A heated argument broke out on Saturday between BJP Bharuch Lok Sabha MP Mansukh Vasava and officials of the Forest Department over “selective exceptions” made for Statue of Unity area development while “seizing equipment” of contractors working on road projects in the tribal areas of Narmada district.
The argument pertains to three bridges being constructed in the Dediapada taluka of the district for which the foundation stone was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to the area on November 15.
At the monthly Sankalan Samiti (Coordination Committee) meeting between the Narmada district administration and elected representatives on Saturday, Vasava questioned the forest department action initiated against the contractor, who had begun construction on dilapidated bridges in Dediapada taluka — Dediapada Mal Samot, Sagai-Kelda, Mojhda, Moti Singloti and Besana bridge.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Vasava said, “The three bridges were in a dilapidated condition and need to be constructed to ensure that the tribal population in the area can travel… For the renovation, a diversion needs to be made through the adjoining forest land. As the Prime Minister had laid the foundation stone for the repairs amounting to Rs 29 crore, the work had begun but the forest department seized all machinery, vehicles and equipment of the contractor and lodged an FIR against him two weeks ago…”
Vasava alleged that the forest department had “double standards” while implementing forest rules in the same district.
“When it is a matter concerning a project in the Statue of Unity area, the permissions are granted overnight. even though it is the same forest area and the same laws are applicable. However, in case of the projects for the tribal population, the rules are used to obstruct development… The forest department needs to understand that development of tribal areas can be done only if permissions are granted for necessary projects while preserving the rest of the area,” he said.
The seven-time Lok Sabha MP also pointed out that a 10 km tar road had been constructed from Gora village in the Statue of Unity area to Zarwani eco-tourism site — a part of the SoU tourism circuit – to Dediapada “without any objections” from the forest department.
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“Not just the three bridges but the department is also obstructing construction of interior roads to provide free access to remote tribal villages,” he alleged.
Along with the three bridges, PM Modi had also laid the foundation for construction of roads such as Phulsar-Duthar, Kham Gadhda, Mosit-Sorpada, Kanbipitha-Devmogra, Dediapada-Chikdha, which have been allegedly obstructed by the forest department, Vasava has stated in his formal complaint at the Coordination Committee meeting.
In response, the Executive Engineer of the Road and Bridges Department of Rajpipla informed the MP, “The approval for the reconstruction of the three dilapidated bridges has been given in Dediapada taluka. These old bridge structures of prior to 1980 will be razed to make way for new and wider bridges for vehicular movement… The forest department had stopped the work initiated by the contractor and seized the machinery… The work will be initiated again after seeking approval of the forest department.”
Vasava said, “I am planning to write to PM Modi to raise the issue… The newly appointed forest officers, who have no compassion or understanding of tribal issues, behave in a high-handed manner… without roads, tribal areas will have no access to healthcare and education as teachers and health officers will not be able to reach the villages.”
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The issue, however, brought bitter rivals Mansukh Vasava and Aam Aadmi Party Dediapad MLA Chaitar Vasava on the same page, with Chaitar also raising the issue of the delayed works. Chaitar, while raising the issue of the forest department interrupting most development works, stated that 5,360 applications were pending with the forest department. “The work that has been suspended due to the obstacles created by the forest department should be restarted for the benefit of the tribal population,” Chaitar said.
When contacted, senior forest officials of the district said that the administration had “not obtained the necessary permissions from the relevant forest department to begin the work on construction of the diversion for the reconstruction of the dilapidated bridges”.
The official denied the BJP MP’s allegation that the forest department showed “double standards” while implementing forest laws.
The official said, “In case of the Statue of Unity or the allied development in the area, the necessary permissions have been granted as per the process… If the R&B department or the district administration concerned moves an application with the forest department, it will be considered as per the laws.”
