used to describe the Supreme Court's statement by the author and did not imply that the statement included these words. The term "ambiguous" was used to highlight the absence of clarity. According to the dictionary "ambiguous" also means "not clearly defined". Nevertheless, we regret any confusion that may have been caused inadvertently.

ANUMITA ROYCHOWDHURY ...

Common cause

Many individuals, private organisations, associations and government agencies are working on various aspects and issues of environmental, agricultural and socioeconomic problems of rural India.

Most of the activities are taking place in a somewhat isolated manner. We feel there is a need for more inter. action and exchange of ideas and views amongst NGOS. We would like to know what other people are doing, what their achievements and shortcomings are.

With precisely this in mind, we are planning to provide a platform to the NGOS of western India, to share their views and experiences with their fellow NGOS. This will be mutually beneficial and accelerate the works in our individual fields.

Our federation will cover Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Goa, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh. We request all interested NGOS and agencies to forward their names, addresses and resumes of their activities to us.

KISHORE MEHTA, Coordinator, Western Indian NGOs Federation, B-21, Paritosh, 3rd Floor, V L Mehta Road, Juhu, Bombay- 400049, Tel: 6140576 ...

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