Industry

System of green clearances not working for environment and people and clearances not the impediment to growth, says CSE’s new study

• New assessment by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) finds unprecedented scale of clearances being given by the ministry of environment to industrial projects in the last five years

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Lessons from Kakarapalli

We were standing at the edge of what looked like a swamp—grass and pools and streams. On one side was heavily barricaded land with high walls, barbed wires and armed security. A board read: East Coast Energy, Kakarapalli. This was where a bloody battle had taken place a few months ago. People protesting the takeover of their wetland were shot at and three lost their lives. Now the site of the 2,640 MW thermal power plant is under siege—locked and in court.

POSCO: take land but give life

The sight on television was heartbreaking: children lying in rows in the searing sun to be human shields against the takeover of their land for Korean giant POSCO’s mega bucks project. Facing them were armed police sent by the state government to assist in the operation.

Changing colours of business

Industry sees sense in going green

CSE review: Planning Commission's interim report on low carbon strategies for inclusive growth

The Center for Science and Environment has reviewed the "Interim Report of Expert Group on Low Carbon Strategies for Inclusive Growth" set up by the Planning Commission of India, and has put its comments up for public debate and discussions. CSE's review shows that there is a lack of ambition in the Interim Report and there is no overarching strategy for low carbon strategies for inclusive growth.
 

Coke in hot water

The Kerala High Court has ordered status quo to be maintained on the cancellation of Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Limited's licence to operate its bottling plant at Plachimada in Kerala. The licence had been cancelled by the Perumatty gram panchayat in Palakkad district of Kerala, following complaints that the company was creating water scarcity in the area by overexploiting groundwater.

Pesticide residues in bottled water

Packaged drinking water or natural mineral water is everywhere. It is now available in pouches, cups, bottles and bulky transparent jars.

Change is in the process

One way of managing waste do not produce it

Water v industry: where is the question?

Some hundred people, men and women, were gathered on the hill. Many more, I could see, were trudging up. Their faces were resolute. I asked why they were opposing the cement plant. Their answer was simple: “We cannot eat cement.” “But the plant will bring you employment and prosperity,” I said. The reply this time, with a touch of irritation, was: “We have our fields and now with the water in the tank we have good produce. We are not rich like you but we have food to eat.” I persisted, “But your land is not being taken away to build the plant. The government says it has only allocated village grazing land and wasteland to build the factory.” Their anger spilled out.

CSE analyses: EIA report of thermal power project, Bhadreshwar, Kutch, Gujarat

This is a technical analysis by CSE of the rapid EIA report for the 3,300-MW coal-based super-critical thermal power plant proposed by KPGL