Global NGOs unhappy over WB support to Tata's Mundra UMPP

Seek withdrawal of IFC funding from the Tata Power's 4,000 Mw power project in Gujarat

After Indian NGO, as many as 68 civil society groups from 28 countries have condemned the World Bank Group’s continued support for Tata Power's 4000 Mw ultra mega power plant (UMPP) in Mundra, Kutch, despite the Ombudsman for International Finance Corporation (IFC) finding serious lapses by IFC in supervision of the coal-base power project, impacting environment and livelihood of local fishing community there.

The global groups in an open letter to World Bank President Dr Jim Yong Kim, Friday last, have further demand that IFC be held accountable for the lapses by taking appropriate actions to address the findings of the Ombudsman, starting with development of a remedial action plan and the withdrawal of IFC financing from the Tata Power's power project in Mundra.

The action by civil rights groups from across the world comes on the heels of a letter from over 100 civil society groups in India demanding that the World Bank Group’s IFC withdraw funding from the Tata Power's project in Gujarat.

In its audit report for the power project, released last month, the Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO) for the IFC and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) of the World Bank Group, had also held that IFC's review of project's environment and social assessments was not commensurate with project risk as required under its Sustainability Policy.

IFC had refuted the charges levied by CAO and justified its actions and funding to the power project operational under banner of Coastal Gujarat Power Limited (CGPL), a fully owned company of Tata Power.

Commenting on open letter by global civil society groups spokesperson for Tata Group said, "CAO report reflects the observations on the internal processes of IFC & thus it will only be appropriate for IFC to respond. We are yet to read through the report & would discuss with IFC if there were any issues related to CGPL. As per initial information available with CGPL, MASS (the Association for Fish workers' Rights) has certain generic issues concerning the coastline of Gujarat. Mundra UMPP is just about 1% of Kutch coastline & we are more than responsive in our association with the community around our project & we remain committed to working with the community at all times."

"Mundra plant is fully compliant on all environmental and social norms and the same has been endorsed by MOEF and other statutory bodies and is committed to being a 'neighbour of choice'," the spokesperson further added.

In the open letter sent to Kim the global civil society groups have asked, "As concerned World Bank stakeholders and contributing taxpayers to our respective government’s official aid through the Bank, we are disturbed by your clearance of IFC response to the CAO report on the Tata Mundra coal power project. In solidarity with the Indian fishing communities, we demand an explanation why you rejected the CAO findings on IFC’s policy violations in funding the Tata Mundra coal power plant."

"Unless the findings from the World Bank Group’s internal watchdogs, like the CAO and the Inspection Panel, are taken seriously and acted upon, their role is in name only. This decision undermines the mandate of CAO while allowing staff and management to avoid culpability. Civil society around the world demand you hold the IFC accountable by taking hard but appropriate actionsto address the CAO findings, starting with the development of a remedial action plan and the withdrawal of IFC financing from the Tata Mundra coal project," the groups demanded.

In its audit of Tata UMPP, the CAO had found "weaknesses in IFC’s environment and social (E&S) review of CGPL did not support the formation of a robust view as to whether the project could be expected to meet the requirements of the Performance Standards over a reasonable period of time, the threshold question in terms of IFC’s decision to invest."

"Weaknesses in IFC’s E&S review process also meant that required opportunities to consider alternative project designs to avoid or minimize E&S impact were missed," the CAO stated in its findings.

IFC has invested $450 million of its own capital in this project, which it has classified as a category A project, signifying that it believes there are potentially significant adverse social and environmental impacts that may be diverse or irreversible. IFC was also considering investing up to $50 million in equity as part of its exposure to the project and syndicating up to about $300 million in loans

http://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/global-ngos-unhappy-over-wb-support-to-tata-s-mundra-umpp-113111100401_1.html

Adani project in Mundra has violated environmental norms, rules MoEF committee

 incontrovertible evidence of destruction of mangroves, blocking of creeks and non-compliance of other clearance conditions

Committee recommends effective deterrence through creation of Environment Restoration Fund of Rs 200 crore or 1 per cent of total investment, whichever is higher

Recommends reform of Coastal Zone Regulations and monitoring systems

New Delhi, April 18, 2013:There is incontrovertible evidence that the Adani project – port and SEZ – at Mundra in Gujarat has violated and not complied with environmental clearance conditions. The company has also bypassed environmental procedures in certain cases – says the report of a committee set up by the Union ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) to inspect the project. The committee’s report was officially presented to the Union minister of state for environment and forests, Jayanthi Natarajan, here today.

