The Maharashtra Government has recently declared setting up of special “Chemical Industry Zones” in the Konkan region.

In the 68 years since independence or 55 years since creation of the state of Maharashtra, the only industrialization to come Konkan’s way, like a curse, has been chemical industries. The specially designated chemical MIDCs at Patalganga, Rasayani, Dhatav, Birwadi, Lote and the IPCL (now RIL) plant at Nagothane are the proof of that.

We have all seen firsthand the devastation caused by these industries in their surrounding areas. The air is permanently polluted, the water table is destroyed, all rivers, lakes, ponds are saturated with toxic chemical wastes released with impunity for years by these industries. The health of the local population has been grievously damaged as a result of this all round pollution. There are reports of increasing incidence of spontaneous abortions & miscarriages, birth defects, diseases of the bowel, and cancer. The rivers, once a rich source of fresh water fish, the daily staple diet of the poor, are today totally devoid of fish. So much so that, Birwadi MIDC has featured in The Blacksmith Institute’s list of the “30 worst polluted industrial areas of the world"! Though there are stringent laws in place to prevent such ecological damage by industry and severely punish the culprits, MPCB, the government machinery, and the politicians have conspired to cover up these atrocities.

The current announcement under the guise of promise of development is part of a grand design, called PCPIR, to exploit the entire coast of India from Kutchh in Gujrat all the way to the Sunderbans in West Bengal. (To read in full government’s own policy paper in the matter click on : http://chemicals.nic.in/PCPIRPolicy.pdf).

In simple terms PCPIR (Petroleum, Chemical, & Petro-Chemical Investment Region) calls for establishment of chemical zones of at least 250 sq kms each, along the coast of India. These zones and the entire infrastructure necessary for them is to be set up by government funding. The state government is even responsible for disposal of all the industrial & other waste generated here!

The facilities thus created will be made available to Indian & foreign private companies to set up their giant chemical & petrochemical plants. Like in DMIC & SEZs, they are to be offered huge concessions in taxes and royalties with little or no accountability. They will be exempt from most Indian laws and regulations. The CRZ act drafted specifically with the aim of protecting the coastal areas has already been relaxed for this scheme. The Maharashtra Government has gone a step further and relaxed it even for river banks! Powers of the local bodies like GramPanchayats & Municipalities will be severely curtailed.

We know the history of the chemical industries in Konkan and the utter failure of the government to make them behave responsibly. What do you think will be the outcome of such giant chemical industries coming up here with little or no regulation?

With the government acting as their slave/agent, they will permanently ruin Konkan as we know it.

Konkan & the Sahyadri ghats are among the most bio-diversified areas of the world. With its rich fauna & flora, green-clad hills, crystal clear brooks & rivers, and pristine coastline, Konkan today is as close to Paradise as one can get. If PCPIR is implemented fully, all this will be ruined leaving behind an inhabitable desert and a filthy, poisonous coastline.

Unless, we act now, and act unitedly.