Skip to main content

Activists insist, World Bank president must act on eco-concerns on Gujarat power project

By A Representative
Over a hundred prominent organisations and activists have expressed "shock" over World Bank President Dr Jim Kim’s "inaction" on the audit report on the Tatas Mundra ultra mega power project in Gujarat, adding, they condemn such a move and demand that the International Finance Corporation’s (IFC) withdraw from the project. In a letter sent to Dr Kim, they said, “People’s movements and their allies in India are shocked that you have cleared the IFC management’s response to the Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO) Audit Report on Tata Mundra Project”.
The activists and NGOs said, the findings by the CAO, which is the independent recourse mechanism for the World Bank group's IFC, "warrant nothing less than IFC’s withdrawal from the project.” Ironically, the activists and NGOs have said this despite the fact that the CAO has refused to recommend withdrawal of the IFC's funding, even as saying that the Tatas' power project has failed to take into account environmental and livelihood concerns of the region around Mundra.
In fact, the CAO report concluded in its report that it was “reluctant to review IFC management decisions on project selection.” Instead of recommending any punitive steps, such as suspension of loan on environmental or livelihood grounds, the CAO report rejects the view that it is not feasible to “not finance new business activity that cannot be expected to meet the Performance Standards over a reasonable period of time”. Instead, the IFC is allowed to take its own decisions on merit, and whether to “move forward with the investment”. 
Even then, the activists and NGOs told in their letter to Dr Kim, “Your endorsement of IFC’s response to CAO findings and thus letting IFC and the company continue the violations merits nothing less than condemnation.” The CAO released their findings on October 24, after a year-long investigation into the financing of IFC to the project. CAO had found IFC made "serious lapses" in funding the Tatas' coal-fired plant, the letter said.
The letter was issued in support of the local organisation, Machimar Adhikar Sangharsh Sangathan (MASS),a nd signedm among others, by the National Alliance of People’s Movements, which the apex body of several people's organisations, the Narmada Bachao Andolan, the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan, the All India Union of Forest Working People, the India Climate Justice, the National Fishworkers Forum, and the All India Forum of Forest Movements, among others.
Taking "serious note" of the inaction of the President, the letter said, “By your decision to keep your eyes closed to the damning findings of the CAO, you are complicit in the human rights violations, livelihood loss, impacts of air pollution, water contamination, and perilous marine ecological disaster in the wake of the IFC-funded project.” It found in the inaction a "larger malice" of the World Bank, regretting, “The World Bank’s compliance mechanisms like CAO and Inspection Panel are increasingly becoming a farce, while the Bank continues aiding projects – whether hydro or coal projects, infrastructure projects, or meddling with policies and legal system.” 
"World Bank Group has currently 386 active projects in India with a committed portfolio of $29.5 billion", the letter declares, adding, concluding, “We will continue our struggles against the Bank, its policies and its blatant disrespect of human rights. We will strengthen the struggle of MASS and would challenge you and your Bank at every possible avenue.”
The 4000 MW Coastal Gujarat Power Ltd (Tata Mundra) is finance by International Finance Corporation (IFC), Asian Development Bank, Korean ExIm Bank and other national Banks. A complaint by the local organisation MASS to the recourse mechanism of IFC, the CAO, led to a full investigation into the financing of the project. The CAO validated major MASS complaints. It found the IFC committed serious supervision failures and significant policy breaches, but refused to recommend withdrawal of loan.
"The CAO confirmed  that the environmental and social risks and impacts of the project were not considered and addressed; there was no social baseline data; the IFC’s policies for land acquisition were not applied; despite physical and economic displacement, inadequate attention was paid to the requirement of biodiversity conservation; the IFC failed in its review and supervision of the impacts on airshed and marine environment; and the IFC failed to examine the cumulative impact of Tata Mundra", the NAPM said in a statement.

Comments

James Rich said…
Great information on Eco Power Projects
Thanks for sharing. Keep posting the good stuff!!
Anonymous said…
For genuine and Serious inquiry of any form of banking instrument (BG/SBLC/MTN/DLC/LC) Which can be engage in PPP Trading, Discounting, signature project(s) such as Aviation, Agriculture, Petroleum, Telecommunication,automobile, construction of Dams, Bridges, Real Estate and all kind of projects, We offer these from a genuine and certifiable finance company as the provider hence we are able finance your signatory projects and help you enhance your business plan. Furthermore,My Provider's swift carries tracking code with answerback,we can deliver at affordable price to our customers in other to derive maximum utility.for lease and/or sale from a genuine and reliable source without broker chain / joker broker story or chauffer driven offer while having your required time frame in mind.
We will be glad to share our working procedures with you upon request to help us proceed towards closing deals effectively.
Thank You