The Adani Waterfront and Power Plant project has been in the eye of the storm for its massive adverse ecological impacts. Based on complaints received, the MoEF had set up the Committee to examine allegations of environmental destruction and non-compliance, including distortion of the original HTL/LTL by the company. The five-member committee, headed by environmentalist Sunita Narain, included officials from the MoEF and experts on coastal ecosystems and disaster management. 

Ms Natarajan received the report and assured that the recommendations would be looked into by her officials.

The Committee used remote sensing technology to assess environmental damage that had occurred over the past decade. It concluded that there were cases of non-compliance, including the following:

• There has been widespread destruction of mangroves; 75 hectares of mangroves have been lost in Bocha Island, which was declared as a conservation zone under the environmental clearance conditions.
• The company has not taken precautions to guard against blocking of creeks because of construction activities; satellite imagery shows signs of deterioration and loss of creeks near the proposed North Port. 
• The company has not taken stipulated measures to ensure that the channels that bring large volumes of seawater for use in the thermal power plant and then discharge as well as the storage tank is lined so that there is no chance of salinity contamination in groundwater. This was a clear condition set at the time of clearance.
• The company was found to be wanting about the inventory of its fly ash utilisation and disposal.
• The company has been less than serious about reporting on compliance with the conditions set at the time of clearance. In many cases, non-compliance with reporting conditions has been observed.

Says Narain: “The Committee in its investigations has found that there have been instances to circumvent statutory procedures by using different agencies, at the Centre and state, for obtaining clearances for the same project. The public hearing procedure, which is a critical part of project clearance and helps to understand and mitigate the concerns of local people, has also been bypassed on one pretext or another.”

The fisher community, which depends on the coasts for their livelihood, is the worst hit by these changes. “The development on the coast, on their land has clearly left little space for them,” says Narain. The report of the Committee suggests that there should be a plan for their ensuring access and provision of basic facilities, including a dedicated fishing harbor.

Key recommendations

• The ministry should create an Environment Restoration Fund, which should be 1 per cent of the project cost (including the cost of the thermal power plant) or Rs 200 crore, whichever is higher. The Fund should be used for remediation of environmental damage in Mundra and for strengthening the regulatory and monitoring systems.
• Cancel environmental clearance of the North Port – this will lead to an increase in the mangrove conservation area and ensure ecological balance in this coastal zone.

In addition, the committee has also made a range of recommendations on mangrove conservation, flyash management and disposal, salinity control, coastal safety (read earthquakes and tsunamis), and project clearance conditions and post-clearance monitoring. In fact, the committee’s report notes that post-clearance monitoring is the weakest area, and needs urgent strengthening. Says Narain: “If monitoring was rigorous, public and credible, there would have been no need for this committee. Which is why we have recommended that there is a need to create a monitoring system to ensure that corrective action suggested by this report is taken within a time-bound manner.”

http://www.cseindia.org/content/adani-project-mundra-has-violated-environmental-norms-rules-moef-committee

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-04-19/india/38673013_1_mundra-project-adani-group-new-delhi

http://cseindia.org/userfiles/adani_final_report.pdf

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/newdelhi/rs-200cr-fine-on-adani-group-recommended/article1-1046522.aspx

http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/gujarat-based-adani-group-fined-200-crore-for-environmental-damage-413610

http://www.sustainuance.com/adani-group-faces-fine-for-environmental-damage/

http://inagist.com/all/375104630499196928/

http://www.trinet.in/?q=node/1178

http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/adani-project-violated-norms-impose-rs-200cr-fine-panel_855348.html

http://www.firstpost.com/business/adanis-mundra-project-violated-green-norms-says-probe-panel-710950.html

http://currentaffairs.gktoday.in/2013/09/moe-slaps-rs-200-crore-penalty-adani-group-8584/

http://www.businessworld.in/news/business/environment/adani-project-violated-norms-panel/864337/page-1.html

http://www.abhiyaanmagazine.com/index.php/sambhaavmetro/85-slide/23246-adani-story-01

