By Japan K Pathak, 19 June, 2014

Presented here are the Gujarat parts of 21-page Intelligence Bureau report on foreign funded(FCRA registered) NGOs active in India against development projects. The report has been submitted by Intelligence Bureau to Government of India early this month. Underlined text is not part of the report. It’s there to guide you through various parts related to Gujarat presented in the report:

The IB report by Joint Director S.A.Rizvi begins with this paragraph: Concerted efforts by select foreign funded NGOs to ‘take down’ Indian development projects. These include agitations against nuclear power plants, uranium mines, Coal-Fired Power Plants(CFPPs). Genetically Modified Organisms(GMO), mega industrial projects (POSCO and Vedanta), hydel projects (at Narmada Sagarl; and in Arunachal Pradesh) and extractive industries (oil, limestone) in the North East. The negative impact on GDP growth is assessed to be 2-3% per year.

Gujarat’s Mundra is mentioned in following para about future anti-coal activism planned by US-based ‘green’ organizations and Greenpeace:

Anti-coal activism is spreadheaded by US-based ‘green’ organizations and Greenpeace, which have formed a ‘Coal Network’ to take-down India’s 455 proposed CFPPs(520 GW) amongst 999 globally. NTPC is ranked as the “first offender” with 47 projects. Since 2013, through front entities, Greenpeace has initiated projects in the Singrauli region (Madhya Pradesh), which produces 15,000 MW (projected to double to 30,000 MW). Future targets are four UMPPS (Ultra-Mega Power Projects) at Sasan(MP), Krishapatnam(AP), Girye(Maharashtra) and Sundargarh(Odisha) and the coal-dependant industrial areas at Mundra(Gujarat), Korba and Raigarh(Chhattisgarh), Jabalpur(MP) and Varanasi(UP).

Following para mentions three projects that involve Gujarat and on target of NGOs:

In 2014, Greenpeace plans to campaign against palm oil imports from Indonesia; to organise construction workers in urban areas; and to initiate a campaigna gainst disposal of e-waste or Indian IT firms. Many other NGOs are noticed to be focusing on projects all over the country, including Gujarat’s Special Investment Regions(Dholera; Mandal-Bechraji); the Par Tapi Narmada River Interlinking Project; and the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor(DMIC). A detailed review is enclosed.

Chancellor of Gujarat Vidyapith Narayan Desai’s son-in-law figures in following part of report:

One Sonntag Rainer Hermann(German national) was deported from Chennai on February 27, 2012. Hermann’s laptop contained a scanned map of India with 16 nuclear plants(existing and proposed) and five uranium mine locations marked prominently. The map also included contact details of 50 Indian anti-nuclear activists hand-written on small slips of paper alongwith a Blacberry PIN graph. The map was sent via email to five prominent anti-nuclear activists including Udaykumar. Sontag was also in close contact with Surendra Gadekar, a prominent member of the Ahmedabad-based anti-nuclear network and son in law of Narayan Desai(reputed Gandhian).

Further inquiry into the pattern design and funding of protests at the 21 anti-nuclear plant or uranium mine sites in India revealed the presence of 65 NGOs(17 FCRA-registered).

Based on the above inquiry, network analysis of all anti-nuclear NGO activity in India revealed the existence of one ‘superior network’ (prominently driven by Greenpeace and renowned activists) and five territorial networks based out of Tamilnadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Meghalaya and Gujarat(Ahmedabad – Surendra Gadekar).

These territorial networks are closely linked to and are supported by the Superior Network of numerous pan-India organizations (Note:IB has named several such organization, of them People’s Union for Civil Liberties PUCL is active in Ahmedabad, Gujarat).

Following para lists out two Gujarat projects coordinated efforts against nuclear power

In the recent past, these networks have coordinated several studies and stalling of projects. Instigation of recent protests at Rawatbhatta, Fatehabad, Jaitapur, Meethi Virdi(Gujarat), Kudankulam, Kakrapar(Gujarat), Kovvada and Chutka sites.

Following para about Greenpeace’s plan to target Mundra(Gujarat)

Greenpeace has declared that Mundra(Gujarat), Korba(Chhattisgarh) and Raigad(Chhattisgarh) would be their next targets after the successful mass mobilizaion at the Mahaan Block in Singrauli Coalfields, Madhya Pradesh.

In contravention of FCRA 2010, Greenpeace was also in talks with AAM Aadmi Party(AAP), which declared Greenpeace Consultant, Pankaj Singh, as the AAP candidate from Mahaan for the Sidhi Lok Sabha constituency in Madhya Pradesh in the 2014 General elections.

Following is the part of the report about Par Tapi Narmada River Interlinking Project

NGOs target Par Tapi Narmada River Interlinking Project( PTNRIP) in Gujarat and Maharashtra

This project is in the focus of protests by various NGOs. The major one is Parthi Purna Adivasi Sangathan(PPAS) a non-political tribal outfit, under the president ship of Dhakal Kalu Padher. One Suta P Shah, member PPAS, is the main functionary of an FCRA-registered NGO, Sarvodaya Parivar Trust, Taluka harampur, District Valsad, Gujarat. PPAS, reportedly, in receipt of financial support from four FCRA-registered NGOs, Sarvodaya Parivar Trust( FCRA no 042000019), Gujarat Vidyapith (FCRS no. 041910019), some CAGs, including Deevalaya Fulwadi (FCRA no. 042200007) of Father Vincent Mukan and Rajpipla Social Service Society (FCRS no. 041990010).

