Skip to main content

Inertia on Central report on eco-destruction prompts Adanis to say ship recycling "not in eco-fragile zone"

Land reclamation at Mundra
By Our Representative
Gujarat’s most powerful industrial house, Adani Group, has declared that the proposed ship recycling facility to be set up next to the Mundra Port does “not fall in any eco-fragile zone”, nor has it received any instructions from the Government of India regarding objections raised by the committee headed by top environmentalist Sunita Narain’s report to the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), which has charged the Adanis with serious violations of environmental norms by the group along the sea coast of Mundra in the recent past.
The statement – which suggests increasing confidence in the group that the environmentalists will not be able to harm their business interests – comes amidst increasing view among Gujarat-based environmentalists that the Government of India (GoI) or the state government are not doing enough to stall Adanis’ movement towards destruction of mangroves forest, haphazard reclamation land by “removing” half-a-dozen creeks, useful for fishery activities, and kick-starting construction of certain facilities at Mundra Port and SEZ ahead of GoI environmental clearance.
The Adanis’ tough defense of the proposed ship recycling facility has been made in a letter by Mahesh Pandya of Paryavaran Mitra, which has made an important representation against the ship recycling project before the Environmental Public Hearing held in Mundra on July 30. Justifying reclamation, the Adanis said in the letter, “It is important to mention that the proposed project area is developed on land which is reclaimed as part of the West Port development as approved under the Water Front Development Project of the MoEF.” Significantly, “reclaimed” land leading is also a major point of contention by the Sunita Naraian committee against the Adanis.
The statement claims, the location has been “cleared” by the MoEF, saying, “Location considered for the proposed project is well within the operational areas of the Adani Port and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZL). This aspect was discussed with the MoEF and accordingly finalized…” It does not stop at that. As for concern regarding waste disposal for treatment at the ship recycling unit, it underlines, “APSEZL is member of the Nandesari Environment Control Ltd (NECL) as well as Saurashtra Enviro Projects Pvt Ltd (SEPPL). We will give preference for sending wastes to SEPPL.”
Pointing out that “all care will be taken” for the environment, the Adanis further claim, they will be using “newer technology in the ship recycling industry which will certainly be helpful to change the image of practices being followed in breaking activities”. They add, the project will in fact “contribute” to “economic development, employment generation, infrastructure growth, income generation, improvement in quality of living standard”, especially of the “fishermen and their families by providing all kinds of support to sustain their livelihood” – all of which are a matter of major criticism by the local social organizations and NGOs.
The statement has sounded alarm bells among NGOs and social organizations, as they feel it only suggests how lukewarm the MoEF and the state government have been to their concern over the destruction to the environment caused by the Adanis in the region while construction the port, the SEZ facility and the power unit. Sounding the alarm, Paryavaran Mitra has shot a strong letter asking the MoEF to implement the recommendations of the Sunita Narain committee and not grant environmental clearance to the proposed ship recycling project. The letter says, in accordance with the committee’s assessment urgent steps should be taken to “repair the damage and harm done by the company” and also take “prompt legal action” against it.
The letter, written by Mahesh Pandya, particularly expresses concern that the Adanis have still not heard anything from the MoEF on the Sunita Narain committee. It quotes the Adanis’ letter as saying that till date they “have not received any communication from MOEF regarding the committee report.” It regrets, “The committee submitted its report in April 2013, and in spite of our repeated request for implementation of the committee report, neither the MoEF nor the state government has taken any action against the company till date.”
While expressing his dismay, Pandya emphasizes, “The company has been a habitual violator of environmental laws and already has adversely impacted environment at the coast of Mundra, which has suffered a lot in the past and will continue to do so with such industrial activities. In view of the above and the company’s background, I request you not to grant environmental clearance to such disastrous project and take legal action against the company at the earliest.”

Comments

TRENDING

'Draconian' Kerala health law follows WHO diktat: Govt readies to take harsh measures

By Dr Maya Valecha*  The Governor of Kerala has signed the Kerala Public Health Bill, which essentially reverses the people’s campaign in healthcare services in Kerala for decentralisation. The campaign had led to relinquishing of state powers in 1996, resulting in improvement of health parameters in Kerala. Instead, now, enforcement of law through the exercise of power, fines, etc., and the implementation of protocol during the pandemic, are considered of prime importance.

Reject WHO's 'draconian' amendments on pandemic: Citizens to Union Health Minister

By Our Representative  Several concerned Indian citizens have written to the Union Health Minister to reject amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR) of the World Health Organization (WHO) adopted during the 75th World Health Assembly (WHA75) in May 2022, apprehending this will make the signatories surrender their autonomy to the “unelected, unaccountable and the whimsical WHO in case of any future ‘pandemics’.”

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. 

Bihar rural women entrepreneurs witness 50% surge in awareness about renewal energy

By Mignonne Dsouza*  An endline survey conducted under the Bolega Bihar initiative revealed a significant increase in awareness of renewable energy among women, rising from 25% to 76% in Nalanda and Gaya. Renu Kumari, a 34-year-old entrepreneur from Nalanda, Bihar, operates a village eatery that serves as the primary source of income for her family, including her husband and five children. However, a significant portion of her profits was being directed toward covering monthly electricity expenses that usually reach Rs 2,000. 

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

Work with Rajasthan's camel herders: German scientist wins World Cookbook Award 2023

By Rosamma Thomas*  Gourmand World Cookbook Awards are the only awards for international food culture. This year, German scientist  Ilse Kohler Rollefson , founder of Camel Charisma, the first of India’s camel dairies, in Pali district of Rajasthan, won the award for her work with camel herders in Rajasthan, and for preparing for the UN International Year of Camelids, 2024. 

Why is electricity tariff going up in India? Who is the beneficiary? A random reflection

By Thomas Franco*  Union Ministry of Power has used its power under Section 11 of the Electricity Act, 2003 to force States to import coal which has led to an increase in the cost of electricity production and every consumer is paying a higher tariff. In India, almost everybody from farmers to MSMEs are consumers of electricity.

'Very low rung in quality ladder': Critique of ICMR study on 'sudden deaths' post-2021

By Bhaskaran Raman*  Since about mid-2021, a new phenomenon of extreme concern has been observed throughout the world, including India : unexplained sudden deaths of seemingly healthy and active people, especially youngsters. In the recently concluded Navratri garba celebrations, an unprecedented number of young persons succumbed to heart attack deaths. After a long delay, ICMR (Indian Council for Medical Research) has finally has published a case-control study on sudden deaths among Indians of age 18-45.

'Pro-corporate agenda': Odisha crackdown on tribal slum dwellers fighting for land rights

By Our Representative  The civil rights network Campaign Against State Repression (CASR), even as condemning what it calls “brutal repression” on the Adivasi slum dwellers of Salia Sahi in Bhubaneshwar by the Odisha police, has said that the crackdown was against the tribals struggling for land rights in order to “stop the attempts at land-grab by the government.”

Deplorable, influential sections 'still believe' burning coal is essential indefinitely

By Shankar Sharma*  Some of the recent developments in the power sector, as some  recent news items show, should be of massive relevance/ interest to our policy makers in India. Assuming that our authorities are officially mandated/ committed to maintain a holistic approach to the overall welfare of all sections of our society, including the flora, fauna and general environment, these developments/ experiences from different parts of the globe should be clear pointers to the sustainable energy pathways for our people.