It’s the season of shocking revelations about the power that big companies wield over our governments, and here’s one more. Environment and Forest Minister Jairam Ramesh is on record saying that TATA’s Dhamra port in Orissa would have been stopped on account of a legal violation, had its construction not started already [1].

In the file noting obtained under RTI, Ramesh says, “Had construction not commenced, we could have taken a decision unequivocally not to let the project proceed at the site whose “forest” status is disputed.” Located close to the Gahirmatha and Bitharkanika Protected Areas, the Dhamra port project poses a threat to the environment and endangered species like the Olive Ridley Sea turtles and saltwater crocodiles.

The port could have been stopped for violating the law; the fragile ecology of the area could have been saved. So why were the TATAs let off so easily? Influence? Money power? Is there more to this than meets the eye?

So, why do you think TATA’s forest land violation was overlooked?

http://www.greenpeace.org/india/en/What-We-Do/Defending-our-oceans/Coastal-development/Why-was-Tata-let-off-the-hook1/

This information vindicates lakhs of Indians who have opposed the port for the last several years [2]. It reveals that powerful corporations are allowed to get away with blatant legal violations. It also shows that, in this case at least, the TATA group has not upheld the high standards of ethics that they claim to have.

Based on letters issued by the ministry’s own officials, a case was filed last year against the violation of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980 [3]. Despite high ranking officers confirming the violation, the central ministry gave a clean chit to the port [4].

To make matters worse, TATA is now proposing a further expansion of the port, and other industries are proposed for the area. This eco-sensitive area could have been saved, had the ministry taken action in time. The minister’s note only proves that influential corporations can get away with anything.

Click here to take the poll:

http://www.greenpeace.org/india/en/What-We-Do/Defending-our-oceans/Coastal-development/Why-was-Tata-let-off-the-hook1/

Sources:

1. File notings obtained from the RTI application
http://www.greenpeace.org/india/Global/india/docs/dhamra-fca-file-notings.pdf

2. Jaago Re, 25,000 Indians tell Jairam Ramesh, greenpeace.org/india, April 8th, 2010
http://www.greenpeace.org/india/en/news/jaago-re-25-000-indians-tell/

3. MoEF affidavit, May 5, 2010.
http://greenpeace.in/turtle/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/MoEF-affidavit-May-5-2010.pdf

Regional MoEF letter to Central MoEF, April 1st, 2010 http://greenpeace.in/turtle/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/RegionalMoEF-April-1-2010.pdf

4. Greenpeace accuses Ramesh, UPA of double standards on Dharma port, webindia123.com, September 23rd, 2010.
http://news.webindia123.com/news/articles/India/20100924/1593930.html

Notes to Editor:

1)      http://www.greenpeace.org/india/Global/india/docs/dhamra-fca-file-notings.pdf

2)      http://www.greenpeace.org/india/Global/india/docs/muthuraman-letter-to-moef.pdf

3)      http://www.greenpeace.org/india/Global/india/image/dhamra-ad.jpg