"The state shall endeavor to protect and improve the environment
and to safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country."
[Constitution of
India]
Foreword
By all accounts, the growth of the of the economy of Gujrat in the last three decades is remarkable. Even during the recessionary years of the late 90’s, the state domestic product grew at an impressive rate of about eight percent at constant prices. It is a tremendous feat, considering the hostile natural conditions in most areas of the state and the crippling and recurrent natural calamities it had to face.
The true cost of the development in terms of degradation of productive resources, damage to the health of the people and pressures on the life supporting systems has not been precisely documented. It is perceived to be high enough to earn for the state the sobriquet –‘most polluted State’.
Thus, there is a growing awareness, both in the civil society and the government that correctives need to be applied to ensure sustainable development. To some extent judicial activism has contributed to this trend.
The preparation of the state environmental action programme [SEAP], entrusted to the GUJRAT ECOLOGY COMMISSION [GEC] and supported by the World Bank under the Environmental Capacity Building Technical Assistance Project (EMCB-TAP) is the result of this realization.
The Chief minister of Gujarat formally launched SEAP on 15th
April 1999. A high level committee headed by the Chief Secretary and
representing major government departments provides policy guidelines. An expert
advisory committee [Annexure-I] ensures the quality of the exercise.
SEAP will highlight the critical environmental problems of the State [stage 1], examine the alternatives available to solve them [stage 2] and culminate in the identification of a shelf of action plans based on cost effectiveness, to be integrated with the state’s development programmes [stage 3].
A group of external consultants assist GEC in the preparation of the SEAP. [Annexure-II]
This report presents an overview of the major environmental problems of the State in various sectors as identified by the technical working groups (TWGs) on the basis of secondary data. They are highlighted in their relation to industrial development, consequent urbanization, agricultural development and impact on the life supporting systems in general. The State’s environmental setting is briefly explained. The prevalent institutional, legal and social milieus in so far as they aggravate these problems are also brought out.
These findings were not entirely unknown hitherto. But they are presented now with some degree of scientific rigor along with the geographical context, trends and the magnitude of their occurrence. They have also been largely validated through consultations with stakeholders across the board, including NGOs and CBOs. [Annexure-III] Such consultations would continue to be a major element of the ongoing SEAP exercise and is aimed at creating a strong and wide ownership for both the process and the output of this exercise.
Some welcome changes have occurred since SEAP was formally launched. A clean production center is being launched in the State. Common effluent treatment plants (CETPs) and hazard waste disposal sites are being set up. GEC has initiated industrial ecology studies for the Nandesari and Ankleshwar industrial complexes and a Life cycle assessment study with respect to thermal generation of power in the state. Many NGOs are supported to undertake innovative projects aimed at improving the local environment with participation of the affected communities under the NGO Environment Action Fund [NEAF], of GEC. Regeneration of degraded natural resources like grasslands of Banni and mangroves in the coastal areas are also being attempted with the support of GEC.
More importantly, the State has declared its vision for the environment sector for the year 2010. This document has drawn from the SEAP exercise and reflects the views of the Commission and its partners in many respects. The ongoing SEAP exercise will make the vision 2010 a reality by investing it with a sense of urgency and ownership by the entire stakeholder community.
This report is being published for wider circulation so that management of the environment fully and truly becomes a people’s movement and the imperatives of growth is married to the indispensability of protecting the environment.
Vadodara, February 2001 Gujarat Ecology Commission.