Agarias file reply to govt order on salt pans.

Charul Shah; DNA; Friday , April 22 , 2011,

The Agarias of Malia, Rajkot on Thursday filed their reply to the notices given by the mamlatdar to close down their salt manufacturing units which come within an area of 1 km around the Wild Ass Sanctuary in the Little Rann of Kutch. They have asked the government to drop the proceeding as it is illegal, otherwise they will move the Gujarat high court challenging such actions.

In the reply filed through Agaria Heet Rakshak Manch, they have stated that the government has not yet completed the procedure for survey settlement. Hence, the final boundary of the sanctuary is also not yet finalised. In such circumstances, the issuance of such notice is against the process of law. Hence, they have stated that if this proceeding is not dropped, they will move the high court.

In their reply, they have further stated that as per the notification of the Social Justice and Empowerment department of the state government, the Agarias are included in the de-notified and nomadic tribes. As they depend on salt manufacturing units for their livelihood, they have collective rights of livelihood in and around the areas of Little Rann of Kutch. Hence, the government cannot take away these rights and ask them to close down their activities under any other Act.

They further explained that they had been involved in salt manufacturing in this area for ages, and thousands of Agarias depend on this for their livelihood. These activities have not damaged or caused any danger to the wild life in the LRK nor have they caused any pollution. In fact, the Agarias have provided protection to the wild life around the Rann. The reply further states that as per the records, the population of the wild ass in the area has increased over the years. As per the records of January, 1993 their population was 720, which has increased to 5000 in 2010. Meanwhile, the government on Thursday provided a copy of the documents as demanded by the salt manufacturers who were served with the notice. The documents include the revenue map.

Salt pans: Closure notice shocks community.

Charul Shah; DNA; Ahmedabad; April 21, 2011,

The notices issued to salt manufacturing units and Agarias has sent shock waves through the community. The people of the industry and social activists have condemned the step taken by the government stating that salt manufacturing is an eco-friendly industry. It does not affect wildlife of the sanctuary.

Objecting to the government's decision to close Agaria units, Harinesh Pandya from Agaria Hit Rakshak Manch (AHRM), an NGO working for the development of the Agaria community in Kutch, told DNA that the government has misinterpreted the order of Gujarat high court.

In a petition filed by Amit Jethwa, the state HC had directed the government to stop illegal mining near wildlife sanctuaries. The court had disposed off the petition when the government had given an undertaking that it would take steps to stop illegal mining.

Pandya added that the government's move of sending notices to the units for closure was illegal and it had failed to follow due process as noted under the Wildlife Protection Act.

"Salt-making processes are done on the surface and they can't be considered mining. Traditional Agaria workers have been in this profession much before independence. The state government has taken special steps to create infrastructure for the growth of the salt industry and now it is asking them to close their units. This is unjustified. The Agarias depend upon the salt farming and related activities for their livelihood. And if they are asked to close down salt manufacturing units, they will become unemployed. Their families would suffer too," Pandya stated.

Bachu Ahir, president of Indian Salt Manufacturer's Association (Isma) told DNA that there are over 25,000 Agarias working on the fields used for salt farming. These fields are around the boundary of the proposed sanctuary. If the units are closed the Agarias will lose their source of livelihood. Further, the salt industry will suffer huge losses.

The Marine Salt Manufacturer's Association has made a representation to the collector of Rajkot. In the letter, DU Jadeja, president of the organisation, has said that the government should cancel the notification issued in 1973 declaring its intention to declare the area around the Little Rann of Kutch as a wildlife sanctuary.

Jadeja has further stated in the letter that the activities of salt manufacturing do not harm the environment and as they are non-polluting. He added that the wild asses do not come near the salt farms because of the geographical location.

Heeralal Parekh, former president of Isma told DNA that currently Gujarat contributes as much as 75% to the nation's salt manufacturing industry. If the government starts closing down units around the proposed boundary of the wild ass sanctuary, it would give a serious jolt to the salt manufacturing industry.

Salt-making units in LRK face closure.

Charul Shah: DNA: AHMEDABAD: 20,April 2011,

Agarias and salt industries near the Wild Ass Sanctuary issued show-cause notices by state govt.

Soon, all salt manufacturing units in the Little Rann of Kutch that come within 1 km of the wild ass sanctuary, may face closure by the forest department. The department has already begun proceedings by issuing notices through the revenue department to all salt manufacturing industries and to the local agarias (salt farmers) of Malia region, district Rajkot.

As per the show cause notice, dated April 8, the state government has asked nearby salt manufacturing companies why their units should not be closed or ordered to shift to another locality. Moreover, under the said notice, the government has asked the salt manufacturing units to put forth replies and reasoning against the notice on Tuesday, failing which the state would take appropriate steps in accordance with the law.

The notice further mandates stoppage of all mining and industrial activities around 1 km of the famous sanctuary. Notices by the state government have already been issued to this effect. Sanctuary status was assigned to the area in the Rann by wildlife protection notification, 1972.

In order to officially declare any area protected, which would be required for a sanctuary, a survey of the land as stipulated by the Wildlife Protection Act has to be conducted. Sources from the mamlatdar's office told DNA that the forest department and the state government have begun this survey. The officials have started it in Malia district and as they proceed, they will go on issuing notices to all units that they find to be in the proximity of the proposed wildlife sanctuary.

DU Jadeja, president, Marine Salt Manufacturers Association (MSMA) and vice-president of the Indian Salt Manufacturers Association (ISMA), told DNA that apart from the local agarias, as many as 25 small and big salt manufacturers have been issued notice and asked to file their reply on Tuesday.

"The manufacturers have, apart from registering their objections to the notices, sought the copies of the maps of the sanctuary and government notification copies based on which the government has issued the notices. The mamlatdar has, after receiving the copy of the application, adjourned the hearing to April 21," Jadeja added.