ADB floats $865,000 Action Plan to improve livelihood, environment for rural areas Mundra, new industrial hub in Gujarat

Counterview Desk
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has come up with a $865,000 dollars "action plan" to improve livelihood and environment in the villages situated along Kutch coast especially in Mundra, which has turned into a major hot spot for industrial development in India. Mundra has one of the biggest private ports of India, owned by Adanis, a special economic zone, also developed by Adanis, and two power plants owned by Tata Group and Adani Group.
The ADB's three year action plan, to be implemented in phases till October 2018, includes:

$100,000 cost for carrying out required studies to identify affected foot fisherfolk and consult fisherfolk through NGOs to improve livelihood and environment of the region,
$40,000 engagement by ADB for appointing specialist marine consultant and assess the results an earlier study undertaken by the National Institute of Oceanography on impact on the sea,
$300,000 required for livelihood improvement plan for foot fisherfolk,
$25,000 for engaging an independent expert to assess the implementation of the livelihood improvement plan,
$150,000 for design and implementation of sludge treatment and disposal measures;
$200,000 as third party monitoring of ambient air quality;
$300,000 for engaging technical support; and
$50,000 as contingency funds.

The ADB, which is one of important financiers of the Tatas' power plant in Mundra, prepared the action plan after making a spot study of rural areas of Mundra following after learning concern expressed by local organizations that their traditional means of livelihood have been affected because of industrial activities in the region.
The action plan is in response to a report by its accountability mechanism, Compliance Review Panel (CRP), to find out changes in livelihood patters in the region and impact on environment. It will be implemented in coordination with the Tata Group's power plant at Mundra, say sources.
The ADB’s CRP had recommended that more livelihood options should be provided to the local people, even as suggesting some environment-improvement measures. It said this should be done on the basis of “adequate and comprehensive” consultations with fisherfolk and expert opinion.
Reacting to the action plan, a local organization, Macchimar Adhikar Sangharsh Samiti (MASS), which claims to represent local fishermen, has said it should not be “restricted only for people who had practiced foot fishing." In a statement, it has added, there should be a proper assessment of the number of people affected because of the impact of industrialization livelihood before implementing it.
Circulating a statement by Gajendrasinh Bhimaji, Sarpanch of Navinal Panchayat, MASS said, the action plan, which is in its draft stage, should confirm with the concerns expressed by the local people, accordance with the CPR. The fishermen, MASS said, faced an "unsure future”, because fisherfolk till now were "self-sufficient communities".

Comments

Bill Gates as funder, author, editor, adviser? Data imperialism: manipulating the metrics

By Dr Amitav Banerjee, MD* When Mahatma Gandhi on invitation from Buckingham Palace was invited to have tea with King George V, he was asked, “Mr Gandhi, do you think you are properly dressed to meet the King?” Gandhi retorted, “Do not worry about my clothes. The King has enough clothes on for both of us.”

What's Bill Gates up to? Have 'irregularities' found in funding HPV vaccine trials faded?

By Colin Gonsalves* After having read the 72nd report of the Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on alleged irregularities in the conduct of studies using HPV vaccines by PATH in India, it was startling to see Bill Gates bobbing his head up and down and smiling ingratiatingly on prime time television while the Prime Minister lectured him in Hindi on his plans for the country.

Displaced from Bangladesh, Buddhist, Hindu groups without citizenship in Arunachal

By Sharma Lohit Buddhist Chakma and Hindu Hajongs were settled in the 1960s in parts of Changlang and Papum Pare district of Arunachal Pradesh after they had fled Chittagong Hill Tracts of present Bangladesh following an ethnic clash and a dam disaster. Their original population was around 5,000, but at present, it is said to be close to one lakh.

Muted profit margins, moderate increase in costs and sales: IIM-A survey of 1000 cos

By Our Representative The Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad’s (IIM-A's) latest Business Inflation Expectations Survey (BIES) has said that the cost perceptions data obtained from India’s business executives suggests that there is “mild increase in cost pressures”.

Anti-Rupala Rajputs 'have no support' of numerically strong Kshatriya communities

By Rajiv Shah Personally, I have no love lost for Purshottam Rupala, though I have known him ever since I was posted as the Times of India representative in Gandhinagar in 1997, from where I was supposed to do political reporting. In news after he made the statement that 'maharajas' succumbed to foreign rulers, including the British, and even married off their daughters them, there have been large Rajput rallies against him for “insulting” the community.

Magnetic, stunning, Protima Bedi 'exposed' malice of sexual repression in society

By Harsh Thakor* Protima Bedi was born to a baniya businessman and a Bengali mother as Protima Gupta in Delhi in 1949. Her father was a small-time trader, who was thrown out of his family for marrying a dark Bengali women. The theme of her early life was to rebel against traditional bondage. It was extraordinary how Protima underwent a metamorphosis from a conventional convent-educated girl into a freak. On October 12th was her 75th birthday; earlier this year, on August 18th it was her 25th death anniversary.

Govt putting India's professionals, skilled, unskilled labour 'at mercy of' big business

By Thomas Franco, Dinesh Abrol* As it is impossible to refute the report of the International Labour Organisation, Chief Economic Advisor Anantha Nageswaran recently said that the government cannot solve all social, economic problems like unemployment and social security. He blamed the youth for not acquiring enough skills to get employment. Then can’t the people ask, ‘Why do we have a government? Is it not the government’s responsibility to provide adequate employment to its citizens?’

A Hindu alternative to Valentine's Day? 'Shiv-Parvati was first love marriage in Universe'

By Rajiv Shah* The other day, I was searching on Google a quote on Maha Shivratri which I wanted to send to someone, a confirmed Shiv Bhakt, quite close to me -- with an underlying message to act positively instead of being negative. On top of the search, I chanced upon an article in, imagine!, a Nashik Corporation site which offered me something very unusual.

Youth as game changers in Lok Sabha polls? Young voter registration 'is so very low'

By Dr Mansee Bal Bhargava* Young voters will be the game changers in 2024. Do they realise this? Does it matter to them? If it does, what they should/must vote for? India’s population of nearly 1.3 billion has about one-fifth 19.1% as youth. With 66% of its population (808 million) below the age of 35, India has the world's largest youth population. Among them, less than 40% of those who turned 18 or 19 have registered themselves for 2024 election. According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), just above 1.8 crore new voters (18-and 19-year-olds) are on the electoral rolls/registration out of the total projected 4.9 crore new voters in this age group.

IMA vs Ramdev: Why what's good or bad for goose should be good or bad for gander

By Dr Amitav Banerjee, MD* Baba Ramdev and his associate Balkrishna faced the wrath of the Supreme Court for their propaganda about their Ayurvedic products and belittling mainstream medicine. Baba Ramdev had to apologize in court. His apology was not accepted and he may face the contempt of court with harsher punishment. The Supreme Court acted on a public interest litigation (PIL) moved by the Indian Medical Association (IMA).

Counterview

Search This Blog