The above four-FCRA registered NGOs have received foreign funds amounting to Rs. 12.72 crore during the financial year 2006-07 to 2012-13 mainly from Germany(52.80%), Italy(11.68%), USA(6.90%) and Indian donors(27.40%). These NGOs received funds mainly from Andheri Helfe, Germany(29.54%), Katholische Zentralstele Entwicklungshilfe e.V, Germany(17.02%) and Xavier Kalyani Mandal, India(10.34%). Donor-wise details are as under.

PPAs also has support from other tribal outfits including Lok Samiti, Adivasi Ekta Parishad, Jai Adivasi Mahasangh, PTNRIP, involving construction of dams in Gujarat(6) and Maharashtra(1), came into existence when a MoU(May 2010) was signed between State Governments of Gujarat and Maharashtra and Ministry of Water of Western Ghats to the water deficit regions of North Gujarat and Saurashtra-Kutch region. The project also involves construction of three diversion weirs and 400 km canal connecting these reservoirs, which will help irrigation ernroute besides power generation.

Macdonald, an international company, has been assigned this task for the feasibility test. PPAS alleges that due to this project, tribals from 75 villages would be allegedly affected, of which 24 would be fully submerged and the rest will get partly affected. Most affected villages are particularly from Taluka Dharampur District Valsad & some villages of District Dangs (Gujarat) and Peth, Surgana taluka villages of Nasik district of Maharashtra. The project will submerge an area of 7559 hectares of land including 3570 hectares of forest land displacing villagers and livestock in the region.

Following is the report o a consortium of NGOs against Gujarat Model of development

Gujarat Vikas Manch Lokadhikar Andolan(GVMLA) in Gujarat

A consortium of NGOs like MARAG, PUCL, Movement for Secular Democracy (MSD), Gujarat Sarvodaya Mandal etc., are making efforts to debunk the Gujarat Model of Development. GVMLA organized a 2-day seminar(50/Ahmedabad/March 15-16, 2014), which was prominently participated by representatives of above NGOs. The leaders in their address criticized the State Govt. on the issues of Statue of Unity, Special Investment Regions(SIRs), Mithi Virdi(Bhavnagar) Nuclear Power Project, Industrial development, employment, health, agriculture etc, issues.

Following is the part of the report on SIR in Gujarat

Special Investment Region(SIR) in Gujarat

During a two-day seminar of GVMLA, participants discussed about SIR and stated that due to the implementation of the act, Plain & fertile land of the farmers goes to the industrial sector as a result of which farmers lose their fertile land which is their basic livelihood. Laljibhai Desai, Director of an FCRA-registered NGO, Maldhari Rural Action Group(MARAG) and President of Aazad Vikas Sangthan(a local NGO), has come to notice for instigating, managing & leading the few agitations against SIRs of Dholera(DSIR) and Mandal-Bechraji(MBSIR).

A sammelan (100-1200/Dholera/March 19,2014) was organized under the banner of Bhal Khedut Sangathan, which was participated among others by Lalji Desai and leaders of Gujarat Khedut Samaj, to protest against the acquisition of land of the farmers of Dholera SIR. Jameen Adhikar Andolan Gujarat (JAAG), Khedut Hit Rakshak Samiti(KHRS) are also opposing MBSIR. FCRA-registered NGO, MARAG received foreign funds amounting to Rs. 5.53 crore during FY 2006-07 to 2011-12.

Save The Children Rs. 12,852,245 – 23%
Bioversity – Rs. 12,573,613 – 22.74%
Child Relief and You – 9,068,412 – 16.40%
International Fund for Agricultural Development IFAD – Rs. 8,747,350 – 15.82%
Oxfam – Rs. 5,094,701 – 9.21%
Canada India Village Aid(CIVA) – Rs. 3,023,159 – 5.47%

Following are the paragraphs on Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor project, major part of which is to pass through Gujarat. This part also covers agitation against the project in Vadodara district.

Delhi to Mumbai Industrial Corridor(DMIC) Project

National Alliance of Peoples’ Movement (NAPM) organized Mumbai-Delhi Sangharsh Yatra( March 8-19, 2013) from Mumbai(150-200/March 8) under the leadership of Medha Patkar in protest against proposed DMIC project. The yatra traversed through Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana and culminated at Delhi by staging a Dharna/demonstration on March 18 for mobilizing people affected due to the DMIC project. DMIC is the State sponsored Industrial Development Project spanning in 1483 Km area across six states in Uttar Pradesh, NCR of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra. NAPM alleged that DMIC would impact approx 180 million people(14% of Indian population) adversely both from enviornmental/agricultural angle and would turn out to be the biggest disaster for people in coming years.

Corridor Virodhi Shetkari Sangharh Samiti organized a dharna(300-350/Azad Maidan, Mumbai/May 1,2013) to protest against the forcefully encroachment of farmers land for Delhi – Mumbai Industrial Corridor(DMIC). Indian National Social Action Forum(INSAF) organized a meeting (Jaipur/February 20, 2014), which while discussing the issue of DMIC, observed that the Government is acquiring the land of farmers over the name of DMIC and the INSAF activist have to alert the farmrers over this issue that one day the farmers will be landless in this country.

The farmers of 31 villages of Vadodara district organized a meeting(150, Beel/Vadodara March 10, 2014) under the aegis of ‘Ekta Gramin Praja Vichar Manch Samiti(EGPVMS) in protest against proposed project of DMIC including Express Highway from Vadodara to Mumbai and proposed railway project bullet Train from Ahmedabad to Mumbai via Vaodara. The leaders of EGPVMS appealed to the farmers not to give their land for the above projects as there is apprehension that farmers would face heavy financial loss and the project would adversely affect the environment in these villages.