MASS Padyatra

Machimar Adhikar Sangharsh Sangathan

Address: At & Post Bhadreshwar, Ta: Mundra, Kutch – 370411

Email: mass.kutch@gmail.com Phone: 9426469803 Website: http://masskutch.blogspot.com

Reference Date August 4, 2011

Press

Release

Concluding their historic journey in Bhuj today over 5000 fisher folk, salt pan workers, pastoralists, and farmers from several villages in Mundra Taluk submitted a memorandum to the collector’s office today. United under the banner “Save the sea, save the land, save the environment” the fisher folk and farmers were protesting the destruction of their livelihood by power plants in the area constructed by industrial giants such as Adani and TATA. They beg

an their historic padyatra from Bhadreshwar yesterday and were joined by Punamben Madam, BJP MLA Mahua Dr. Kanubhai Kalsaria and Local Leader Kiritsinh Jadeja , Husen Kara, Amd Elias Majaliya also present at the inauguration of the padyatra spoke passionately about the needs of fisher folks and salt pan workers. The Padyatra stopped at Kera gaam and spent the night with lively songs, slogans, and speeches on their efforts to save their livelihood. Leaving early next morning the yatra reached Bhuj mid day to be joined by more people in support and solidarity of the movement.

The padyatra was initiated by the threat of destruction of bhanders (where fisher folk live during the 9 months fishing season) by the British based OPG power plant and the KPGL power plant (Kutch Power Generation Limited). The two power plants have severely curtained the fisher folk’s access to the sea as well as destroying their fish yield as a consequence of the outlet channels. The energetic gathering which included women and children bearing signs and slogans highlighted issues that have threatened their livelihood for the past several years.

The 31 point memorandum that was submitted to the collector’s office detailed the adverse impact on the lives of all these communities by companies such as ADANI Mundra Port and SEZ, KPGL, OPG and TATA power plants. The memorandum states that in Bhadreshwar the lives of over 6000 fisher folks are at stake should the OPG plant come up. In addition, the livelihood of 5000 salt-pan workers and 7000 farmers and Maldharis, who depend on the Gauchar land of the village and on farming, is also threatened by the OPG power plant. Mega Ports, SEZs, power plants, desalination plants are concentrated on the coastline between Bhadreshwar and Mandvi which has been declared ecologically sensitive and is the home of traditional communities involved in fishing, salt making, agriculture and animal husbandry. According to the study conducted by the Institute of Ocean Management, Anna University, Chennai the coastal strip from Luni to Vandi is especially susceptible to erosion, and should the power plants be established the area will suffer irretrievable damage. The Mundra coastline is unique for its mangrove forests which is a delicate ecological system that harbours crustacean and other protected species and provides a natural defence against cyclones. However since 1998, 3000 hectares of mangrove forests have been illegally destroyed by Adani group. In spite of media attention and ministry’s assurances that action will be taken, no action has been taken so far and the destruction of mangroves continues till date.

Furthermore, recognizing the severe problem of fresh water shortage in the area, the Government of Gujarat has already spent the sum of Rs. 8 crores on the area between the OPG Power Project and KPGL Power Ltd in order to create bunds to prevent salinity by conserving rain-water. However the power projects will render the effort a failure.

People fear that the Gulf of Kutch has exceeded its carrying capacity due to indiscriminate industrial expansion on either side. However the government has no study of the combined impact of the effluent discharged by all the industries and approves every project by examining each project individually. In the interests of the communities that survive on the natural resources of the Gulf of Kutch, It is imperative to understand the cumulative impact of all the industries to ensure that the ecology of the Gulf of Kutch is not irreversibly damaged and destroyed.

In addition to the destruction of the marine environment, land in Mundra has been severely affected. The corrosive smoke discharges from coal burning in the power plans have already caused extensive damage to salt pans, which is a major occupation in the area (Kutch produces nearly 70% of Gujarat’s salt production). Salt is gathered for drying onto flats, because of the smoke discharge, the top layer of the salt turns black and affects the quality. Efforts to maintain quality by removing the entire top layer results in a significant loss in weight to the output of salt pan workers who are finding it increasingly hard to eke out a living. The smoke discharge has also had an adverse impact on fisher folk who dry their fish on lines before it goes to the market. Similar to the salt, the smoke discharge sticks to the drying fish affecting their quality and making them unsuitable for consumption. While smoke stacks cause damage to the salt pans, the intake and output lines to cool the power plants have resulted in increasing the salinity of the ground water in several villages. For instance 1600 hectares of chikoo, coconut and date farms have been destroyed as consequence of ground water salination due to the Adani’s sea water channels in the area. The channels draw large quantities of sea water and lead to destruction of marine organisms, including fish, thereby affecting the livelihoods of fisher folk. On the 15^th of December 2010 the company was served a show-cause notice by the Ministry of Forest and Environment as this illegal encroachment violates the CRZ Notification. However, despite the show-cause notice no worthwhile action has been taken either by the company or by the administration.

