वेदान्त विश्वविद्यालय विरोधी आन्दोलन

Fact Sheet of Vedanta उनिवेर्सित्य

1.Regarding the Status of the Company:
1.1 Defects of LA Act 1894, acquisition under this act is illegal because it is not for a 'person' but it is for a 'public' and Anil Aggarwal foundation is a private company, and it has illegally concealed its identity.
1.2 Lokpal has also passed strictures against three senior officers who camouflaged the identity of the company.
1.3 The law in itself if a draconian law which was drafted by foreign rules to deprive the common men of their land, and even after years of Independence we are not able to rescind this Law. There are certain examples where this law has not been misused.
1.5 LA 1894 clearly mentions that the land is to acquired for only 'public purpose' , where as Vedanta is a private company registered under Companies Act of 1956 Anil Aggarwal Foundation is a company registered under the provisions of Section 25 of the Companies Act, as a company “limited by Guarantee having no share capital” and the guarantee is only 20,000 rupee and is purchasing land of 6000 acres. It has misrepresented itself as Public Ltd company with Share Capital Under the law of Compaies Act 1956, a company registered under the provisions of Section 25 cannot be convered into a “Public Limited Company with Share Capital..

1.6 Clear cut violation of the UGC Act of 1956 which clearly says that without granting the university by any competent authority, nobody can use the word university and provides for a penal fine of Rs. 1000. However no action is contemplated against this institution.


2. BHAGWAN JAGANNATH'S LAND: Government has sold 500 acres of land @ Rs. 1.5 lacs per acres against the circle rate of Rs. 3 lacs. where as the prevailing market rate is Rs. 10 lacs per acres.
2.1 Shri Jagannath Temple Act 1955 clearly states that no land of this temple can be leased out for more than 5 years or mortgaged, sold or otherwise alienated except with preious sanction of the State Government. Here no such permission was received. The reasons given by the Administrator are very queer. He says that the land acquired by this university though belongs to Jagannath ji was however under the plough of local farmers and in case of sale it was first to be offered to the cultivators in possession and they have already accepted the LA compensation ounder protest, thus its all legal and regular.Fraud of course.
2.2 Irreparable cultural loss. Magnificent Sun temple of Konark is the culmination of Orissa temple architecture and one of the most stunning monuments of world level. Kona and Arc which means angle and Sun (built in 1278 CE and called black Pagoda throughout the world and is a World Heritage according to UNESCO, whereas Jagannath temple is called White Pagoda. Jagannath temple has a reference in Rig Veda and was built in 1174 CE.
2.3 Even now the Puri town is used by foreigners as a destination for cheap narcotics and psychtropic substances because of availability of several banned substances here. Further increase in population due to this project will change the nature of the religious sanctity.
3. FORCED DISPLACEMENT OF PEOPLE (DIDR):
3.1 Orissa has 70% of its population living in rural areas and 75% of its workforce depends on agriculture.
3.2 The total cultivable area of the state is 6.18 million hectares out of which 1.88 is irrigated, which is 33% approximately. Whereas Puri district has 2,64,988 hectares of which 1,88,745 (71% plus) hectares is under cultivation out of which 1,70,658 (90%) hectares is under paddy crop. Rice is the main crop and comprises 70% in the kharif season and accounts for 90% food production. When the rice productivity of the State is dismal 1.7 ton/hectare against the national figure of 2.9 tons/hectare, then why this land shift for other purposes. Therefore the State suffers from food shortage ranging from 9.76 million tons to 38.60 million tonnes. So in these condition why Government is allowing such large area of two or three crops to be left for university.
3.3 Harvard Univesity area is 380 acres, JNU ; 1000 acres, Utkal university of Bhuvaneshwar is about 400 acres, Why 6000 for this university.
3.4 concept of 1 lack student is unviable: That no university of the world has 1,00,000 or anything near to it, and that university of Chicago has 13,700 students, (4000 of it under graduates), even University of Berkeley has 33,000 students and it size has been capped. Best universities or small in its number.
3.5 FORCED MIGRATION; A catch all label for persons forced to leave his home , homeland. In the last 20 years we have seen displacement or resettlement of some two hundred million people as a result of development projects (Cornea 2000:11). A term DIDR is used that means development induced displacement and resettlement. States monopoly over management of force, and most acute expressions of powerlessness because it constitutes a loss of control over one's physical space.
4. Adjascent area's Right: Providing 4-lane road from Bhubaneshwar city/airport to the project site within a period of two years from the date here and development on both sides of the 4 lane access road shall be under the joint control of governement and Vendant to ensure planned development. And MoU further states that land use/zoning plan in the 5 km radius from the university boundary shall be made in consultation with the Vedanta. Moreover it will be free of any charges, stamp duty, Entry tax etc. For next 20 years.
5. Enviornmental Effects and Waterbodies:
5.1 Balukhand Sanctuary. The flora and fauna is marvelous. So it is called eco-fragile area, and therefore under statutory rules and laws of 10 kms margin is to be left around the sanctuary and it is conveniently given go-by and therefor smacks of malafide intentions and extraneous reasons.
5.2 Here a river mouth and a river are being privatised and these are natural bodies wherein every individual can claim utilization.
5.3 The population of Orissa is 4% and water availability is 11% acc. to 2001 census. So everybody is eyeing these resources. And by 2050 it will be reduced to 2218 m per capita from 3359 m in 2001. Reasons for this decline is increase in demand for road and water and with growth in mining and industrial activity. So there will be a water crisis.
5.4. Necessity of Management of Saline Ingress due to tidal effects. Because over exploitation of ground water in coastal areas, brings in its wake a distinct possibility of permanent contamination of the ground water reserves through the saline ingress.
5.5. Prevention of tidal effects: Everyday reports of rising sea levels are coming and receding coastal line and Puri-Konark marine drive was a cauality to that following which the State had to look for methods to counter natural incursions in the coastal areas. So government should not think of tinkering with nature on this coastal front. Sea level is rising by 12 to 14 inches per century.
5.6 The Central Polution Control Board and Ministry of Environment and Forests in 2000 have identified Chilika lake, the Bhitarkanika forest areas and Beaches, especially the Gahirmatha sea beach and beaches of Puri and Konark as Fragile coastal areas. These sea beaches are considered rare for the diversity of small size crabas and sea turtle’s nesting grounds and this beach is already in danger due to tourist access.
5.7 Balukhand-Konark Sanctuary covers 71.72 sq. Kms. of area along with the sea coast and western boundary of the santuary has 448 acres of land which is protected as “Sweet Water Zone” as it was identified during the British time. Two rivers namely Nuanai and Kusabhadra which are subject to tidal effects, pass through sanctuary area. It also contributes to recharge of fresh water levels underground in the aforesaid 448 acres of protected sweet water zone. This area is called a golden Triangle.
6. THOREUM DEPOSITS and other Rare earths
6.1 Several other businessmen have also evinced interest in this land and is said to contain several rare deposits of Monazite and other radio-active materials. Anil Aggarwal has the reputation of owning mines in various parts of the globe. A question raised by MP Rudranarain Pani was answered in positive regarding the availability of thoreum in this patch of land. If proven true, the land is of strategic and economic importance and as well. So it belongs to the nation and should not be handed over to a business concern when plentiful land is available at alternative places.
CONCLUSION: We should consider the plight of millions of people who are directly or indirectly affected in this polarization of interests and this model should be nabbed in the bud which provides encouragement to market forces and profit-driven business established to broker/pawn/sale/ and helplessness of the deprived citizen of this country.

