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Environmental Public Hearing

Objective: To create awareness regarding environmental legislation among people, networking of organization working in environmental issues and strengthens public participation in decision making process along with local self government.
Our participation in environmental hearings depends on following three conditions:

  • If there is a lack of awareness in the area where the environmental issue arises and the public hearing takes place.
  • If there is absence of NGOs or other groups active in the area who can raise the issue, protest and pursue the case. Or,
  • If the issue is too complex and serious and demands planned strategic intervention, despite the presence of active NGOs or other groups.

As part of our work on strengthening the system of EPH, we use different means- we send our comments on the EIA reports, personally attend the public hearings, collaborate with local organizations, conduct meetings with residents of surrounding areas to raise their issues and to participate in the hearings.

Main issues regarding EPH,

  • EIA report has not been prepared properly as per guideline of government and given TOR by Expert Appraisal Committee. Data manipulation is common in all reports. Even, many annexure are not visible on report uploaded on website.
  • Procedural mistakes of different types are seen in many cases. e.g. construction is started/completed without clearance, report prepared during monsoon season, data not collected  during one season.
  • Local residents are unaware about the public hearing procedure & voluntary organizations does not have right to speak in EPH. So, people are not take part effectively.
  • Local voluntary organization thought that it is environmental issue, not belongs to their work. Sometimes they agreed with us after long discussion.
  • Venue of EPH is far from project site which is violation of basic guideline of EIA Notification.
  • In many cases without presentation of project by project proponents EPH procedure starts so people who present there are not able to understand projects and their consequences

We intervened in 21 Environment Public Hearings during month of April 2009 to July 2009. Our intervention had three different aspects.

  • As a plausible stake holder, we studied Environmental Impact Assessment reports and sent written presentation (views/objections/comments) for all 21 projects whose public hearing we attended, to Gujarat Pollution Control Board (list of which is annexed). We also sent letters to Ministry of Environment and Forest in the case of violation of MoEF guidelines and EIA Notification 2006 after public hearings of M/s.Gulbrandsen Chemicals Pvt.Limited, located at on Coastal Highway, Village.Mujpur, Tal.Padra, Dist.Vadodara
  • We approached local organizations, groups, individuals, informed them about the environmental effects of industrial projects in their respective areas and motivated them to participate in EPH. We coordinated with 8 different organizations.
  • We visited 30 affected villages and made people aware about their right to participate in decision making process (EPH). This awareness is done through field work. During this time we conducted meeting with local NGO, Sarpanchs and villagers in those villages which were going to be affected by the upcoming projects.

Important Environmental public hearings
1. M/s. Gulbrandsen Chemicals Pvt.Limited:
Ground water of Padra region is worst polluted and colored due to industrial pollution. Most of chemical industries are coming, expanding in this region. A pre-EPH meeting was done at Padra on 19.05.09 with a group of active people. During EPH of Gulbrandsen chemicals affected people conveyed their concern in writing and orally but were not replied satisfactory by project proponent or Gujarat Pollution Control Board during the public hearing. Due to this they angry. As the people got angry the chairman of the EPH committee left the place along with Gujarat Pollution Control Board officer.
Even the opinion of the chairman regarding the EPH was not received. Reading of the EPH minutes has not been done and gratitude has also not been shown regarding EPH. This was the violation of the EIA Notification 2006.
2 members of Paryavaran Mitra were personally present in this EPH. Complains from local people were received by Paryavaran Mitra and on this basis we wrote a letter for cancellation of EPH of this project.

List of intervened Environment Public Hearings

Sr
No

Date

Name of Company

Our involvement

1

12/05/09

M/s.ABG Cement Limited, Village.Mora, Tal.Choryasi, Dist.Surat

Comments sent to Gujarat Pollution Control Board

2

12/05/09

M/s. Surya Pigments(I)Pvt.Ltd., Plot No.160,160/p, Karannagar, Tal.Kadi, Dist. Mehsana 

  • Field visit of 3 villages-Budasan, karannagar, Indrad by a member of Paryavaran Mitra.
  • Meeting with 15 people at Budasan village.
  • Coordination with NGO-Navsarjan.
  • Personal presence of staff member in EPH.

