…… And They Say You Don’t Want Development!!

Much has been spoken and written about Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel, views have been pouring from individuals cutting across all the sections of the society. And there is a clamor about proposed reduction in the grid sizes allocated for determining ecologically sensitive zone in a district. Having gone through all of this roller-coaster ride, now the country, the Western Ghats and the MoEF awaits Dr. Kasturirangan’s report. While we wait for the report, there are few points we have to consider before zeroing on any particular development model.

First, it is safe and also perfectly correct to understand that the conservation of bio-diversity and this special zone is in our economic interests as well. The ecosystem services, when evaluated over a period of time, outwit our economic development models by great extent. All the anthropogenic activities have two things in common. A. Life time and B. Their impacts on social, economic, and environmental aspects. Yes, we have to explore various opportunities to continue our economic output, alleviate poverty and create employment opportunities for youth. However, all these activities- in their lifespan- also depend on the scores of resources derived out of natural services. Therefore, for the sustenance of fresh water supply, rivers and lakes have to be in their natural state. For the continued 4% agriculture GDP contribution we can ill afford to lose fertile agro land. Same logic applies to all other businesses in processing sector. One has to remember that natural systems reside on earth for a period that far outperforms the outputs claimed by our economic activities which alter even within generation. Therefore, the dividends paid by these natural systems span over a large period of time.

Second, as the convention on biodiversity goes, there is also an aspect of inter and intra-generational equity. We on the other hand, construct mega projects like Dabhol incurring heavy social environmental capital costs and after just over two decades, deputy chief minister of Maharashtra and the general rationale in power ministry is content even if the plant remains shut. Why? Simply because per unit power price of electricity purchased from open market is about 4 rupees whereas that of Dabhol, goes beyond 6 rupees per unit. For the past one year, the plant was running at mere 20% of its capacity. So, we have already disrupted the farming, and fishing economy in the area, built the plant and we no longer find it exciting enough! Considering the pace of implementation of Electricity act (2003), and growing market share of power trading exchanges, power from non-utility board generators will always be a sweetheart deal from hereon. The only question remains is of those illiterate, sweaty, and hard-working population and their subsequent generations who were asked to give up their identity for the sake of national importance.

Third, while we make choices of embarking on particular model of development, we tend to ignore all the operational and performance standards for the inevitable development we are promised. Gramsabhas in Goa are as equally responsible for the exceptionally high levels of contamination of their rivers and unprecedented scale of topsoil loss as mine owners themselves. Despite growing opposition to mining for over a decade, from politicians to grass-route level population, mining was one of the important businesses Goa boasted to have (some of them still do). Who’s paying the price and how about the situation when all the mines in Goa exhausted?

Fourth point concerns about the status of implementation of bio-diversity act. The act was adopted in 2002 by the government but has not trickled down to gramsabhas from higher bureaucracy. People in the Western Ghats should be the ones most conscious about their rights and privileges concerning bio-diversity in their villages prescribed under the bio-diversity act and Forest Rights act. The conservation of bio-diversity can’t take place in a void with traditional “forest department does it all” doctrine. Recognizing, involving and benefiting the population righteously attached with traditional forest ecosystems would pave the way for better conservation measures.

From a dispassionate distance, one will realize that the chauvinistic talk of proposed ‘development’ being impeded by environmental activists and civil rights movements is short-sighted. People in villages like Asaniye in Sindhudurg district know more about bio-diversity in their area than the forest department itself because it was the strong protest in a public hearing to faked up EIA that stalled the proposed mining in their area. So, we need to consider how much importance we are going to attribute to primary sector or just get engrossed in so-called value addition brought by secondary and tertiary sectors. That model might have suited other countries, might suit us for some time as well, but then we would have forgotten our own “self” development model in race. This realization appears to be creeping up in Chinese decision-making spines these days.