Himalaya Bachao Rally

Community Struggles in Himachal come together to ascertain their control and rights over resources

State level rally on 9th  April 2009

and

Conference 10-11 April 2009 at Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh

The current model of neo-liberal development that has been thrust upon the people of the country and states like Himachal Pradesh mainly aims at rapid exploitation of natural and human resources for unbridled consumption by the globalized economy. This development is at an enormous cost to the local, natural resource based communities, their economy and ecology. Even thriving rural economies are considered dispensable by governments whose only considerations are the projected revenues to the state. Himalayas too have not been spared despite being vulnerable due to their fragile topography and unique ecosystems. The scale and attitude with which new projects are being implemented have left little scope for reviewing their impacts on local people, local economy and ecology and possible alternatives. The governments in Himachal Pradesh, in the past decade, have promoted cement plants, hydropower projects, SEZs and urbanization plans at a fast pace resulting in displacement and wide-spread destruction and privatisation of natural resources. There is an ever increasing shift in the control of resources from communities and state to private companies for profit motive.

The communities affected in many places have been actively resisting the government’s policies that propagate this shift by promoting mega projects overriding local people’s rights, concerns and consent. The people affected/proposed to be affected by various ‘development’ projects within Himachal Pradesh have decided to come together for ‘Himalaya Bachao Rally’ to ascertain their control and rights over their forest, land and water resources and to link up with similarly effected people from other areas in Himachal.

Representatives of communities affected by the following projects have come together under the banner of the Himalay Bachao Rally and Him Niti Abhiyan:

1. Bhakhara Dam Oustess, District Bilaspur

2. Proposed Harish Cement Plant, Sundernagar, District Mandi

3. Jaypee Cement plant at Bagga, District Bilaspur and Solan

4. Industrial Hub at Nalagarh, District Solan

5. Proposed Himalayan Ski Village, District Kullu

6. Hydroelectric projects in Kinnaur and Chamba District

7. Proposed SEZ in Gagret in Una district

8. Beas Satluj Link Project, Pandoh and Sundernagar, District Mandi

9. Renuka Dam project, Siramur

10. Tower line affected communities- Manali and Bilaspur

and many more

These movements have been condemning the use of the Land Acquisition Act 1894 for forced acqusition of their lands, the blatant handing over of forests and rivers for projects without consent of Gram Sabhas and demanding for recognition of their primary right over their resources. For the purpose of evolving a deeper understanding of these processes and the emerging struggles a two day conference will follow the rally. We hope expect that friends, members of action groups and activists from outside the state would also participate in the conference and share their experiences to help evolve strategies for strengthening the existing movements and campaigns.

HIMALAYA NITI ABHIYAN

For more details please contact:
Guman Singh (9418277220)
Bhagat Ram (9418479644
Uma Mahajan (9816000003)
Kulbhushan Upmanyu (9418412853)