the statement of kerala's electricity minister on the athirapally project is funny.

as repeatedly highlighted in this blog, athirapally is a classic example of how brutal development of india is being pushed in name of growth, jobs, progress. and that too growth, jobs and progess only for a section of the society.

as per the minister, kerala govt will 'take care' of all issues arising out of the project and hence the project can come. indeed many examples in kerala, even with kadar tribals, have shown that consecutive governments do not care once they put a monster unsustainable project in place.

indeed that has been the case in whole of india. arundati roy has given a good summary of project displaced people and their plight in her mega head turning essay titled 'greater common good'.

she summarises it aptly below as
"India lives in her villages, we're told, in every other sanctimonious public speech. That's bullshit. It's just another fig leaf from the Government's bulging wardrobe. India doesn't live in her villages. India dies in her villages. India gets kicked around in her villages. India lives in her cities. India's villages live only to serve her cities. Her villagers are her citizens' vassals and for that reason must be controlled and kept alive, but only just."

indeed athirapally is also one of the casting stones for the elite of the cities so that they can splurge on electricity as if it is their birth right.