Impact of Gujarat Carnage on Public Hearing

Amidst the ongoing unprecedented human tragedy in Gujarat, public hearing for 19 industries took place on a single day. This included 15 units manufacturing synthetic dyes in Vatva Industrial estate near Ahmedabad. The hearing took place on 27th March. These industries are small-scale manufacturers. Infact they already have a higher installed capacity than they have permission from the Gujarat State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) and Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF).

Hence, in effect, the public hearing was only for post facto regularization. Instances of large-scale post facto regularization after operating illegally for a good 3-5 years in many cases, being undertaken by industries in Gujarat has been discovered. This is taking place in connivance with the GSPCB.

All the efforts by Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti, a local non-governmental organsiation (NGO) to seek GSPCB’s fair and just intervention have failed. Centre for Social Justice, a Gujarat based NGO has filed an application in the Ahmedabad High Court against holding of the hearing of so many industries on a single day. The court in its wisdom did not entertain the plea!

The affected people and environmental groups have met the Chairman and Member Secretary of Pollution Control Board but their impotent response left much to be desired. The officials asked these groups to express their grievances before the Public Hearing committee. The Public hearing committee refuses to entertain the issues under the specious plea that it does not have any powers. Its a game of volley ball when it comes to trying to get justice in the matter. There seems to be a corporate conspiracy behind the Godhra and its aftermath to hoodwink eco-watchdogs in order to pander vested interests. A public hearing for 19 industries in one day is something, which can enter the book of world records.

-Gopal Krishna with inputs from Anand Mazgaonkar