SOME REASONS FOR THE ULTIMATE SUCCESS OF THIS AGITATION;
1. The availablity of rare earth factor and thoreum in particular is one reason that this land cannot be given to a private company of this bad reputation. And SH. Rudranarain Pani standing at the side of this affair, there is all possibility that the land will not be given to Anil Aggarwal.
2. The reputation of Advocate Jayant Dass is above board, so far as professional integrity is concerned. Though belonging to Congress and it was due to them that he became Adv Gen at one time, but he belongs to the hierarchy of Gopbandhudas and he will do justice to that legacy, it seems. Moreover the way he took a oath of not entering the Jagannath temple before succeeding in this case also assures us about the ultimate success.
3. There is utter disregard for enviornmental laws here, the mouth of river, nearness to the sanctuary, flood protection area and sweet water zone and other reasons are sufficient to block the efforts of any person on this virgin sea beach or marine drive to be occupied by him. If we will stop any other similar organisation will accept this case and proceed further.
4. The nature of this company, section 25 company is such that it is totally illegal for it to acquire land. Uma Ballabh Rath was dead sure that this company will not change itself to a Public limited company with shares, and without it no body can acquire land for it.
5. Bhagwan Jagannath Land issue will also be sufficient to evoke response. If some persons like Shankaracharya of Puri or some religious people comes to the side of the agitators, there is sufficient scope for public response against it. Some religious organisations will definitely come in this fray and ultimately the issue will be a big catche. So it is not with the acceptance of 22 villages the company can acquire this land, and every devotee of Bhagwan Jagan Nath and votary of enviornment has its stakes in this affair.
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