The fish workers of Mundra solely depend on fishing and are particularly vulnerable because they need access to the sea and the fish to make a living. The power plants create massive intake and outtake channels that have severely curtailed fisher folk's access to the sea. Additionally, the discharge by the plants into the sea after cooling the plant is of water temperatures higher than the sea. Even small changes in water temperature of the sea results in dramatic impact of the fragile ecosystem on which plankton and other sea life are dependent. In the past few years fisher folks on the coast of Kutch have already noticed drastic change resulting in significant reduction of their fish yields. In Tragdi village for example, which is well known for lobster fishing, during the 2010-2011 fishing season, the yield of lobster was negligible.

The combined impact of the projects on the environment, land and sea has long term impact on the lives of large traditional communities of Kutch. Realising that their future is bleak and their very survival is under serious threat, the fisher folk, salt pan workers along with pastoralists and farmers united with the fisher folk under the banner of the Machimar Adhikar Sangharsh Sanghatan the memorandum to the collector asked the government to safeguard the constitutional right to live and dignity and seek accountability from the Government demanding that they be allowed to pursue their traditional livelihoods and lead a dignified life.

Jairam announces special panel to monitor Gulf of Kutch

The Kutch Fishworkers welcome the Environment Minister's announcement to form a special panel to monitor the entire Gulf of Kutch and aupport the measures taken by the Ministry to protect the unique ecology of the Gulf of Kutch which is critical for the survival of the coastal communities. To read more about the Gulf of Kutch ecology and the traditional communities along the Kutch coast:
Ecological Significance of the Mundra Coast
Kutch Coast - People, Environment and Livelihoods

To support the fishworkers demands and the ministry's efforts to protect the Gulf of kutch ecology and the livelihoods of coastal communities, please sign an online petition http://www.gopetition.com/online/33561.html

Express News Service Posted online: Thu Mar 03 2011, 04:27 hrs
Jamnagar : The Environment Minister says MoEF does not intend to hamper economic activity, but considers the gulf a ‘very sensitive’ area
Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh on Wednesday announced that a special monitoring committee will be formed for the entire Gulf of Kutch and not just the Marine Wildlife Sanctuary, saying “we believe the Gulf of Kutch is a very sensitive area”.

Speaking at the inauguration of National Centre for Marine Bio-Diversity Centre (NCMB) here, he said a notification to this effect will be issued in three days.

The announcement comes less than a month after the state’s environment secretary, S K Nanda, requested that only “ecologically sensitive” areas in both the gulfs off Gujarat (Kutch and Khambat) be declared as Critically Vulnerable Coastal Area (CVCA) and not the entire gulfs.

Various areas along the country’s coastline have been declared CVCAs, most notable among them is Sunderbans in West Bengal. Nanda had made the request during a meeting of state secretaries to discuss the Coastal Regulation Zone notification, 2011, last month.

But Ramesh made it clear that the ministry “does not intend to hamper economic activity at all” but at the same time, considered the Gulf of Kutch an important area that needs comprehensive attention.

The Kutch coast has experienced rapid industrialisation in the recent past and holds at least two ultra-mega power plants (with a capacity of 4,000 MW or above) and two major ports (Mundra and Kandla) besides numerous small and big industrial units.

Such activities have not gone down well with locals in many areas. Many fear that large-scale industrialisation would disrupt the means of livelihood as a major part of the coastal population depends fishing, salt pans, agriculture and animal husbandry.

They have often requested, in writing to various officials, that a carrying-capacity study be done for the Kutch coast before industrialisation plans are laid.

Satellite images of Mundra coast sought from Adanis

Jairam Ramesh said the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has asked the Adani group to provide satellite images of the Mundra coast that show the status of the area before and after the Rs 29,610-crore multi-product SEZ and port came up there.

