Report of the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel - Part II : Actionable points for the WGEA : Annexure-I: Western Ghats Expert Group: Work Plan : Appendix: Dahanu Taluka Environment Protection Authority (DTEPA)
Opinion
01/01/2019
1640.
SUB : Report of the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel - Part II : Actionable points for the WGEA : Annexure-I: Western Ghats Expert Group: Work Plan : Appendix: Dahanu Taluka Environment Protection Authority (DTEPA)
REF : Appendix: Dahanu Taluka Environment Protection Authority (DTEPA)
A unique prototype of a democratic institution set up to protect the ecology, natural resources and livelihoods of a region, the Dahanu Taluka Environment Protection Authority (DTEPA) has for a period of ten years been more than just a watchdog institution. Recognising the ecological politics of control over natural resources, the Authority has unwaveringly stood by the principles of social justice and equitable rights for local communities. With its landmark orders and judgments, the DTEPA has contributed to the environmental discourse and debate in India.
With the local groups in Dahanu seeking legal redress for consistent flouting of environmental laws, the Supreme Court in a landmark order, in 1996 recommended the setting up of a special Authority in "order to address the complex issues of planning and management of ecologically fragile areas". (Read Supreme Court Order, October 1996)
With the mandate to protect the ecologically fragile area of Dahanu taluka, specifically control pollution, consider and implement the Precautionary Principle and the Polluter Pays principle, the Authority was set up in December 1996 headed by Justice Chandrashekhar Dharmadhikari (Read Notification setting up of the special Dahanu Taluka Environment Protection Authority, 1996).
The Authority also has as its members experts from the areas of hydrology, environmental engineering, urban planning, etc. Government representatives like the Collector of Thane and Member Secretary, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board are also its members.
Considered a quasi-judicial body, the Authority has functioned like a peoples' court responding to local environmental complaints and problems. Through a process of hearings, the Authority has been able to discuss and debate issues in a most democratic manner holding both public and private institutions accountable. In a sense an environmental consciousness and responsibility has been forced into the minds of bureaucrats, elected representatives and private players with the Authority taking the position of a strict school teacher.
For instance, the Authority ensured that the Power Grid Corporation while setting up high transmission lines through Dahanu, undertakes a massive compensatory afforestation project of planting ten trees for every tree cut. Preference was given to indigenous varieties and the project was not sanctioned until a deposit was give to the forest department to start the afforestation project.
The Authority started its term with a heavily contested project – despite the fact that Dahanu had been declared ecologically fragile, since its coastline fell under the most stringent clause of the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification and there was a series of orders and judgments restricting industrial development, a proposal to set up a multi-billion dollar industrial port in Dahanu was mooted.
The Authority took up this issue and a series of hearings were conducted. Representatives of the global giant P&O had to appear and submit their reports and so on. Community members, environmental groups also submitted their data on the negative effects of the Port on Dahanu. Eventually, with the substantive legal arguments, scientific reports and well articulated resistance to the project from the affected communities, the Authority rejected the siting of the port in Dahanu. (Read landmark order of September 1998 rejecting the siting of the port at Vadhavan)
The thermal power plant has been another significant area of intervention. The Dahanu Authority passed an order in May 1999 directing that the thermal power plant comply with clearance conditions and set up a Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) Plant to reduce the emissions of sulphur from its plant. Once again in 2005, the Authority passed a significant judgment directing energy giant Reliance to produce a bank guarantee of Rupees 300 crore to show its commitment in setting up the FGD unit.
(Read landmark 300 crore order passed by the Authority on March 19, 2005)
The Dahanu Authority continues to play an important role in ensuring that Dahanu Taluka becomes a model taluka of environmental protection and conservation.
NOTE :-
Scientific Studies of Dahanu Taluka
Dahanu Taluka lies 125 km north of Mumbai and was one of the first three sites in India to be declared as being ecologically-fragile in 1991. Forests constitute 45% of the total geographical area of the Taluka, and contain a rich diversity of plants and wild animals. The Taluka is also home to the famous Warli tribe of Thane District. Dahanu is considered the fruit and flower basket of Maharashtra with a rich variety of tropical crops, such as chickoo, mango, coconuts, guava and papaya. In addition to fruits, the area produces also flowers and vegetables. Dahanu has a 35 km coastal belt, which is rich in natural resources, including mangroves, and different kinds of fish making it an important centre of fish production. The wide inter-tidal zone provides a rich feeding ground for shore birds, and is a popular site for migratory birds.
