New Delhi, Aug 5 (PTI) Environment organisation People for Aravallis has written to the Supreme Court-appointed Aravalli committee, arguing that its public consultation process notification suffers from multiple deficiencies.
It has claimed that the notification, issued on July 21, has failed to reach rural communities and the affected people. The high-powered committee has been tasked with conducting an independent review of the Centre’s report on the definition and delineation of the Aravalli hill range. It has to submit its report by August 31.
The notification sought representations, suggestions, and inputs from a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including the states across which the Aravallis span.
It added that submissions, supported “to the extent possible” by documentary evidence or verifiable material, must be made via email or an official Google Form within 21 days of the notice.
The People for Aravallis has said that the notification has not been widely disseminated through radio, social media, or WhatsApp. Moreover, “there is hardly any dissemination of this information in any newspaper”, it added.
The organisation noted that even sarpanches and grassroots community leaders in different Aravalli districts have not heard about the committee inviting comments and suggestions from different stakeholders.
“It is our submission that without effective consultation and getting feedback of the rural communities dependent on the Aravallis for their sustenance and who are most affected by any decision with respect to the range, it would not be prudent on the part of the HPC (high-powered committee) to formulate its report,” said the organisation.
It also highlighted that the notification runs counter to the spirit of the Supreme Court’s June order, which said that a fair, impartial, independent expert opinion must be obtained and considered, after engaging all requisite stakeholders to resolve critical ambiguities and provide definitive guidance on the issues.
The organisation has pointed out that 21 days for the affected parties to send in their comments is not enough time.
In a statement, Sadhna Meena, one of the organisation’s members, said, “Keeping in mind the fact that the press note is not readily available and accessible to the public on the ground in rural areas, 21 days is not enough time.” “In the monsoon season, rural people across the Aravallis are busy participating in annual events like the Kawaar Yatra, upcoming International Adivasi Day, etc. Further, there are gaps in communication during the monsoon season due to heavy rain,” Meena added.
The committee is set to carry out its field visits between August 6 and August 10 to examine matters related to the Aravalli hills and ranges. PTI ALC SAP ALC SAP SAP
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