The MoEF, he said, had received a reply from the Adanis following a site visit by A Senthilvel, additional director, in December 2010, and a subsequent show-cause notice to the group.

The notice had asked the business house as to why it should not dismantle certain constructions that it said were built without permission and which was disturbing the ecology, as well as why environmental clearances given to it earlier should not be revoked in the face of the breach of laws.

A spokesperson for the Adani group had told The Indian Express then that all the constructions carried out in the area were done after obtaining clearances.

Adani port: Damaging the coast

One of India's infrastructure projects, the Mundra Port and Special Economic Zone, owned by the Adani group has been slapped with a show cause notice by the environment ministry for violating the CRZ notification. NDTV looks at the damage done. Click on the image to see the video. Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/video/player/news/adani-port-damaging-the-coast/185246?cp

Petition moved against public hearing for power plant

Express News Service
Posted: Sat Oct 02 2010, 06:30 hrs Ahmedabad:

Four fishermen from Kutch have moved a petition in the HC praying that the GPCB should postpone the public hearing on October 5 for a power plant. The petitioner had previously written to Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh asking the hearings — for the Mundra SEZ and Kutch Power Generation— be postponed, but the GPCB has so far not taken a decision.

National Panel on SEZs recommends scrapping of SEZ Act

The National People's Audit of Special Economic Zones in India, was held in New Delhi on 19th, 20th April, 2010, at the Nehru Memorial Auditorium. Organised by a collective of people's movement groups, social and research organisations and academics, this two-day national convention is a culmination of state-level people's audit of SEZs that was conducted in several states of India, through last year (2009-2010).

The National Audit panel comprised of following eminent persons and thought leaders:
1. Kuldip Nayar (Journalist and Columnist)
2. Devaki Jain(Development Economist)
3. Admiral (Retd.) Ramdas(Former Naval Chief and Magsaysay awardee)
4. K. B. Saxena (IAS - Retd.)
5. Dr. Meher Engineer(Physicist and Former Director of Bose Institute, Kolkata)
6. Rahul Bose(Actor and activist campaigning against discrimination)
7. Ashish Kothari(Environmentalist, Kalpavriksh Action Group) and
8. Vrinda Grover (Advocate, Delhi High Court)

Manshi Asher, activist and researcher, introduced the Gujarat chapter and tried to lay out the details before the audience. “Gujarat is being trumpeted by its Chief Minister as the SEZ capital of India. The first claim is that most of the export revenue earned from SEZs originates from Gujarat while the second claim is that SEZ implementation has been virtually resistance or protest-free – since no agricultural land has been forcibly acquired from farmers and farmers have either been willing to sell their lands or wasteland land has been allotted to SEZ.” According to Manshi, who has worked extensively on this issue, “the lie behind the first claim can be nailed on the fact that bulk of the export revenue originating in Gujarat is from the Jamnagar refinery. Also, the other so called successful and high export SEZs were already operational and profitable industry hubs, before being conferred with the status of SEZs. This is a lie that the Government presents to the people and has to be exposed to the all.” For the second claim of the Government, she said “most land that was originally given to SEZs was acquired decades back, by the Gujarat State Industrial Development Corporation. Obviously there will be no protest for land that was acquired in the 80's and 90's.”

Bharat Patel from the Machimar Adhikar Sangharsh Sangathan presented the resistance against the Mundra Port and SEZ which was endangering the livelihoods of over 1000 fisher-families in the region. “The area around the Kutch coast has been labelled as an ecologoically sensitive area in Government and MoEF reports, yet the Adani group proceeded with construction and cutting down of the Mangrove forest without any Environment clearance. This just shows the extent to which there is collusion between the Government and the corporates.”

The complete presentation can be seen below:

Mundra Issues - SEZ Audit

At the end of the two day summit, after hearing the testimonies of people from Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Goa, the panelists recommended the following to the Government:

1. The SEZ Act should be immediately repealed.


2. All consideration of pending applications should be stopped forthwith.


3. All SEZs given approval so far (notified or in principle), should be reviewed through a participatory public process. Where local community consent is not obtained, they should be withdrawn. Where they are to continue, they should be subject to all environmental, labour, tax and other laws of the country, converting them to normal industrial estates, and taking back the excess lands.


