Open Forum

New Delhi, 3 December 2014

Development & Aam Janta

WEIGH THE NEGATIVE IMPACT

By Dhurjati Mukherjee

It is scientifically proved that every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Every so-called progressive idea or development action has negative aspects, some of which may have disastrous consequences. Moreover, when planners and experts want to implement something, they rarely feel the need of delving deep to find out its impact on the people or look over the negative effects to please the political and/or the corporate houses.

A glaring case in point is the nagging uncertainty in the NDA Government’s plan to introduce the Land Acquisition Amendment Bill this winter session of Parliament as it does not have the requisite support in Rajya Sabha, with most Opposition parties against it. While the Government may spell out its benefits, the Opposition view is that it would impact farmers as they wouldn’t get adequate compensation for their land whereas the big industrialists will benefit.

Then again, we have seen many highways been constructed over the years throughout the country which have obviously increased connectivity and improved the quality of life. It is quite apparent that the major beneficiaries of this connectivity have been the upper and middle sections of society and not the aam janta. There have been umpteen examples where land of the poor and the adivasis has been forcibly taken for such highways and the meagre compensation given has forced the family into starvation due to non-availability of alternate source of livelihood.  

One may also refer to big private educational institutions being set up where the well-off send their children to study because of the high costs of education. Here also in several States land of the poor and the adivasis has been taken away reportedly ‘in public interest’ to set these institutions. Recently, it was reported that land for setting up of an university, which was inaugurated by none other than President Pranab Mukherjee, belongs to a tribal woman and a sitting MP boycotted the function. 

In carrying out developmental activities, it is thus essential to weigh both the pros and cons before arriving at a rational and judicious decision. The recent decision of the Government to grant quick clearances to held-up projects is, no doubt, welcome but the environmental consequences need to be examined as the after effects may not be all that positive. Moreover, it has to be ensured that acquisition of land and setting up projects confirm to the rules and regulations of the land, including the recent much talked about the Land Acquisition Act.

The present NDA Government has possibly worked in haste to dismantle or weaken the environmental safeguards that do exist. As is well known, unregulated mining has already led to environmental degradation and popular discontent is manifest in different parts of the country. It may be mentioned here that previously six environmental parameters were considered in assessing the impact of mining but this has now been reduced to four. 

It appears that the present Government knowing fully well that river pollution is quite high and groundwater depletion has increased at an alarming pace – over 60 per cent – in some States is happy to permit destruction of forests and their priceless stocks of water. It is needless to mention that the water crisis would accentuate in the coming years and pose a big challenge to irrigation, thereby retarding agricultural productivity.

In a recent book, ‘Greening India’s Growth’ edited by Muthukumara Mani, it has aptly been pointed out that “the cost of degradation exercise undertaken here could be instrumental in moving the environment debate beyond the Ministry of Environment to reach other sectoral ministries”.

Cutting and indiscriminate clearing of forests for various so-called developmental activities, specially mining and setting up of power projects has resulted in landslides soil degradation and climate change. The Environment Ministry’s records reveal impending loss of dense cover in many parts, mostly in mineral rich Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha.

Experts believe that the recent landslide in Maharashtra and last year’s flash floods and landslides in Uttarakhand may in reality indicate a trend likely to recur across the country as over the years huge tracts of forests having the capacity to hold soil and protect slopes have been lost.  

One can find various examples of action which have short term benefits but future effects are quite adverse. The use of chemical fertilizers, which are sometimes used excessively to boost up production and productivity, has a negative effect on the soil structure and steadily, after some years, it becomes dry and loses its normal output capacity. Even genetically modified crops have been found to affect the soil and spoil its production potential.  

Unregulated economic growth for countries such as India may open up wide opportunities and benefit a segment of the population but the poor and the impoverished do not gain. Depleting forests deprive peasants of fuel and fodder, polluted rivers deprive them of irrigation water and pen case mining brings debris to fields and dries up springs. 

Undeniably, there is need in a change in outlook towards the whole issue of development and has to be viewed from a pragmatic and judicious standpoint, keeping in view the interests of the poor and the economically weaker sections. Proper understanding of the problems of the aam janta and a sincere approach are very much necessary at this juncture. The priority in the new outlook would have to be the common man whose benefits need to be kept in mind while also not neglecting the economic growth perspective – to be carried out in a judicious manner. 

The question that obviously engages our mind is that will the desired change come about? One needs to be optimistic on this count as there are enough indications of a transformation in outlook occurring in the minds of political leaders – at least some of them -- activists, economists and a larger section of the society. If the young generation gets the mantle of leadership of political parties, there is hope of a perceptible change in the developmental policies of the Government – both at the Centre and in at least some of the States.  

But one thing is certain that the poor and the backward sections – the tribals, dalits and other such communities – cannot be neglected for long as this will have more serious consequences both on the social and economic front. There has to be developmental growth – more businesses by the people, for the people and of the people. One may mention here that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s now famous call ‘make in India’ assumes significance in this context. The vision for the future should be based on Gandhiji’s charkha, which symbolized that people would be earners and owners of their own enterprise – the new meaning of inclusive democratic capitalism. ---INFA     

(Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)