20th August 2009 : A little more than two years ago, in June 2007, Solan’s Nalagarh tehsil saw a massive protest against a 25 MW Thermal Power Plant to be set up by Jaiprakash Associates Limited (JP). The Public Hearing for the project was boycotted and stalled by a huge gathering of 12 affected Panchayats who were concerned about the large scale of pollution that the project would cause. Following this, the Himachal Pradesh Government led then by the Congress cancelled the sanctions granted to Jaypee Group of Industries for setting up 25 MW thermal plant in Himachal’s Solan district’s Bagheri village.
However, in November 2008, the BJP government which came into power, gave the green signal to this project under the guise of a “Biomass based thermal plant”. The proposed plant is to be set up at exactly the same location at Village Tikri (Near Bagheri), Tehsil Nalagarh, (1km from Punjab) where it was proposed earlier. This time around the proposal is to set up a Cement Grinding Uunit (2.0 MTPA), Integrated Multi-fuel based Captive Thermal Power Plant (30 MW) and DG based power plant (3×10.89 MW) The total cost of the 62 MW power project will be Rs. 450 Crores. The total land required for the project will be 24.51 ha.
Most of the land (around 326 bidhas) for the project has already been transferred to the companysince it was common shamlaat lands (used for grazing)under the possession of the government. Infact a visit to the proposed site reveals that the Grinding and Mixing unit along with a campus with heavily fortified with high walls, razor fence and gate have already been constructed in the area. Villagers allege that 7 tubewells have already been dug for the project. It is shocking that after initiating work on a project that was opposed; the project proponent is now applying for an Environment Clearance! Where are the Environment Impact Assesment Notification 2006 clearly mentions that no construction can be initiated before the Environment clearance has been given to a project. The public notice regarding the Environment Clearance public hearing (to be held on 7th September 2009) for the revived project appeared in the newspapers around the 5th of August, 2009.
On 10th August people from the affected villages held a mahapanchayat at Bagheri near Nalagarh last evening, to once again oppose the project for the same reasons. Him Parivesh, a forum of activists and citizens representatives has been supporting the agitation on the grounds that the plant if allowed to come up would completely degrade the environment. “If they are going to extract more than 1000 cusecs of ground water each day – the tube wells of the farmers within a 3kms radius will be completely depleted in no time” says Balkrishna, a resident of Nalagarh and general secretary of Him Parivesh. The Luhund Khad (flood plain) is adjacent to the site and is an important source of water during the monsoons and after for villages in a 12 km stretch. This would be a big blow the agriculture, horticulture and animal husbandry based economy of the area. Additionally, the emission of carcinogenic pollutants from the stacks of the thermal plant, the fly ash and solid waste dumping would pose health problems for humans as well as the livestock not to mention destroy the crops and agricultural productivity. The government should be promoting and protecting agriculture in these belts. They have already destroyed Baddi and now this region stands under threat of industrial pollution and migrant influx.
While the EIA report talks about 10 Panchayats from Himachal Pradesh and 7 panchayats from Punjab existing in a radius of 10 kms of the proposed project, the local people feel this is a serious under-estimation. “If we look at 10 kms of aerial distance then there are atleast 50 panchayats with a lakh population that will be affected from Nalagarh, Anandpursahib (Ropar district of Punjab) and Nainadevi tehsils” adds Guman Singh of the Himalaya Niti Abhiyan, a coalition of environment activists and community movement leaders from Himachal Pradesh. But the most serious issue, that is coming to the fore is that barely few kms from the proposed site are the religious sites of Anandpur Sahib and Kiratpur Sahib which consist of world famous Gurudwaras and places of worship for the Sikh Community. The EIA report simply overlooks the existence of these sites of religious and cultural significance in the region.
Interestingly, JP, the project proponent well aware of the severe opposition has filed caveats in the High Court and District Courts to safeguard the smooth implementation of their project and the public hearing from a stay from opposing panchayats and NGOs. “The public hearing instead of being held in a Panchayat office or village is going to be conducted right in front of JAL’s campus gate, where there are two liquor shops. This clearly shows the intention of the government and the company to bring in drunk and paid goons so that the people of the area are intimidated to attend or voive their opposition” adds Dukhiya ji, a leader of Him Parivesh. Nevertheless, the local mobilisation against the project continues to gather momentum and the affected villages hope to come out in a show of strength against the project before and on the day of the public hearing on 7th September 2009. Submissions have been made to the state government to withdraw this hazardous project from the area and a door to door signature campaign for 25 panchayats in the the BBNDA region has been initiated in Baruna (close to Bagheri) from today (20th August 2009).
AMIT SHARMA
e-mail: sharma_amit2048@yahoo.com Mobile No: +919418960341
JOB OBJECTIVE: Seeking challenging assignments in Sales & Marketing/ Key Account Management/ Business Development / Client Servicing and contributing towards the organic growth of a reputed organisation.
PROFESSIONAL SYNOPSIS:
Adept at strategizing and implementing plans for development of new accounts/ clients resulting in business augmentation.
Possess skills in communication, presentation and relationship management with strong dexterity in driving frontliners to attain highest echelon of performance levels.
CORE COMPETENCIES:
Sales and Marketing
•Forecasting monthly sales targets and achieving them in a given time frame thereby enhancing existing clientele.
•Devising & effectuating sales programs at the ground to improve the product awareness and exceed assigned targets.
•Ensuring achievement of sales revenue by the sale of New products
Key Account Management/Business Development
•Identifying, developing and nurturing new market by implementing innovative marketing strategies to enhance sales.
•Conducting extensive study of market trends & mapping requirements adding to business growth by acquisition of SME’s accounts
•Executing sales plans devised by the management and contributing towards the growth of business revenue.
Team Management
•Training, developing and mentoring sales representatives, driving them to achieve pre-planned business targets in the set time frame.
•Monitoring and tracking team activities for any business opportunity, assisting them in closing sales and generating new leads.
•Sharing best market practices to enhance productivity & high quality acquisitions.
ACADEMIC CREDENTIALS:
B.tech.{Mechanical 8Th Sem(65%)}
Advance diploma in computer application for one year
Training:
Major Project of Hybrid Engine
Training in I.C.M.L AMB(Quality Department)
PERSONAL DETAILS:
•Date of Birth : 26,feb.1984
•Permanent Address : Vill. Lahar-kotlu(bhumpal)
Tehsil Nadaun Distt Hamirpur (H.P) Pin. 177046
Date (Amit Sharma)