3

22/05/09

M/s.Rishabh Colors Pvt Limited, Block No.563, 564, 573/A and 574/B, Village.Luna, Tal.Padra, Dist.Vadodara

  • Pre EPH meetings with a active group at padra
  • Field visit by two members of Paryavaran Mitra in Karkhadi, Chokari, Munjpur, Tajpur, Dabhasa, Luna, dudhwada, Aambaliyara, Aekalbara villages and visited total 50 people.
  • Meeting with 25 villagers at Chokari village for all 4 EPH at Padra.
  • Meeting with 30 villagers at Munjpur village for all 4 EPH at Padra
  • Meeting with 35 local people at Padra.
  • Coordination with­­­ 2 NGOs Mahisagar Shakti Sangathan- Munjpur and Samajik Nyay Morcho-Karkhadi
  • Personal presence in EPH.

4

25/05/09

M/s. S.D.Intermediates,Block No.96/B/2, Village.Karkhadi, Tal.Padra, Dist.Vadodara on

  • EIA reports were put on the website but they were print lock so a letter was written to Gujarat Pollution Control Board informing them to take actions on it. After our letter new reports were put on the website which were not print locked.
  • Pre EPH meetings with a active group at padra
  • Field visit by two members of Paryavaran Mitra in Karkhadi, Chokari, Munjpur, Tajpur, Dabhasa, Luna, dudhwada, Aambaliyara, Aekalbara villages and visited total 50 people.
  • Meeting with 25 villagers at Chokari village for all 4 EPH at Padra.
  • Meeting with 30 villagers at Munjpur village for all 4 EPH at Padra
  • Meeting with 35 local people at Padra.
  • Coordination with­­­ 2 NGOs Mahisagar Shakti Sangathan- Munjpur and Samajik Nyay Morcho-Karkhadi
  • Personal presence in EPH.
  • Media Advocacy for EPH

5

26/05/09

M/s.Gulbrandsen Chemicals Pvt.Limited, located at on Coastal Highway, Village.Mujpur, Tel.Padra, Dist.Vadodara

  • Pre EPH meetings with a active group at Padra
  • Field visit by two members of Paryavaran Mitra in Karkhadi, Chokari, Munjpur, Tajpur, Dabhasa, Luna, dudhwada, Aambaliyara, Aekalbara villages and visited total 50 people.
  • Meeting with 25 villagers at Chokari village for all 4 EPH at Padra.
  • Meeting with 30 villagers at Munjpur village for all 4 EPH at Padra
  • Meeting with 50 local people at Padra and all 50 people participated in EPH.
  • Coordination with­­­ 2 NGOs Mahisagar Shakti Sangathan- Munjpur and Samajik Nyay Morcho-Karkhadi
  • Personal presence in EPH.
  • Helped local people in making presentation for the cancellation of EPH.
  • Letters written to MoEF by Paryavaran Mitra for the cancellation of EPH.
  • Media Advocacy for EPH

6

29/05/09

M/s.OPG Power Gujarat Private Limited,
Village.Bhadreshwar,Taluka.Mundra, Dist.Kutch

    • Comments sent to GPCB
    • Coordination with an organization Bhadreshwar setu kutch
    • Bhadreshwar Setu is provided guidance and support to file a case in Gujarat High Court.

 

7

30/05/09

M/s.Agrocel Industries Limited, located S.No. 442,443,444 & 452/3p, Village.Avania, Tal.Ghogha, Dist.Bhavnagar

  • Field visit by a member of Paryavaran Mitra of Avania and Ghogha village.
  • Visited 2 local person at Avania village.
  • Meeting with 15 local fishermen at Ghogha.
  • Personal presence in EPH.

8

30/05/09

M/s.Associated Dyestuff Pvt.Limited (Unit-III),S.No.466/2, Village.Dudhwada, Tal.Padara, Dist.Vadodara

  • Karkhadi, Chokari, Munjpur, Tajpur, Dabhasa, Luna, dudhwada, Aambaliyara, Aekalbara villages were visted earlier by two members of Paryavaran Mitra and total 50 people were visited.
  • Meeting with 25 people at Chokari and 30 people at Munjpur village for all 4 EPH at Padra was done.
  • Field visit for this EPH was done by a member of Paryavaran Mitra along with an intern.
  • Meeting with 50 local people at Padra.
  • Coordination with­­­ 2 NGOs Mahisagar Shakti Sangathan- Munjpur and Samajik Nyay Morcho-Karkhadi
  • Personal presence in EPH.

