Environmental awareness in public have increased over the past few years. Local communities have started asking uncomfortable questions about developmental projects.
In many cases, people find that their land is being requisitioned for a project from which they will derive no benefit. The decade long battle against Sardar Sarovar Project on the
Narmada river is an example of this.
A system of consultation must be devised so that the views of the community who will be affected as a result of the project is taken into consideration.
Example of projects which failed due to lack of eco-friendliness are as follows :
Goa
People in Goa are very concerned about their fragile Eco-System. "Economic Development should be compatiblc with Environmental Protection". This aspect has come to occupy centre stage in Goa now.
The Nyton project was mooted in 1983 by the Econometric Development Corporation (EDC), a Stale Government Undertaking, but the letter of intent subserviently transferred to a new company, Thapar Dupont Limited (TDL). The project involved setting up of 18,500 tomes/hum nylon cord plant with an investment
of over Rs. 800 crores. Everything about this project has been questionable, starting from the decision to start a chemical industry in Goa in total disregard of the stipulation to keep the state free from polluting industries. The State Government then' also helped TDL by clearing the project overruling objections and without bothering to check the likely impact on the Environment.
The project suffered a major setback in 1990, following allegations that rules had been flouted to hand over land belonging to the agricultural societies, to DuPont.
The progressive democratic front-ruled Government of that time appointed a House Committee headed by Mr. A. N. Naik, to go into the Environmental Implications of the Project including its socio-economic impact and also look into allied matters like the events leading to the proposal to establish the Nylon 6.6 project in its present Id cation, the role of Government Authorities and the intentions of the project promoters.
After 'a detailed study, the committee recommended that the project should be shelved on account of the likely threat of pollution. It called for the cancellation of the "letter of Intent". The committee stated that it would be an ill-advised move to allow large chemical industries, discharging even their 'treated' settlements in Goa's
eco-rich and virgin Rivers. The committee stated while deciding on the establishment of large chemical industries in a small relatively densely populated and socio-economically rich state like Goa, one has to consider not only the statistical probability of a possible industrial accident but also the disastrous danger to human and ecology that may result from such an accident. In a tiny state like Goa. any large Capital Intensive Industry is bound to consume a significant percentage of available natural resources, but in turn contributes negligibly to the local economy.
Aillong the lapses noticed was the failure to get an Environmental Impact Assessment for the project which is mandatory before an clearance is given. Environmentalists were opposed to the project mainly because of the unsuitability of the area. the deleterious impact, the tapping of water would have on the water table and the unsatisfactory pollution control measures taken by TDL.
On January 23, 1995, some foreign delegates were expected to visit the factory site. People gathered near the factory site and prevented vehicles carrying the delegates and others from reaching the site. The police tried to disperse the crowd and in die process. one of the agitators fell victim to police firing. After this, the
mob went literally berserk and ransacked the TDL offices. Some police vehicles were set on fire and three policemen were "forcefully" detained by the agitators for some time. A band was observed against the police in Ponda town the next day.
There is nothing at the TDL site now, the TDL officials staying in Ponda & Panaji have quit the place. Anti-Nylon Citizens Action Committee (ANCAC) and the ECO-Forum, an umbrella organisations of the Environmental groups in Goa are determined to ensure that TDL does not revive its operations in Goa. With this project. the Government released that the people of the area do not want the project due to its lack of eco-friendliness.
In many cases, people find that their land is being requisitioned for a project from which they will derive no benefit. The decade long battle against Sardar Sarovar Project on the
Narmada river is an example of this.
A system of consultation must be devised so that the views of the community who will be affected as a result of the project is taken into consideration.
Example of projects which failed due to lack of eco-friendliness are as follows :
Goa
People in Goa are very concerned about their fragile Eco-System. "Economic Development should be compatiblc with Environmental Protection". This aspect has come to occupy centre stage in Goa now.
The Nyton project was mooted in 1983 by the Econometric Development Corporation (EDC), a Stale Government Undertaking, but the letter of intent subserviently transferred to a new company, Thapar Dupont Limited (TDL). The project involved setting up of 18,500 tomes/hum nylon cord plant with an investment
of over Rs. 800 crores. Everything about this project has been questionable, starting from the decision to start a chemical industry in Goa in total disregard of the stipulation to keep the state free from polluting industries. The State Government then' also helped TDL by clearing the project overruling objections and without bothering to check the likely impact on the Environment.
The project suffered a major setback in 1990, following allegations that rules had been flouted to hand over land belonging to the agricultural societies, to DuPont.
The progressive democratic front-ruled Government of that time appointed a House Committee headed by Mr. A. N. Naik, to go into the Environmental Implications of the Project including its socio-economic impact and also look into allied matters like the events leading to the proposal to establish the Nylon 6.6 project in its present Id cation, the role of Government Authorities and the intentions of the project promoters.
After 'a detailed study, the committee recommended that the project should be shelved on account of the likely threat of pollution. It called for the cancellation of the "letter of Intent". The committee stated that it would be an ill-advised move to allow large chemical industries, discharging even their 'treated' settlements in Goa's
eco-rich and virgin Rivers. The committee stated while deciding on the establishment of large chemical industries in a small relatively densely populated and socio-economically rich state like Goa, one has to consider not only the statistical probability of a possible industrial accident but also the disastrous danger to human and ecology that may result from such an accident. In a tiny state like Goa. any large Capital Intensive Industry is bound to consume a significant percentage of available natural resources, but in turn contributes negligibly to the local economy.
Aillong the lapses noticed was the failure to get an Environmental Impact Assessment for the project which is mandatory before an clearance is given. Environmentalists were opposed to the project mainly because of the unsuitability of the area. the deleterious impact, the tapping of water would have on the water table and the unsatisfactory pollution control measures taken by TDL.
On January 23, 1995, some foreign delegates were expected to visit the factory site. People gathered near the factory site and prevented vehicles carrying the delegates and others from reaching the site. The police tried to disperse the crowd and in die process. one of the agitators fell victim to police firing. After this, the
mob went literally berserk and ransacked the TDL offices. Some police vehicles were set on fire and three policemen were "forcefully" detained by the agitators for some time. A band was observed against the police in Ponda town the next day.
There is nothing at the TDL site now, the TDL officials staying in Ponda & Panaji have quit the place. Anti-Nylon Citizens Action Committee (ANCAC) and the ECO-Forum, an umbrella organisations of the Environmental groups in Goa are determined to ensure that TDL does not revive its operations in Goa. With this project. the Government released that the people of the area do not want the project due to its lack of eco-friendliness.
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