Sustainable Development

Is Sustainable development possible in India?

 
Today, as India continues on its way towards achieving better standards for all its citizens, we tend to forget that development cannot take place without due consideration of the environment.

As more areas are opened up for industries, housing and infrastructure development, the industrial lobby is riding rough-shod over environmental concerns raised by NGOs and wildlife activists. There is a tendency to overlook most, if not all, of the issues that affect the environment and wildlife survival, by those who are responsible for implementing policies. This begins with lopsided planning of infrastructure and industrial projects. These projects often get the necessary approvals from all regulatory bodies by appropriate lobbying, greasing of palms and political backing. If and when activists object to such projects, they (the projects) are referred to the judiciary, which can turn out to be a long drawn process. Highly paid lawyers then ensure that the industry’s point of view is explained in a manner that makes the activists appear as obstacles or hindrances to development of the society and the down-trodden. The sons-of-soil argument is forwarded for offering jobs to the affected persons and a compromise formula worked out. 

And when the project is promoted by the government itself, you can understand how effective the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) can be in its objections to the project. Does anyone remember what happened to Mr. Jairam Ramesh?

The recent news of the apex court’s approval for the passage of the Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) through the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, is one such example.

The apex court, in good faith, has taken into consideration the project authorities’ commitment towards mitigation of the adverse effects of the corridor on the wildlife and has suggested several measures during the construction phase.  

Sanjay Gandhi National Park
The SGNP, for people who are not aware, forms an important green belt within Mumbai city’s boundaries and is connected to Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary. Dispersal of wildlife between SGNP and TWS is critical to ensure that gene pool diversity is maintained and the animals do not in-breed. The dedicated double freight corridor will connect Vadodara with JNPT, cutting off the dispersal route between SGNP and TWS for small mammals. (Refer article in TOI, dated Sep 09, 2013).
As the article rightly points out, remedial measures mentioned by DFC, such as high fencing and under-passes for the animals may be poorly designed or may not even be constructed. Just think about it: would the animals use under-passes over which huge double-decker freight trains move to and fro, at high speeds and short intervals? The scenario is unnerving even for humans.

The fact that the wild life reserves are under attack is also evident from the reported construction of a Viscose Fibers factory in the close vicinity of Karnala Bird Sanctuary, without obtaining necessary clearances. Now, do you require any further elaboration on how this case too shall proceed?

Five minutes to midnight
Can the earth’s ecosystem sustain such unplanned and unrestricted development?
R.K. Pachauri, head of the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) speaking in Delhi mentioned “we have five minutes to midnight” for fighting against environmental disaster.
The rate at which India is moving, it would be more appropriate to say, “Two minutes to midnight”, (Iron Maiden).

The extent to which we are polluting the environment can be seen from the attached photographs. The Thane creek, stretching from Kalwa bridge right up to Vashi, is littered with garbage (includes plastic bags, bottles, thermocole plates and glasses, items from Ganesh immersion and construction debris in polythene fiber bags). 

It is time to stop this degradation. As we pray to Vignahartha (Lord Ganesh) to remove obstacles in our path to success, let us ensure that we do not displease Dharti Mata (Mother Earth).

The earth does not belong to us; we belong to the earth

Black Winged Stilt

The Black-winged stilt is a wader and one of the most easily recognizable birds amongst the several species of water birds. It is very common; large numbers can be spotted in the backwaters and creeks surrounding Mumbai and Thane. It is slightly smaller than the common crow, with black wings and white body. It has a slender bill and very long, thin, red-colored legs, which almost make it appear as if it were standing on stilts.
Female differs from the male in being dark brown and white.

Its long legs allow wading into deep water near sand banks and mudflats, and the long beak is effectively used to explore the murky depths for aquatic creatures like snails and mollusks. When it takes flight, the head, neck and legs are outstretched, the legs often skimming just over water, causing ripples across the water surface.

Seen here along with the Pied Avocet (middle) and Bar tailed Godwit

Location: Bhandup mangroves

Crested Serpent Eagle

Eagles are the largest raptors (birds of prey). In flight or while resting, they look magnificent and are a sight to behold. 

