How green is emerging Kerala?

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As the state braces for a big leap in development through the Emerging Kerala meet to be held in Kochi from September 12 to 14, concerns are being expressed not just by the opposition, but even the ruling front itself, especially on issues regarding the environment, which is often the victim of badly planned development.

As expected, the opposition LDF has accused the government of keeping under wraps the projects it has proposed for this big show where investors from across the globe are expected to get a feel of what the state has to offer. But it is the concern expressed by the UDF ranks that has slightly upset the government.

That explains why industries minister P.K. Kunhalikutty, who has maintained silence and kept away from making any statements that the opposition could react to, decided to come out into the open on Sunday and declare that the government has from the very start made it clear that projects that could harm the environment will not be encouraged.

Both power minister Aryadan Mohammed and tourism minister A.P. Anil Kumar echoed Mr Kunhalikutty.

The concern of some MLAs in the UDF, who have already put the government in the dock over the Nelliyampathy estate issue, was articulated through their blog ‘greenthoughts Kerala’, posted on Sunday.

According to legislators V. D. Satheesan, T.N. Prathapan, Hibi Eden and V.T. Balram of the Congress, M.V. Sreyamskumar of the Socialist Janata and K.M. Shaji of the Muslim League, Emerging Kerala is a very positive attempt to bring in projects aimed at the state’s overall development and economic growth, but they warn that precautions must be taken.

“It is a matter of concern that in the last three decades Kerala could not achieve substantial growth in agricultural and industrial sectors.

It is in this context that we consider it important that Kerala becomes an investment friendly state. The government’s efforts towards this goal should be appreciated and supported,’ they have said in the blog.

But they also said even as the state tries for new investments and business initiatives, it is imperative that certain precautions are taken, and checks and balances are in place.

“It should be noted not all types of industry can be brought to Kerala. The state has certain geographical peculiarities, and also a very high density of population.

These primary facts should be taken into consideration while selecting projects. The government should ensure that when new investment flows in, no harm is done to the state’s bio-diversity, environment and priceless natural wealth. All new projects and investments must adhere to this principle of sustainable growth.”

Obviously referring to the proposed tourism project in the Nelliyampathy area, they said another important aspect to be considered was the status of land to be used for new projects.

The Land Reforms Act, the 1980 Forest Act and all laws and regulations aimed at the welfare of the indigenous communities and primitive tribes should be followed in letter and spirit.

“We must ensure that all land transactions for Emerging Kerala’s projects are transparent and lawful. Public land, whether it be revenue land or forest land, should not be handed over to private investors.

The control and the ownership of the land should be with the government. All land related matters must follow the laws of the land and strict regulatory measures should be incorporated in the basic project plan itself,” they said.

For mega projects, all central and state laws and regulatory measures should be considered. Environmental Impact Assessment should be made a pre-requisite and qualified agencies like the Indian Institute of Science should be empanelled for this, they argued.

Officials in the industry department say unlike the Global Investor Meet a decade ago, this meet will only be showcasing the sta-te so that investors can loo-k in detail at the prospects and later take up projects.

Industries secretary Alkesh Kumar Sharma says it has been made clear at the very outset that the message of the meet is a clean, green, eco-friendly state, and no industries polluting the state will be encouraged. These concerns are therefore unwarranted, he feels.

A case of submerging Kerala?

P. Parameswaran

There are many well-meaning people other than Leftists who are genuinely suspicious about the motives behind the Emerging Kerala Meet. It is feared that Emerging Kerala will end up becoming a case of ‘Submerging Kerala.’

The state might lose its cultural identity by becoming an amorphous conglomeration of mega projects by vested interests. It might lose the ecological and cultural characteristics that have made it the famous ‘God’s Own Country.’

Kochi is going to be the hub of activities with large-scale industrialisation.

It is already reported that large land mafias have started acquiring huge tracts of land in various parts of the city. Huge investment from the oil-rich Gulf countries is on the cards.

The result will be marginalisation, if not total annihilation, of the traditional business communities of Kochi who have built up the city’s business enterprises and also given it a cosmopolitan, harmonious cultural tradition.

It will be a tragedy if those communities become extinct in the mindless process of Emerging Kerala.
Kochi has a great potential to develop, but it should be organic and well designed.

A role model for Kerala to develop is Gujarat with its long coast line, a chain of small harbours, goods transportation through sea, scientific management of river system ensuring regular electric supply and irrigation.

Instead of venturing into dangerous experiments let the state’s political leadership make an earnest effort to study how Gujarat has become an internationally acknowledged development paradigm.
Then Kerala can regain its lost glory of being ‘God’s Own Country.’

(The author is director of Bharatiya Vichara Kendra)