7th CMS VATAVARAN Environment and Wildlife Film Festival and Forum 2014

Gaon Chhodab Nahin, a film by KP Sasi on the present day exploitation of tribal land and forests in the name of development was screened in a special film festival hosted by JNU Film Club in association with CMS VATAVARAN on December 6, 2013 at the SSS Auditorium in JNU. Two other films, Dammed by Nandan Saxena and Kavita Bahl and The Pack by Senani Hegde were also screened.

Dammed by award winning filmmakers Nandan Saxena and Kavita Bahl has also been nominated for the 7th CMS VATAVARAN 2014 to be held from January 30- February 3, 2014 in the category- Water for All. The film looks into the protest by the residents of Ghogal village against the construction of Onkareshwar Dam in Madhya Pradesh in September 2012 as it would displace more than 50,000 people. After 17 days, the state government announced that it would implement the orders of the Supreme Court of India. The irony was complete. NHDC Limited; and its band-wagon of foreign banks and investors have made 90 per cent profit after tax in the last three years. While the corporations make super profits; the poorest of the poor become the orphans of the dams

The filmmaker couple were present in JNU for an interactive session with the audience. Mr. Aniruddh Majumder, Assistant Manager, Wildlife Trust of India enlighted the audience on the Asiatic wild dogs after the screening of The Pack by Senani Hegde.