318 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
to some definite conclusion in this matter I shall be able to circulate a paper to the House containing the conclusions of Government and members can then raise the matter for discussion in any way they like.
Babu Ram Narayan Singh : My information is that the land acquisition proceedings are going on in the Hazaribagh district and they are asking people to go away.
Mr. President: Is the Honourable Member sure that those proceedings are in respect of this very scheme ?
Babu Ram Narayan Singh : Yes.
Mr. President: But it appears that the Government has done nothing so far.
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Government are merely acquiring some land for the purpose of having access roads.
Mr. President: In connection with this scheme ?
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Yes: they have only served notices in order to prepare some access roads. No question of evacuation has arisen at this stage
Mr. President: The acquisition is for the purposes of collection of data?
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : There is no question of acquisition at this stage at all. No doubt if government decide to construct certain dams on the Damodar River, certain approach roads must be made for that purpose ; and for that purpose they have served notices on a few people in order to acquire small strips of land for the purpose of making roads. As to the specific question raised in the adjournment motion regarding forced evacuation of thousands of people in hundred of villages in the Hazaribagh districts and Manbhum and Sonthal Parganas, from their homes, it certainly does not arise at this stage because government has no idea as to what will happen, if I may say so. It is very very preliminary.
Mr. President: The difficulty I am feeling about this is that, if government have decided that the dams should be put up and if they are taking steps initially for approach roads, what does it matter whether they have been able to ascertain or not as to how many people will have to be evacuated, because the dam will be an established fact ?
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: No, Sir; we are still consulting consultants from outside to help us as to what correct