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EIA
Notification 3rd Jan, 2001(Comments)
The
draft proposal to the said notification, on EIA, inserts a change in paragraph
2, wherein in a the requirement of Public Hearing has been exempted in
the following cases: "However,
public hearing is not required in respect of small industrial Units [as
defined in the Industrial Policy from time to time], widening and strengthening
of highways, mining projects [major minerals] with lease area upto twenty
five hectares and modernisation of existing irrigation projects". The
very question of the proposed change is debatable at this juncture???? Firstly,
the EIA notification has already undergone numerous modification, when
will the Executive get the idea, about the procedure to be adopted for
the EIA? Second,
these recent changes have never been given the publicity they should get
so that common man knows the law of the land? Thirdly,
the fact that many Highways, mining projects, modernisation of irrigation
projects have been on the proposal, for which Public hearing was due,
casts a doubt about the very timing of the said notification? Fourthly,
are the said project, having no impact on environment, rather what is
the object behind which these projects are exempted? The
idea of exempting small scale industries as defined in the Industrial
Development Act 1951 is arguably a good policy decision, but the very
fact that, these small scale industries are slowly disappearing from the
arena, in terms of economic growth and are the most unchecked pollutant
in big cities and local town is uncomfortable. Many of the Judgements
of the Court have been against the Big polluter, whereas the small once
have escaped, due to the poverty factor in our Country and unemployment
criteria. Small scale industries have since Independence contributed significantly
to the countries GDP, apart from providing necessaries to the masses,
but may be that all will be lost in the new scenario of globalisation
and modernisation. What
is not understandable is the fact that this notification exempts modernisation
of existing irrigation projects without addressing the issue of displacement,
rehabilitation and resettlement, which has haunted the lives of millions
of Indian over the past 50 years in the very name of development. Irrigation
has a lot more wider definition than water supply. Water supply is essential
for human survival but , after green revolution and food self sufficiency,
it is a little doubtful wether irrigation is essential at the very cost
of development, especially after the report of the World Commission on
Dams, which said that large dams have done more damage than the benefit
derived from it. The
controversy of the Mysore- Bangalore express corridor and the ambition
of the NDA government for the construction of the national Corridor connecting
all the four metros, might be the main agenda for the Government to fulfil
peoples mandate, bu this questions the said notification, otherwise public
hearing for land acquisition in all over the country would have created
a major hurdle to the National Government. Though timely change to rules and regulation show the enlightenment of the Government in Power, it should not be without a statement of object and reason. A welfare Government owes to it people a explanation as to why the proposed change is to be brought into force. Shouldn't the Citizens know the object behind the making and unmaking of a law which ultimately might displace them of their very home. |