4. Farmers, fishers, and other local communities who have been displaced should be urgently rehabilitated, back into the areas they were displaced from, with clear tenurial rights (especially community rights) to the land, within a year.


5. Farmers, fishers, and other local communities who have been deprived of their lands and/or resources (without being physically displaced) should be given back their lands and/or access to resources, as far as possible in their original state, with clear tenurial rights (especially community rights) to the land and/or resources, within a year.


6. Developers must be made to remedy the ecological damage, and health hazards, created by their activities.


7. A full investigation, with public involvement and full transparency, should be conducted into allegations of malpractice, illegality, and misbehaviour on part of corporations, agencies, and officials; and appropriate punishments given to those found guilty.


8. In place of SEZs, the government must facilitate the security of livelihoods of communities living off the land, helping them enhance agricultural, forestry, fisheries, rural industrial, or other means of livelihoods. Several innovative initiatives of decentralised economic and political democracy (including on people’s economic zones, sustainable agriculture, rural industries, renewable energy, and so on), that are being led by communities and civil society organizations, should be supported and encouraged.


9. The State’s power of eminent domain over land and natural resources should be brought in line with the mandatory consent of local communities; this would include the replacement of the Land Acquisition Act or other such laws of the centre and the states with laws that are more democratic.
   

Development Vision of the Fisherfolk along Bhadreshwar Coast

Development VIsion of Traditional Fisherfolk along Bhadreshwar Coast

Kutch Coast - People, Environment and Livelihoods

In case of any difficulty in accessing the reports, please mail us at mass.kutch@gmail.com

Click here to sign a petition to demand action from the Government to protect the environment and livelihoods of people along Kutch Coast

Kutch Coast Study - Fishmarc and Kutch Nav Nirman Abhiyan

Community Gears up to Stop Illegal Activity by OPG Power Plant

Click here Sign a Petition to urge the Government officials to stop the illegal and fraudulent activities of OPG Power Plant.

The proposed 300 MW coal based thermal power plant promoted by M/s OPG Power Gujarat Pvt Ltd. in Bhadreshwar Village, Mundra Taluka, Kutch is not in public interest and being opposed by representatives of the affected local community due to the following reasons:

1. The company has tried to hide the impacts of the project by misguiding the public and the authorities about the location of the project and falsely stating in their EIA report that there is no habitation with 5 km radius of the power plant and that the nearest village Bhadreshwar is 5 km away from the project. But, in reality, air and water pollution from the power plant is likely to

a. Detrimentally impact the health of 20,000 villagers who live within a 5 km radius of the power plant
b. Affect marine life and affect the livelihood of 6000 fisherfolk residing on Randh Bander, which has the second highest Fish production in Kutch.
c. Pollute the salt manufactured in salt pans adjacent to the power plant thereby rendering the salt unfit for consumption or sale and depriving the salt pan owners and nearly 13,000 salt workers of their livelihood
d. Affect ancient historical and religious sites in the area, i.e. the Chokhand Mahadev temple, the 1500 year old Jain Vasai temple and pilgrimage centre and the Dargah Sharif, all of which are located within a 5 km radius of the power plant.
e. The project will also negatively impact the reserve forest area and a fledgling afforestation project being carried out by the Adani group, both of which are located within a 5 km radius of the power plant.

Thus, the company claim that there is no habitation in 5 km radius of proposed power plant is totally false and an attempt to mislead the authorities. See below the map of the 5 km radius area of the power plant.

* Click on the image to see the full size image.



2. The company has violated the provisions of the EIA Notification by submitting a false and misleading EIA report. The EIA report attempts to mislead the people and the Hon’ble members of the Environment Clearance committee both as to the location of the thermal power plant as well as its true impact on the health and livelihood of the local community and the environment.

3. The project is proposed to be set up in a CRZ area which is impermissible under the provisions of the CRZ notification, without prior clearance from Ministry of Environment and Forests.

The project faced strong opposition during the public hearing held on May 29th, 2009, See Public hearing for OPG Power Project in Bhadreshwar village, 29th May, 2009.

Detailed Memoranda have been sent to the Gujarat Pollution Control Board and MoEF officials, and also Honorable Minister of Environment and Forests, Shri.Jairam Ramesh with full details of the above issues seeking rejection of Environment Clearance for the Project.

