By Gopal Ranjan Padhee
I am a capitalistic kind of guy with a touch of socialism. Capitalism and socialism does not go together very well, but I strongly believe that every society needs a balance of both in our lives. And hence I support industrialization.
I belong to Sambalpur, Orissa in India and currently reside in the US. And I maintain catching up with my folks back in Sambalpur every weekend over phone. Recently most part of the hour long discussion was on the unbearable weather condition during summer on the western part of Orissa, especially in the Sambalpur - Jharsuguda belt. A good number of the times, this is blamed on the industrialization that is going on for the last decade.
Benefits and Disadvantages of industrialization
Industrialization brings with it prosperity, affluence, economic development and social changes to the region. As a prerequisite to the industrialization, it needs basic infrastructural development to facilitate the activity. Along with all the benefit that industrialization brings, it also comes as a package with environmental issues, change in social family structure of the region.
Specific to Sambalpur- Jharsuguda belt
The Sambalpur – Jharsuguda belt is the ideal location for the large scale coal fired power plants and metal industries because of the availability of the Mineral ores, Coal, Water from Hirakud Reservoir and cheap labor in the vicinity. Coal fired power plants are one of the most pollutant method of power generation. And per my experience with Steel plants, the most used raw material was not iron ore, but was coal. Coal is used for electricity generation and also for the furnace.
In the case of industrialization in the Sambalpur – Jharsuguda region, along with all the benefit of the industrialization, there are hazardous outcome on pollution, water scarcity, health issues and urbanization.
Facts on hazardous outcome
According to the report issued in Oct 2008 by the State Pollution Control Board, the environmental situation in the region due to the industrialization is grim. With the proposed industrialization plan, Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) is likely to increase by 18 times, SO2 by 13 times and fluoride by 9 times over the period. This will pose significant health risk and potential to cause irreversible damage to property, monuments and vegetation in the vicinity. And due to the increase in the Green House gas emission the surrounding temperature in this region is likely to be at least 2-3 degree Celsius higher than its neighboring countryside.
And the water crisis is evident from all the protest by the 300,000 farmers in the region against allocation of the Hirakud Reservoir water to the industries.
It was quite shocking in my discussion with the local from Jharsuguda, they are exploring the possibility to sell the land of their forefather and move elsewhere as the air pollution and the heat is becoming unbearable.
Need proactive actions
It is good to note that the State Government in May 2010 has allowed the Orissa State Pollution Control Board to implement the interim recommendations of the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI). Based on this twelve aluminum and power projects in this belt now would have to wait till NEERI presents its final recommendations to Orissa State Pollution Control Board.
But the above steps seems a reactive action by the State Government after pressure from the central agency in NEERI. And the State Government must have been proactive is assessing the environmental risk before signing the MOUs with all the for profit enterprises.
For every execution of a plan there needs to be a feasibility study, not only economic feasibility but also socio-economic feasibility. For the cost benefit analysis, the value/cost that was put on the environment deterioration and water shortages is not to be seen. How much is the valuation in money, for every one degree Celsius increase in the temperature, for every percentage increase in the content of air pollutant.
Conclusion
What is needed in the region is a sustainable economic development activity, which is all inclusive by demography and proper balance of Industrial, Service and Agriculture sectors. In the Sambalpur – Jharsuguda region there had been improper tilt towards the large scale Iron & Steel, Thermal Power and Aluminum production. Now the responsibility lies with the state government towards attracting the service industry and improvement of the agricultural activity in the region.
The industrial companies also should take the social responsibility by deploying the least pollutant methods through innovation in technology.
If this is not monitored and controlled closely by the proper authority in a timely manner than the cost that the people of the region will pay would way outweigh the benefit.
