The Dhamra port in Orissa poses a threat to the fragile ecology of the area, the mangrove forests and crocodiles of the Bhitarkanika National Park and the Olive Ridley sea turtles of the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary. It is also violating the Forest Conservation Act, 1980. The regional office of the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has confirmed this repeatedly over several years.
Shockingly, the MoEF at Delhi has contradicted the stand of its own regional office before the Central Empowered Committee and has given a clean chit to the Dhamra port. This very ministry had earlier punished Vedanta for violating the law. If Vedanta can be punished, why can’t the Dhamra Port Company?
Vedanta was punished because of public pressure on the ministry to act. We can do this again. I have already written to Environment and Forest Minister Jairam Ramesh asking him to explain these contradictions and implement the law impartially. More letters mean more pressure.
Can you also write to the minister asking the same?
Sent by Anand Raheja
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Tata Steel has over the years addressed all issues of environment with total commitment and utmost priority. So when Greenpeace raised objections against the development of a deep-sea port in Dhamra, Orissa on the ground that it would adversely affect the vulnerable Olive Ridley Turtles’ nesting habitat, port expansion work was stalled for a year during which all concerns were suitably addressed. Recommendations from International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN) which happens to be one of the world's most renowned scientific organisations, local NGOs, scientific research panels and marine turtle specialists were effectively implemented. It may be noted that IUCN and the MTSG (Marine Turtle Scientific Group) scientists working with the group have clearly stated that dredging operations for Dhamra does not and will not affect the Olive Ridley Turtles in Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary and its periphery area.
Tata Steel since 2004 has initiated several discussions with Greenpeace & other such organisations regarding the port development along with continuous discussions with the local communities including the fishermen population. Even IUCN had a stakeholders meet in February 2009 wherein Govt of India, Govt of Orissa, Wild Life Institute of India, Local Communities, Scientists & Civil Society organisations participated. However, Greenpeace, who continue to invent lies in their Dhamra campaign, has abused the transparency and the co-operation always extended by Tata Steel. In an earlier instance as well, Greenpeace misrepresented a report prepared by the North Orissa University on their website, after failing to conduct their own impact assessment study on the port. The NGO even refrained from participating in a dialogue proposed by Tata Steel in early 2009. Thus all true friends of the environment should maintain an unbiased and honest approach to the issue at hand and expose the lies of Greenpeace by raising a strong voice against their evil practices.
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