The Crested Serpent Eagle is just one of the numerous species seen in India. It inhabits thickly wooded forests in the plains and hills, often near water bodies. From a well chosen perch high up on a tall tree near forest clearings, it keeps vigil for its prey which includes snakes, hare, jungle fowl, partridges and other small birds. It grabs the prey in a swift swoop; the sharp talons and hooked beak do the rest in immobilizing the prey.

It is slightly larger than the common pariah kite, dark brown overall with white streaks on the chest and abdomen. It has a small crest on the head (not seen in these photographs). A distinguishing feature is bare yellow portion between the eyes and the beak and also the yellow eyes.
Sexes are alike. 

Photo courtesy: Upendra Chandratreya
Location: Bandhavgarh

Spare the trees

The road from Ambadi to Shirsad forms part of the highway connecting Mumbai to Ahmedabad. From Shirsad, a smaller road connects to the Nasik-Mumbai highway. For about 20 kilometers between Shirsad and Ambadi, the road is covered with a green canopy of over 300 gulmohur, mango, rain-trees and banyan trees. Motorists traveling along the road are truly privileged and never fail to appreciate the far-sighted vision of unknown road engineers (or foresters) responsible for it. Over a period of time, these trees have grown bigger and stronger, some of them with a girth of more than one hundred centimeters, providing shade and shelter to all wild creatures and mere mortals like us. But with time, as traffic along the route increased many fold, there arose a need to widen the road from the present two lanes to a four-laned carriageway.

Trees - first targets of road widening
As it usually happens in India, the responsibility must have been assigned to some city-based bureaucrat, who proposed that the widening be done on the existing alignment. In other words, the trees would have to make way for tar or concrete road laid by the Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation. A more short-sighted proposal would be harder for even primary school children to come up with. Trees lining the roads are always the first targets for any road widening projects in India. We have seen this all over the country, including projects undertaken for metro-rail/mono-rail construction. Encroachments and illegal constructions, very often belonging to the political class and local land mafia, are most conveniently spared the stick (I mean the earth-movers). In many instances, the mafia working hand-in-glove with corrupt officials or talathis, construct a small religious structure (temple, mosque, cross) overnight, which makes it next to impossible to demolish them. Even if they are demolished by some upright official, she/he would face the combined forces of the political class and be forced on the backfoot. Look at what has happened to Durga. 

Land of Gods?
In the land of Rama, Krishna, Allah, Jesus and the Buddha, the politicians have become all powerful forces, fearing neither Gods nor the rule of the law. I am reminded of the song by Indian Ocean: Zara rukh ja re bandhe, zara tham ja re bandhe….(from the movie Black Friday, it can be loosely translated as: Oh brother, stop breaking the law and fear the Lord!)

Trees, without any political protection are ruthlessly hacked down, leading to loss of habitat for our feathered friends. Irreparable damage is done to the soil and the surrounding micro-environment. Presence of trees acts like a natural sieve, allowing rain water to seep into the ground, recharging natural aquifiers and increasing ground water table. Trees also prevent excessive evaporation of moisture from the soil surface, an important factor in maintaining soil quality in hot and dry climatic conditions. 

Native species - a better choice

A significant point to be considered is that native tree species are better suited in ensuring soil stability than non-native or foreign species. Hence, deforestation cannot be compensated by planting non-native species, like subabul or eucalyptus. Experts have opined that reckless replacement of pine trees with golden oaks/silver oaks has been a major cause for the recent landslides and soil erosion in Uttarakhand. Pine needles form a thick bed on the forest floor allowing water seepage, preventing erosion and loss of topsoil.

Well, environmentalists, relax! The good news in the paper yesterday (TOI, 03.08.2013) is that the local development authority, MMRDA, has issued a stop-work notice to the Vasai-Virar Corporation and the permission to cut trees withdrawn. A new alignment has been proposed for four-laning the road – certainly a small victory for the green brigade and hopefully one of many more to come.

Go green, save paper, save our trees