Narambai is a fishing village off the Bay of Bengal within the territorial limits of the Union Territory of Pondicherry. There was an attempt to evacuate the entire village to set up an offshore LPG plant from their traditional homes where they were pursuing their profession for centuries. The Congress Government led by V.Vaithialingam gave clearance to this project, which will hurt the fishing village. The Narambai fishing village Panchayat took up cudgels against this move which snow balled int o a fight for finish to both sides. We reproduce in verbatim a report from INDIAN EXPRESS dated 27.05.1995.
Dravida Ilaignar Peravai intervenes
While this issue was heating up no political party came forward to address to the concerns of the villagers. The Secretary of Narambai Village Panchayat Mr.A.Kanagasabai and Treasurer Mahalingam met Dravida Ilaignar Peravai Convener and sought his support .
Dravida Ilaignar Peravai, a forum for uniting youth caught between various Dravidian political outfits had made its appearance in May 1994 at the Pondicherry political scene.
Former Minister G.Viswanathan M.A.B.L Ex M.P, currently the Chancellor of Vellore Institute of Technology presided, Former Ministers Azhagu Thirunavukkarasu and S.R.Radha, with L.Ilayaperumal Ex M.P on stage, Dravida Ilaignar Peravai was launched. N.Nandhivarman, a life long DMK activist who was on a 15 year self imposed political exile was called upon to undertake the task of uniting the youth.
The association of Dravida Ilaignar Peravai with Narambai Fishermen Panchayat grew day by day cementing an everlasting bond of comradeship. In the ultimate success of the peoples struggle the role of two journalists must be recorded with gratitude. They are T.Manivannan of The Indian Express and M.Ramachandiran of Dinamani Tamil daily. Mr.T.Manivannan is currently the Bureau Chief of Tamil News at BBC London. Dravida Ilaignar Peravai released an unpublished report of an expert study about which a report by T.Manivannan in The Indian Express is reproduced here.
The government which received the interim report in September 1994, is yet to make it public or even place it in the Assembly.Criticising this N.Nandhivarman an environmental activist concentrating on green issues said "allocating money for a study... to escape from crticism and keep even interim reports as sensitive state secrets does not augur well for an open society. enclosing a copy of the Interim Report to the National Human Rights Commission Nandhivarman wanted the commission to direct the Ministry of Environment and Forests to withdraw The delegation of powers conferred on the Pondicherry Pollution Control Committee in 1992 and confer it on the Central Pollution Control Board.
THEN A WRIT WAS FILED IN HIGH COURT OF MADRAS JOINTLY BY
NARAMBAI VILLAGE PANCHAYAT AND DRAVIDA PERAVAI
NARAMBAI VILLAGE PANCHAYAT AND DRAVIDA PERAVAI
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