While the local community is vehemently opposing the project for the above reasons, the company officials are violating Environmental laws by attempting to start construction of the project even before the GPCB clears the project. Legal notices have already been issued to Company officials not to start construction without Environmental Clearance and to the District administration not to abet the unlawful activities of the Company.

Sign a Petition to stop the displacement of Fisherfolk

Click here and leave us a comment with your name or email id, location to show your support for our demands.

Your support will help us to insist upon the Government and Industry to accept our demands.

Write to us at mass.kutch@gmail.com

Fishing in the Mundra Coast

The Kutch coastline accounts for the longest coastline of Gujarat and is home to 3500 fishing families. Mundra in the southern region of Kutch is the smallest block with a coastline of 72 kms stretching across 10 coastal settlements, home to nearly 10,000 fisherfolk.












The fishing community comprises of Muslims. Waghers as they are locally known is derived from “Wah! Gher” in Kutchi i.e. an expression of applauding the skilful laying of net to trap fish which is believed to be a skill mastered by the community people. The lives of the people are intricately linked with the sea and the beach and the people are self sufficient and independent.













The Banders are at a distance of 7-80 kms from main villages. Families from 3-4 villages might settle on a Bander. This practice has been in vogue for centuries. But the fisherfolks’ rights over this land are yet to be established. Says Ibrahim Kaka,
“We have been fishing on these coasts for 200 years. There is plenty of evidence to prove that we have been fishing on these coasts for so many years. But, our land is yet to be regularized.” People live in shelters made of gunny bags and other easily available material such as plastic sheets. This is the only protection against weather conditions that are quite harsh. Heavy winds, high temperature upto 45’ C and low temperature upto 5’C. The entire family shifts to the bandar for 8-9 months in a year. All the family members are involved in one way or the other in the fishing occupation. In-spite of the adverse conditions, they manage to survive, and earn their livelihood, which in itself is a testimony to the strength and endurance of the people.


Livelihood




Pagadia Fishing
The Pagadia fishworkers stay in thevillages and enter into the sea on foot to lay net and catch fish














Fishing by Motorised Boats
The boat owners use their wooden or fibre boats to enter deep into the sea using oil engines and lay the net
manually. The boat fish workers stay at settlements close to coasts for eight-nine months every year and come to live in the villages only during monsoon.














The entire family plays a major role in the fishing occupation. Women perform the only value additions done to fish here, viz., sorting and drying. Women are also involved in selling fish at local markets and in house to house retail sale of fish.










Annual Fish production by the traditional fishing in the Mundra coast is estimated to be nearly 12,000 MT valued at nearly 60.8 Crores (At current market prices). Each family should have substantial revenue, if they were able to sell directly to the market.

The Adanis and the OPGs say(in their Environment Impact Assessment Reports) that there is no significant commercial fishery in the Mundra area. This is misleading and perhaps the result of a lack of understanding of the fisheries of India. Small Scale “artisanal” fishing contributes around 40% of the marine fish production in India. Such small scale fishing may appear “non-commercial” or “subsistence” However, the reality is that such small scale fishing is a full time occupation and around 75% of the employment in fishing is from the small scale sector. Also this fishing is not for “subsistence” (i.e., self consumption), but for the market. The fish caught by the small fishermen of Kutch, including the pagadiyas, go to distant internal markets (Fresh fish to Bombay, dry fish to the North East) as well as for export (Shrimp and Lobsters to Europe and Japan, dried “Bombay Duck” to Sri Lanka.

Ecological Significance of the Mundra Area

Gulf of Kutch is one of the few coastal zones in the world having rich bio-diversity. It comprises of mangroves, Coral reefs, Mudflats, Seaweeds, Commercial Fishes and several rare marine species. Click on image to see Full Size Image. The mangroves of the gulf are the second largest after the Sunderbans in the mainland of India. Gulf of Kutch is the only place left along the Indian coast after Gulf of Mannar where live corals occur. In 1982, parts of the Gulf area were declared as a Sanctuary and Marine National Park. Recently, scientists have discovered patches of live corals near Mundra coast. Thus, the Mundra coast is an ecologically sensitive zone as it supports vast areas of Mangroves, Corals and associated ecosystems.

Destruction of any of the above components of the fragile ecology will disrupt the entire ecosystem. The mangroves help the ecosystem by contributing to the oxygen Budget and in Soil Conservation. Mangroves and Corals are the nursing grounds for a variety of economically important fishes, exotic coral fishes and innumerable flora and fauna. The gulf also abounds in more than 210 species of algae. These algae in combination with corals and mangroves provide a conducive ecosystem for diverse flora and fauna.