Contact : Mr. Mahendra Jain
Email :Draj.bgbroker@gmail.com
Skype ID: Jaindra.bglease

TRENDING

How community leaders overcome obstacles to protect forests and pastures in remote villages

By Bharat Dogra  Dheera Ram Kapaya grew up in such poverty that, unable to attend school himself, he would carry another boy’s heavy school bag for five kilometers just to get a scoop of daliya (porridge). When he was finally able to attend school, he had to leave after class five to join other adolescent workers. However, as soon as opportunities arose, he involved himself in community efforts—promoting forest protection, adult literacy, and other constructive initiatives. His hidden talent for writing emerged during this time, and he became known for the songs and street play scripts he created to promote forest conservation, discourage child marriages, and support other social reforms.

Workers' groups condemn Gujarat Ordinance increasing working hours, warn of statewide agitation

By A Representative   At a consultation organised today by the Asangathit Shramik Hit Rakshak Manch at Circuit House in Ahmedabad, leaders of major trade unions and labour rights organisations strongly opposed the Gujarat government’s recent ordinance amending the Factories Act and the draft rules notified under the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Code, 2020. Around 50 representatives from central trade unions, independent unions, and labour welfare organisations participated in the meeting.

Deaths in Chhattisgarh are not just numbers – they mark a deeper democratic crisis

By Sunil Kumar  For a while, I had withdrawn into a quieter life, seeking solace in nature. But the rising tide of state-sponsored violence and recurring conflict across India has compelled deeper reflection. The recent incidents of killings in central India—particularly in Chhattisgarh—are not isolated acts. They point to a larger and ongoing crisis that concerns the health of democracy and the treatment of marginalised communities.

'Bengali Muslim migrant workers face crackdown in Gurgaon': Academic raises alarm

By A Representative   Political analyst and retired Delhi University professor Shamsul Islam has raised serious concerns over the ongoing targeting and detention of Muslim migrant workers from West Bengal in Gurgaon, Haryana. In a public statement, Islam described the situation as "brutal repression" and accused law enforcement agencies of detaining migrants arbitrarily under the pretext of verifying their citizenship.

Gender violence defies stringent laws: The need for robust social capital

By Dr. Manoj Kumar Mishra*  The tragic death of Miss Soumyashree Bisi, a 20-year-old student from Fakir Mohan College, Balasore, who reportedly self-immolated due to harassment, shocked the conscience of Odisha. Even before the public could process this horrifying event, another harrowing case emerged—a 15-year-old girl from Balanga, Puri, was allegedly set ablaze by miscreants. These incidents are not isolated; they highlight a disturbing pattern of rising gender-based violence across the state and the country.

The GMO illusion: Three decades of hype, harm, and false hope

By Sridhar Radhakrishnan  Three decades of hype, billions of dollars spent, and still no miracle crop. It's time to abandon the GMO biotech fairy tale and return to the soil, the seed, and the farmer. “Trust us,” they said. “GMOs will feed the world.” Picture a world where there is plenty of food, no hunger, fields grow without chemical pesticides, children are saved from malnutrition, and people live healthily.

The myth of population decline: India’s real challenge is density, not fertility

By N.S. Venkataraman*   India’s population in 2025 stands at approximately 1.4 billion. In 1950, it was 359 million, rising sharply to 1.05 billion by 2000. The population continues to grow and is projected to reach around 1.7 billion by 2050.

How natural and organic farming can be a key to combating the climate crisis

By Raj Kumar Sinha*  On July 9, while addressing the “Sahkar Samvad” in Ahmedabad with women and workers associated with cooperatives from Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan, Union Home Minister Amit Shah emphasized that natural farming is essential for both our health and the health of the soil. This is a significant statement in the context of addressing the climate change crisis. Natural farming can play a crucial role in combating climate change. Also known as organic farming, it is a system of agriculture that can increase food production without harming the environment. Natural farming has the potential to reduce carbon emissions by 35% to 50%.

Indigenous Karen activist calls for global solidarity amid continued struggles in Burma

By A Representative   At the International Festival for People’s Rights and Struggles (IFPRS), Naw Paw Pree, an Indigenous Karen activist from the Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG), shared her experiences of oppression, resilience, and hope. Organized with the support of the International Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self-Determination and Liberation (IPMSDL), the event brought together Indigenous and marginalized communities from across the globe, offering a rare safe space for shared learning, solidarity, and expression.