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Edited by
Updated by
Published on
September 1, 2016
September 1, 2016
Updated on
September 1, 2016
The proposed Shamuka Beach Project, touted as India's largest coastal tourism project is set to come up in 3,000 acres of land at Sipasarubali , an administrative area consisting of around twenty villages, located roughly 10km south of Puri town, composed of mainly landless poor.
In 1994, the Odisha High Court directed the state to distribute 214 acres and another 33 acres of ceiling surplus land among the poor along with land titles. Only a few of the families were given pattas, but not the land. Thereafter, the government included this land in its Land Acquisition Programme for the upcoming Samukha Tourism project which is to be carried out in a phased manner and will involve the construction of five star hotels, resorts, golf courses and entertainment centers among others.
This has led to a renewed conflict. For the Shamuka project, 982 acres was decided to be acquired in the Mauza Sipasarubali. The conflict took place when the government instead of complying with Odisha High Court order of 1994, started creating a fence around the land in an area of 1,307 acre. This led to a protest by people from more than 20 villages who united under the banner of Upakuliya Jami O Jangal Suraksha Samithi (UJJSS). They appealed to the government to give them the legal right over the land. Further, in 2015, on account of a petition by green activist Prafulla Samantara, the National Green Tribunal stayed the work on the project due to illegal tree felling and non-compliance of environmental norms under Environmental Protection Act, 1986.
In 2019, after four years, the decision to revive the project was taken by the State government who had already completed the acquisition of around 972 acres of land. This was met with protests by members of the coastal land and forest security samiti (UJJSS) who remarked it to be "anti environment and anti people", on account of it severely disrupting the complex coastal ecology and local livelihoods. They called for the immediate intervention of the Chief Minister.
In 2020, the Orissa government decided to revise the master plan for the project in lieu of the changing ecology of the area. It is set to be developed over three phases of five years each.
Demand for legal recognition of land rights
Demand for promised land
Complaint against procedural violations
Urban and Rural
Common
Forest and Non-Forest
Total investment involved (in Crores):
₹
3500
Type of investment:
Cost of Project
Year of Estimation
Page Number In Investment Document:
Has the Conflict Ended?
No
When did it end?
Why did the conflict end?
Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict
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.
Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute
Yes
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:
Violation of environmental laws
Lack of legal protection over land rights
Non-implementation of land ceiling laws
Legal Status:
In Court
Status of Case In Court
Pending
Whether any adjudicatory body was approached
Yes
Name of the adjudicatory body
National Green Tribunal
Name(s) of the Court(s)
Odisha High Court
Case Number
Main Reasoning/Decision of court
Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:
Whether criminal law was used against protestors:
No
Reported Details of the Violation:
Date of Violation
Location of Violation
Nature of Protest
Advocacy (for inclusion in courts)
Campaigns (grassroots organisations/press releases/media)
Development of a network or collective
Protests/marches
Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:
Government of Odisha Tourism Department, Revenue department of Odisha, Odisha Tourism Development Corporation
PSUs Involved in the Conflict:
Shamuka Tourism Development Corporation Limited
Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?
Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached
Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?
Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:
Residents of Puri district
Image Credit:
Image Credit: