De-constructing development in tribal areas: A case study of polavaram project from South India

The story of illegal land acquisition from scheduled areas in Andhra Pradesh inhabited by tribe's points to judicial apathy, bureaucrat connivance and governmental inaction. Cases such as the Polavaram project in these states shows that laws and rules are merrily flouted. It is no wonder that protests are on the rise. The disheartening picture events that are fast overtaking the tribes, and there is no concerted effort to oppose them. Land and the produce of the forest remain their main source of livelihood, but availability of land is restricted by forest reservation on the one hand and nontribal encroachment on the other. This paper presents the initiatives started by government of Andhra Pradesh, to discuss on the current debates within the context of development process adopted by the government and the role of civil societies. It also discusses the status of the project and fate of the tribes after the amendments made to the Andhra Pradesh State Reorganisation Act, 2014.