CERE has conducted a range of scientific studies of Dahanu Taluka in order to help the Supreme Court appointed Dahanu Taluka Environment Protection Authority (DTEPA) to ensure environmental conservation, social equity and green development in the Taluka.
To be continued ..
NEXT : - Australian Soil Carbon Accreditation Scheme (ASCAS)
OPINION :
1. MANY TIMES, WONDER THESE STATE GOVERNMENTS ARE MORE CONCERNED WITH THEIR POWERS, THAN THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES;
2. WHOM SO IN POWER IN OUR NATION STATES, THE PARTY OR ANY FRONT IN GOVERNMENT WASTE TIME IN CONCENTRATING IN PETTY PARTY POLITICS;
3. ANOTHER VERY EVIL SIGNS WITH OUR POLITICIANS ARE CHARACTERLESS NESS;
4. MAJORITY POLITICAL PARTIES IN BHARATHAM ARE RUBBISH, AND THEIR HEADS ARE EITHER CRIMINALS OR IDIOTS;
5. WONDER THIS HOLY LAND BHARATHAM IS LAND OF GREAT MAHARISHIS, GREAT ACHARYAS, GREAT PERSONS OF EMINENCE, THEN HOW WE BECAME FOOLS, NOT ABLE TO FIND A GOOD PARTY AND GOOD PERSONS TO GOVERN US?
6. NATURE IS THE GOD, FOOLISH RELIGIONS IDENTIFY SOME THING DISTANT TO US, HEAVEN IS NOT FAR AWAY, NATURE IS GOD AND NATURE IS OUR HEAVEN;
7. THE ISLAM AND CHRISTIANITY MISGUIDE IGNORANT PEOPLE, THAT ALLAH OR JESUS ARE THE ONLY GOALS AND THEY ARE FAR FROM HUMAN REACH!!
8. THE FOLLOWERS OF SANATANA DHARMAM ( HINDUS ), FIND TEMPLES AS THEIR GOALS;
9. BUT ALL THESE FOOLS DO NOT SEE THAT GOD IN THE FORM OF CHAITHANYAM INSIDE OF EACH ONE OF US, THAT IS "ATMA SWAROOPAM"
10. OTHER FORM OF GOD IS NATURE, SO THE FOOLISH POLITICIANS SHOULD WAKE-UP AND PROTECT WESTERN GHATS, INSTEAD WASTING TIME IN WOMEN WALL, OR PUNISHING DEVOTEES AT SABARIMALA BY BRUTALITY AND SEC 144.
LAST WORD :
1. THIS STUPID LDF GOVERNMENT LEAD BY IDIOTS NAMELY COMMUNISTS, ANNOUNCED THAT TODAY THEY BUILD A WOMEN WALL TO PROTEST THE SANATANA DHARMAM IN THIS PART OF BHARATHAM;
2. BUT THESE FOOLS FORGOT THE HISTORY, EVEN MOHAMMEDAN INVASIONS, BRITISH RULE AND CHRISTIAN MISSIONARIES , COULD NOT DESTROY THIS SANATANA DHARMAM OTHERWISE KNOWN AS HINDUISM IN THE MODERN LANGUAGE, WHO ARE YOU, WE CONSIDER YOU WEEDS TO BE ELIMINATED TO SAVE THIS HOLY NATION;
3. YOU FOOLS INSTEAD OF TRY HAND IN STUPIDITY, IF YOU HAD IMPLEMENTED GADGIL REPORT, KERALA IS SAFE FROM DESTRUCTION, AND NATURAL CALAMITIES, BUT YOU DON'T DO, BECAUSE THESE THINGS ARE NOT DIGESTIBLE TO YOU JOKERS;
THOSE WHO LOVE BHARATHAM AND KERALAM NEVER FORGIVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
JAI HIND
VANDE MATARAM\
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