Sustainable Development

“Do you want multiplexes and freeways or fresh, clean air?” We find ourselves facing this question in almost every decision we make. Every country needs to exploit the given resources to satisfy the needs of its citizens. These resources, however, are limited and needs to be conserved for future generations. There is the need to strike a balance between these two aspects as we cannot choose extremes. For one thing, man cannot stop all developmental activities and go back to the old and simplistic lifestyle eating wild berries and living in caves. On the other hand, if we keep exploiting the environment, not only will the stocks of natural resources (most of which are non-renewable) get depleted but it will also lead to environmental imbalances and natural calamities. 

It is here that the concept of sustainable development comes of relevance.



Sustainable development is the development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Economic development, social development, and environmental protection are considered to be the pillars of sustainable development. Here, technology plays a key role in developing systems that can contribute to the economic growth all the while ensuring that the environment does not get affected in a major way. Also, new technologies that help reduce emissions, clear up spills etc are being developed. Increasing social awareness and encouraging community participation are also crucial. People need to be aware of the economic, social and environmental impacts of their decisions and they should be encouraged to show a sense of stewardship towards the environment. Many a times, the problems faced by socially backward communities are never addressed. This is due to apathy and callous attitude by officials and also because they do not speak up. A platform should be raised where all people can come up with the problems that they face.

The POSCO issue is a case in point here. “POSCO-India Private Limited is a subsidiary of POSCO, the world’s fourth largest steel producer and one of the most competitive steel companies in the world (World Steel Dynamics 2006). POSCO-India’s proposed investment is the highest ever Foreign Direct Investment in India. The making of this world class steelworks with 12 million tons per annum will not only provide extensive value addition to the mineral wealth of Orissa but also take the state and nation to the zenith of global steel industry.” This is the promise that POSCO has made. POSCO, the world's third-largest steelmaker, wants to mine iron ore in the Khandadharnear region of Orissa and signed a memorandum of understanding in June 2005 for the plant, which was to be built in three phases by 2016, with production scheduled to begin by the end of 2011 at the completion of the first phase. POSCO required 4,000 acres (1,600 hectares) of land in the state, of which 2,900 acres is forested. The local villagers opposed the proposed project as nearly six lakh trees had to be cleared and 1600 betel vines destroyed. Villagers fear that the felling of huge number of tress would exposed them natural disasters, like Cyclone and Tsunami. 

Orissa (Odhisa) means land of the farmers and nearly 60% of the population is engaged in agriculture. In official count, Posco's project zone holds around 1,800 betel farms. This in reality totals to nearly 2,500. The acquisition of the farmland for Posco's Rs.52,000-crore power and steel project would mean the total destruction of these vineyards. The Forest rights act of 2006, provides for the restitution of deprived forest rights across India, including both individual rights to cultivated land in forestland and community rights over common property resources. This is being denied here. The compensation that the cultivators have been promised by the government is very less compared what they earn now. Posco had also planned a captive port at Jaradhari which would badly affect the marine sector which has already suffered a setback after the creation of the Paradip port. 

Looking at these few points we can clearly see the reason for the widespread agitation by the local farmers against the setting up of this plant. It is only justifiable that they do not want a project that is economically non-viable, detrimental to the society and harmful to the environment. In a recent agitation that grabbed global attention, school children protested against this plant by forming a human chain. Looking at this issue using the lens of sustainable development, it is almost impossible to support the setting up of this plant and the port.

-Darsana Vijay