POLITICS IN THE NAME OF INDUSTRIALIZATION

Industrialization without meddling with the environment is a well known ordeal. The centre’s intransigent stance to stymie the progress of VEDANTA and POSCO in the state has put Naveen in a state of jeopardy. On one hand, the government is mum regarding the POLAVARAM project in Congress ruled Andhra Pradesh. On the other hand, the government is skeptical regarding the growing popularity of Naveen Patnaik on the national stage if the mega multi-million projects are implemented. Is the centre playing politics here? Can industrialization and urbanization go hand in hand with the welfare of the people? Do we have an alternative to Naveen’s dogma of handling the prevailing circumstances?
The centre’s rejection of UK based VEDANTA’s plans to mine bauxite has raised a plethora of allegations and counter-allegations. Mr. Jairam Ramesh’s intransigent stand in a country focused on development and raring to take the global high table has meant that he is scoffed at by some as an ‘inflexible’ green fundamentalist. For years, the environmental ministry was seen as rubber stamping projects. Suddenly the ministry and the ‘minister’ has come out hibernation and become proactive after mega projects such as VEDANTA and POSCO have popped up in states not governed by the ruling Congress party. Mr. Ramesh defends himself from the scathing allegations by stating that there was no politics, no emotions and no prejudice involved in his decision making. But isn’t it politics? The government’s lack of exegesis on the current issue to stymie the development is their failure to exonerate themselves. And they claim to do this for the Dongaria Kondh tribals to enjoy the flora and fauna of Niyamgiri hills. A diaphanous picture regarding the current state of mind of the Dongaria people is not available. The Gandhi scion’s recent visit to Lanjhigarh is a desperate measure to resurrect Congress in the state. It was an act of hypocrisy and diplomacy. The visit has been purported to impress the tribals and brainwash them against VEDANTA. They vehemently claim to be betrayed by the treacherous acts of Congress, who assured them of support and development but failed to stand by their words. When the people themselves are ready, then whom are you (Congress) fighting the ‘green battle’ for?
Now coming to the million dollar question-Can industrialization reach it’s zenith without hampering the environment? The ministry of environment and forests has done well not to grant forest clearance to the bauxite mining project. What finds expression through the environment ministry’s decision is the democratic essence of this country. The pursuit of indivisual good by millions of people yield collective welfare. Provision of public good such as law and order, clean air, protection of biodiversity and the environment and securing the rights of vulnerable groups like primitive tribes is easy to subvert in a political system where the state is willing to bend the rules for selected groups. This sounds sweet to our ears but is only one percent feasible. From my pragmatic point of view , industrialization without violating the environment laws is an uphill task. For the sake of urbanization and growth, we need to compromise with the environment to a certain degree. Because industrialization is held at utmost priority since India lacks in raw materials and energy. Sustainability and inclusion cannot be allowed to choke off growth. Withholding clearance is easy. Producing growth without violating laws or rights calls for political leadership. Every developed nation has gone through such political dilemmas and now it’s our turn.
I am quite amazed and bewildered, as to why the issue of NEELACHAL ISPAT NIGAM LTD is not coming into the foray! It was in the year 1982, during the reign of then CM J. B. Patnaik, that the NINL was set up in Kalinganagar, Duburi in Jajpur district. The then government had to go through the same ordeal. The dynamic ability and governing competence of then Chief Secretary of State, Sudhansu Bhusan Mishra, solved the issue amicably. The NINL required a huge plot of land acquired by the tribal people. In order to make the indigenous people realize the importance of industrialization in the state, and in their slake to pacify the local inhabitants, the government built well furnished, attractive houses in order to lure the villagers. Hence the villagers magnanimously offered their lands to the government in exchange of the houses. Hence the issue of land acquisition was scuttled into oblivion. Unlike the present precarious situation, where land acquisition is done forcefully, or the villagers are paid a meager amount for their lands. Even few people were killed in their resistance to the government’s bullying attitude.
But for once ( on a positive note ) the VEDANTA and POSCO issues have brought the state into limelight. It is at the forefront of discussion. (It came to the limelight for the ‘super cyclone’ and the perpetual floods) Always considered to be a downtrodden backward state, the issue has been able to elicit emotions from people residing abroad. The issue will have varied opinions from different sections but must be resolved for the betterment of the country, for the tribal people and for the environment.