Thread by @LetIndBreathe

Why do we need to #SaveSangnara Forests of Kutch, Gujarat?

Who is Suzlon?

and Why are they trying to erect windmills here?

A thread 1/n

Sangnara village in Kutch, Gujarat, has been trying to save its forest from Suzlon, a wind energy companies for many years.

Kutch has been designated as a wind energy exploitation zone, and in the past few years thousands of mills have been set up by energy companies. 2/n

Communities have protected these forests for the past 500 years.

5 villages have their places of worship in this forest.

The forest is a 500 sqkm virgin biodiverse Tropical Thorn Forest in Gujarat with threatened flora and fauna including Chinkara, Indian Fox, etc. 3/n

Suzlon Energy Limited installed the first wind turbine here 5 years ago.

It caused all the wildlife to desert the area. They destroyed trees, flattened hills – all to install machinery, fans and transmission cables.

Soon, 50 more wind turbines were approved to be set up. 4/n

The village panchayat approached the collector and informed her of the loss and damage that would come from such a project. Even the revenue officers and forest department provided reports that supported the villagers claims – but to no avail. 5/n

The villagers approached the National Green Tribunal (NGT) after receiving poor responses from the local MLA/MPs. The case with the NGT is ongoing. 6/n

In a new development, 2 new mills have been proposed in the last month. The villagers have been stopping Suzlon vehicles that enter the village who have started using police protection to continue the destruction. 7/n

They realise this will be a long battle.

“The govt and companies are already telling us we are obstructing ‘development,’ soon they will say we are terrorists and anti-nationals! We are not afraid as we are not doing this for any selfish gains” says Shankarbhai Lumbini

8/n

All information from people on the ground as per their press note and Divya Bhaskar. Thanks to Sandeep, Pankaj, Nitin and Shankarbhai.