On May 27, a sunny Saturday, some 30 men from the villages of Barsu, Goval, Shivane Khurd and Devache Gothane in Ratnagiri climbed atop the vast laterite plateau in their neighbourhood. They walked a mile further under the scorching sun and camped under a banyan tree, where they removed their shirts and lined up in front of a barber. He shaved their heads one by one and then they proceeded to a nearby site where a religious ceremony took place. “We have gathered here to perform the cremation rites of the state government,” said one of them. “This ceremony is called ‘pind daan’, which is performed on the day of ‘varsha shraddha’, the death anniversary of a deceased person. For us, the government of Maharashtra died when it announced that Barsu and nearby villages would be the site of the proposed Ratnagiri Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (RRPCL) oil refinery complex.”
“Most of the villagers are against this project,” said Krishna Arekar from Shivane Khurd. Surveyors had collected soil samples from various sites on the plateau and the police had been deployed to protect them. “A big protest took place to stop the survey,” said Arekar. “The police attacked protesting villagers. Women were dragged to police vans and taken away. Men were arrested and locked up till the survey was completed.”
Esta historia es de la edición July 02, 2023 de THE WEEK India.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición July 02, 2023 de THE WEEK India.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
WHEN THE FILTERS FAIL
With chronic kidney disease on the rise in India, THE WEEK spoke to four patients to chronicle their struggles and hopes
STROKE SURVIVORS HAVE A HIGHER RISK OF DEMENTIA
ABOUT ONE-FIFTH OF STROKE survivors will eventually get a diagnosis of dementia, finds a Canadian study published in the journal Neurology.
Highs and lows of aviation safety
A recent spate of fatal air accidents around the world has once again sparked a debate about aviation safety. With India's aviation sector being the fastest growing in the world, this should interest all Indians. As an active pilot for three decades, it is certainly of great interest to me.
IS SEATED OR SUPINE BLOOD PRESSURE MEASUREMENT MORE ACCURATE?
A STUDY FROM HARVARD UNIVERSITY, published in JAMA Cardiology, found that patients who had elevated blood pressure while lying down (supine position) were at a higher risk for heart disease, stroke, and death-even if their seated blood pressure readings were normal.
Beating cervical cancer
When detected early, it is highly treatable with good outcomes
REGULAR FLOSSING MAY REDUCE RISK OF STROKE/AFIB
REGULARLY FLOSSING YOUR TEETH may not only protect your gums, but also lower your risk of stroke as well as irregular heart rhythms such as atrial fibrillation.
TWIN PREGNANCIES DOUBLE THE RISK OF HEART DISEASE
MOTHERS OF TWINS are twice as likely to be hospitalised for heart disease in the year after delivery, according to a US study published in the European Heart Journal. The risk is even greater for mothers of twins who had high blood pressure during pregnancy.
Banking on biosimilars
The pharmaceutical industry is experiencing a biosimilar boom, and India is among the best-positioned countries to capitalise on it. Biosimilars are biological medicines that closely resemble an already-approved reference biologic.
PREHABILITATION BEFORE SURGERY IMPROVES OUTCOMES
WHAT IS PREHABILITATION, or prehab? It refers to the process of preparing for a surgery by exercising and eating a nutritious diet to improve surgical outcomes.
CULTURE IN A CLAY POT
Chef Regi Mathew takes Kerala cuisine to New York with Chatti, hoping to showcase the immense potential of Indian regional food
