THRISSUR: Progress always comes at a price and it holds true for indigenous communities. Many a time, they are at the receiving end when mega projects are executed. The LDF government’s recent decision to implement 15 hydroelectric projects has come as a shocker to the Kadar tribals in Athirappilly.
Heavily dependent on the river and the forest, Kadars are wary of yet another round of displacement from their settlement if the controversial Athirappilly project is executed.
Displacement is not alien to this community shy of the outside world. They had to leave their settlements in 1905 when the British built a tramway from Chalakudy to Parambikulam to transport timber. There was another exodus when the Peringalkuthu dam was commissioned in 1957. Something similar happened in the 1960s during the construction of the Parambikulam dam.
Today, they are spread across nine oorus (hamlets)--Athirappilly, Thavalakuzhypara, Anakkayam, Sholayar, Pokalappara,Vachumaram, Perumpara, Peringalkuthu and Mukkumpuzha--on the banks of the Chalakudy River.
“My ancestors were displaced from Parambikulam to Peringalkuthu and from there to Athirappilly,” said 30-year-old Geetha. She is the sole female chief of the nine settlements.
“Now we are living at Vazhachal. If the Athirappilly project is executed, 28 families in Vazhachal will be affected. Pokalappara settlement will be completely submerged. Our plight started generations ago. We know the forest and it is our livelihood.”
She rued various hydel projects were affecting their means of livelihood comprising fishing and collecting forest produce. “We do not know any other job. What will we do if we have to go away?”
Chalakudy River Protection Forum secretary SP Ravi said Kadars have not mingled with outsiders for centuries and the presence of the large work force at the dam site would upset the community’s way of life.
The dam will also block the path of wild elephants forcing them to foray into Kadar hamlets. This will trigger another round of migration.
The government has not come out with a concrete proposal to rehabilitate the tribals, said Geetha.