The significance of mangroves in coastal ecosystems is undebatable. The Government of India and the Ministry of Environment and Forests recognise that mangrove forests are ecologically sensitive areas and need to be protected and conserved. Mangroves are critical to marine coastal soil conservation, breeding and nursery grounds for fish, crustaceans and other sea life, as well as vital habitat for birds and other wildlife. As per estimation, just 100 cu m of mangrove area shelters 54,600 prawns. Kutch district has been declared the most important mangrove area in the state of Gujarat.

A prominent feature of the Mundra Coast is the vast intertidal zone comprising a network of creeks, estuaries and mudflats. The intertidal zone is unique and very important because the fishermen can land their boats in these natural creeks and also keep them there safe from strong winds and currents. The fisherfolk have complete knowledge of the sea and have been living on the coasts for ages. They are familiar with the creeks of the area and the intertidal zone is important for their occupation, economic prosperity and survival of their families. The creeks also form a natural drainage system which if disturbed might lead to flooding during monsoons.

Scientists have identified vacant sites along the Kutch coast which could be used for industrial development. Along the northern coast, two lengthy stretches are available without any ecologically sensitive zones that could be used for future development of industries. Why use the ecologically sensitive Mundra Coast for Industrial Development when alternative sites are available nearby.

Kutch Fishworkers' Issues in the press

Google, Facebook power Kutch Fishing community protest The Indian Express, May 18, 2010

Port expansion poses threat to mangroves CNN IBN, May 05, 2010

Sea level rises, Gujarat coast in trouble CNN IBN, April 02, 2010

Environment clearance: A sham again India Together, March 23, 2010

Development and Displacement: Resentment in the Kutch Economic and Political Weekly, February 20, 2010

Villagers raise voice against land allotment for industrial purpose Indian Express, February 08, 2010

Tension grips Mundra Village over proposed power plant Indian Express, 28th August, 2009

Centre plans law to protect fishermen Times of India, August 13, 2009

May check if CRZ norms violated at Mundra: Jairam Indian Express, August 13, 2009

Govt to probe alleged CRZ violation by Mundra Port The Hindu, August 12, 2009

SC issues notice to Adani, others on Mundra SEZ Indian Express, August 11, 2009

SC issues notice to Adani, others on Mundra SEZ Live Mint, August 10, 2009

SC notice to Adani, others on Mundra SEZ Hindu Business Line,August 10, 2009

Gujarat asked to secure Fisherfolk's livelihood Mint, July 29, 2009

National body orders state govt to ensure unhindered fishing in Mundra Indian Express, July 28, 2009

Save India's Beaches NDTV 24x7, Series of programmes in 2009


See the complete story "Gujarat's Mangrove under threat" on NDTV 24 X 7, which reports on extensive environmental damage allegedly caused by the Adanis' Mundra Port and SEZ. NDTV 24x7, June 08, 2009

EIA clearance hearing for proposed Thermal plant witnesses strong protest Indian Express, May 30th, 2009

OPG Power Plant Opposed DNA, May 30th, 2009

Fishermen protest against Bhadreshwar power project Times of India, June 2nd, 2009

Fishermen Body threatens to boycott elections Indian Express,April 17th,2009

Port a threat to Mangrove forests in Mundra (Gujarat) Mangrove Action Project, Dec 27th, 2008

Mundra Waterfront Project at the cost of 10,000 families? Indian Express, Dec 07th, 2008

How Mundra became India's Rotterdam InfoChange News & Features, December 2008

Impacts of MPSEZL (Mundra Port and SEZ Limited) on environment and people of Gulf of Kutch Mangrove Action Project, Nov 14th, 2008

Satyagraha likely over land allotment to Mundra SEZ Thaindian News, July 10th, 2008

SC Stays construction on Adani Group's Mundra SEZ The Financial Express, July 01, 2008

Villagers veto sale of grazing land to Mundra SEZ India Environmental Portal, May 30th, 2008

Nature lovers upset as axe falls on Mangroves for SEZ Indian Express, March 22, 2008

Mundra SEZ spells displacement for fisherfolk Down to Earth, March, 2007