Reported by
Legal Review by
Edited by
Updated by
Published on
May 19, 2018
May 17, 2022
Edited on
May 19, 2018
In JanjgirChampa district, the construction of a coalbased thermal power plant has left the residents of Uchpinda village without fair compensation or settlement. In 2006, RKM Powergen Private Limited signed an MoU with the Chhattisgarh government for a 1,440megawatt power plant. Following this, the government started surveying the region in 200607. According to official documents, the project would displace four families and 660 would be land outsees. Since then, the local people have opposed the project as they fear displacement and loss of agricultural land. In April 2008, nearly 2,000 villagers came together to protest against the project with the support of civil society organisations, such as Dalit Mukti Morcha and Chhattisgarh Mahila Jagriti Sanghatan. The people reportedly vowed not to give up their lands and opposed the governments decision to acquire fertile agricultural land for the plant instead of finding an alternative. The public agitation also stems from past instances of displacement and destruction resulting from other power plant projects in the region. On April 30, 2008, the district administration organised a public hearing for the project. Over 4,000 villagers attended it. Reportedly, during the meeting, the villagers were not allowed to voice their concerns. Subsequently, people registered their protest and burnt banners. The affected residents, with the support of neighbouring villages, also submitted a complaint to the chief minister demanding dismissal of the public hearing. Yet, on August 26, 2008, the environment ministry granted environmental clearance to the project. The villagers also alleged discrepancies in the process of land acquisition. They have organised several marches, blockades and sitins to protest against the plant and have submitted complaints to the block, district and statelevel officials demanding action. But no concrete steps were taken by the government. The project work started in September 2009. Reportedly, on the first day of the construction, there was a faceoff between over 1,000 protesters and company officials. However, the police force supported company officials in starting the construction and patrolled the area to curb resistance. They also allegedly arrested protesting villagers under false charges on multiple occasions. There have also been instances of threatening and physically assaulting the villagers. In October 2009, the Gram Sabha passed a resolution against the project. Later, under the banner of Visthapan Mukti Manch, the villagers organised a mass rally in Raipur. In the same month, the police lathicharged protesters who attempted to stop the construction on private land of tribespeople in a neighbouring village, Ghivra. On October 21, a delegation of Visthapan Virodhi Manch apprised the state governor of the situation and submitted a memorandum. But the largescale protests failed to halt the construction. In 2013, Unit I of the project was commissioned. Subsequently, Unit II was commissioned in 2014. The remaining two units of the plant are also functional now. But the people continue to protest against the unlawful settlements and have filed complaints with the district administration. According to the 201516 compliance report of the environmental clearance, the company followed the approved rehabilitation and resettlement.
Complaint against procedural violations
Demand for promised compensation
Refusal to give up land for the project
Demand for rehabilitation
Rural
Private
Non-Forest (Other than Grazing Land)
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?
Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)
Status of Project
Original Project Deadline
Whether the Project has been Delayed
Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users
Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict
Source/Reference
Total investment involved (in Crores):
₹
5950
Type of investment:
Cost of Project
Year of Estimation
Page Number In Investment Document:
Has the Conflict Ended?
When did it end?
Why did the conflict end?
Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict
Land Acquisition Laws, Environmental Laws, Central/State Government Policy
Legislations/Policies Involved
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute
What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community?
What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?
Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:
Controversial land acquisition by the government
Violation of free prior informed consent
Non-payment of compensation/promised compensation
Non-rehabilitation of displaced people
Legal Status:
Out of Court
Status of Case In Court
Whether any adjudicatory body was approached
Name of the adjudicatory body
Name(s) of the Court(s)
Case Number
Main Reasoning/Decision of court
Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:
Arrest/detention/imprisonment
Displacement
Physical attack
Whether criminal law was used against protestors:
Yes
Reported Details of the Violation:
The police lathi-charged villagers protesting against the arrest of Kesav Siddhar who opposed the construction on private land of tribespeople in Ghivra village. Next day, the police filed a case against the protesters. There were reportedly three-four instances of arrest of the protesters.
Date of Violation
October 12, 2009
Location of Violation
Dabhra
Nature of Protest
Blockades
Complaints/petitions/letters/memorandums to officials
Campaigns (grassroots organisations/press releases/media)
Protests/marches
Objections as part of official procedures
Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:
Jangir-Champa District Administration
PSUs Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?
Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached
Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:
RKM Powergen Private Limited
Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?
Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:
Dalit Mukti Morcha, Chhattisgarh Mahila Jagriti Sanghatan, Vistapan Mukti Manch, Visthapan Virodhi Manch
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?
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