 

9

3/6/09

M/s.Usha Breco Limited, Mount Girnar, Tal.Junagadh, Dist. Junagadh

Comments sent to GPCB
Project proponents gave false information in a reply given to our questions.

10

10/6/09

M/s.Meghmani Industries Ltd.,Village.Chharodi, Tal.Sanand, Dist.Ahmedabad

Comments sent to GPCB

11

12/06/09

M/s.Jharia Coke Pvt.Limited, S.No.317/3, 316,327/1, at Village.Lunva, Tal.Bhachau, Dist.Kutch

As same project proponent was proposing 3 different plants at same venue and EIA report was also same except greenbelt requirement. For all the projects 3 different presentation/comments were comments sent to GPCB.

 

12

12/06/09

M/s.Maa Kali Metcoke Industries Pvt.Ltd., S.No.286,287,288 & 289/1, at Village.Lunva, Tal.Bhachau, Dist.Kutch

13

12/06/09

M/s.Shree Salasar Coke (Gujarat) Pvt.Limited, S.No.285,289/2, at Village.Lunva, Tal.Bhachau, Dist.Kutch

14

15/06/09

M/s.Amreli Projects Pvt.Ltd., S.No.388 P-3, 388 P-4, 395 P-1 & 396 P-1, Village.Savarsamapadar, Tal.Savarkundla, Dist.Amreli

  • Field visit by a member of Paryavaran Mitra.
  • 15 local people were visited at Savarsamapadar village at Savarkundala.
  • Coordination with­­­ 3 Paralegals of Rajula.
  • Personal presence in EPH.

15

23/06/09

M/s.Krishak Bharati Cooperative Limited(KRIBHCO), Hazira, Dist.Surat

Comments sent to GPCB.
Coordination with2 NGOs - Jagruti Education trust, Hada Vistar Action Samiti and 3 local people.

16

23/06/09

M/s.GSPC-NIKO Resources Limited, Hazira Field, Dist.Surat

Comments sent to GPCB.
Coordination with2 NGOs - Jagruti Education trust, Hada Vistar Action Samiti and 3 local people.

17

26/06/09

M/s. Stermone Chemicals Pvt.Limited, S.No.34, Paldi, Golana Road, Tal.Khambhat, Dist.Anand

  • Field visit by 2 member of Paryavaran Mitra.
  • 20 local people were visited at Paldi, Sokhada, Golana, Malasoni, Lunej, Daheda, Khambhat villages from which 12 people participated in EPH.
  • Coordination with­­­ Mukund Pandya- A local leader.
  • Personal presence in EPH.
  • Venue of EPH was very far and local affected persons of 3 km far from project size were not allowed to raise their issues during EPH.

18

3/07/09

M/s. Bajaj Helthcare Limited(Unit-II), Block No.588, Savli-Karachia Road, At & Po:Gothada, Tal.Savli

  • Field visit of Mahudha, Bahutha, Gothada, Namisara villages by a member of Paryavaran Mitra.
  • Meeting with 10 local people at Mahudha village.
  • Coordination with­­­ Pratikar-NGO.
  • Personal presence in EPH.

19

9/07/09

M/s. Jindal Saw Limited, Village.Samaghogha, Pragpar-Mandavi Road, Tal.Mundra, Dist.Kutch

  • Field visit by a member of Paryavaran Mitra.
  • Meeting with 8 local people at Samaghogha village and all participated in EPH.
  • Coordination with NGO Bhadreshwar Setu.
  • Personal presence in EPH.

20

17/07/09

M/s.Indian Steel Corporation Limited, S.No.370,368/2,366, Village.Bhimsar, Tal.Anjar, Dist.Kutch

  • Field visit of Bhimsara and Moti Paswari villages by a member of Paryavaran Mitra.
  • Meeting with 10 local people at Bhimasar village who actively participated and submitted written objection during EPH.
  • Coordination with­­­ NGO-Setu-Bhimasar.
  • Personal presence in EPH.

21

21/07/09

M/s.Kumar Organic Products Limited, S.No.379, Village.Luna, Tal.Padra, Dist.Vadodara

  • 2 days Field visit by a member of Paryavaran Mitra along with an intern.
  • 2 Meeting with 45 local people at Dabhasa and Luna village from which 20 people actively participated in EPH.
  • Coordination with­­­ 2 NGOs Mahisagar Shakti Sangathan- Munjpur and Samajik Nyay Morcho-Karkhadi
  • Personal presence in EPH.
 
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