FETP: Perfect example of privatisation of profits, socialisation of costs

FETP Ankaleshwar

Letter to the Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of India, seeking cancellation of the Consolidated Consent and Authorization (CC & A) and issue closure notice to Narmada Clean Tech (NCT), Ankleshwar, as the Final Effluent Treatment Plant’ (FETP) consistently does not meet the prescribed GPCB norms since its inception by Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti’s Rohit Prajapati and Krishnakant:

We are writing letters since 2008 onwards about the Final Effluent Treatment Plant (FETP) of Narmada Clean Tech of Ankleshwar (NCT) which is not able to meet the prescribed norms of GPCB since its inception is publicly well known. We had again taken up this issue of non-compliance with you in our letter dated 12 December 2016 but there is no-response from your office as if silence is your reply or silence is your commitment to the environment.
In such circumstances, we request that the MoEFCC and the GPCB to enlighten us with the law under which the illegal effluent discharge from the NCT is allowed to be released despite not meeting the prescribed norms of the GPCB.
We are extremely concerned that the MoEFCC and GPCB are openly allowing the NCT to consistently admittedly violate environment laws.
The latest investigation results of October, November, December 2016, January and February 2017 clearly indicate that even when moratorium of Ankleshwar and Panoli is lifted it was admittedly not able to meet the prescribed GPCB norms.
The Narmada Clean Tech (NCT), formerly known as Bharuch Eco Aqua Infrastructure Ltd. (BEAIL), earlier a private company, is now a subsidiary company of Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC). The GIDC is a statutory corporation and 100% owned by Government of Gujarat. The NCT is also a joint venture of Member Industries of Ankleshwar, Jhagadia and Panoli Industrial Estates.
The NCT claims to receive treated industrial effluent from Ankleshwar, Jhagadia & Panoli Industrial Estates, common effluent treatment plants (CETPs) and to “treat” it at Final Effluent Treatment Plant (FETP) upto prescribed norms of GPCB and then to convey through 52.76 Kms. pipeline into the sea.
The FETP, from its inception till date, has never performed as per the prescribed norms set by the GPCB. Shockingly and surprisingly the same plant’s disposal pipeline project was inaugurated by the then Chief Minister of Gujarat Mr. Narendra Modi, now Prime Minister of India on January 25, 2007. By inaugurating this plant, Mr. Modi sent out a message to industry and new investors that compliance with environment laws was a trivial matter in the state.
The pipeline project of Final Effluent Treatment Plant of Ankleshwar was built with the tax payers’ money. Out of a total project cost of Rs 131.43 crores, the industries paid only Rs. 21.75 crores (about 17%); the rest of the expense (Rs. 109 crores) was borne by the Central Government, the Gujarat Government, and the Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) – all of which ultimately draw from public money. It is a familiar story: the profits are distributed privately, but the institutional costs and environmental burden are borne by general public. This is the perfect example of the privatisation of profits and the socialisation of the costs, burdens and hazards. Why does government disburse the cost to tax payers when industries pollute?
It is also in the public domain that the 52.97 Kms pipeline which carries the effluent from NCT to the sea for discharge has many times been broken and that lead to illegal discharge into Amla Khadi which at the end meets the Narmada River and much time into the farms lands in various villages.
Repeated complains of the farmers are deliberately ignored.
Your inaction gives clear indication that you as an authority are well aware about these facts yet you have taken conscious decision to illegally allow such consistent blatant violation of environment laws.
We ask you to respect environmental laws. Any action to contrary will be tantamount to committing an extra-legal act akin to an ‘encounter’ of environment laws.
It is expected from you all to implement environmental laws of the country in letter and spirit.
Please provide us the crucial information, under which environment law Tadgam Sarigam Pipeline, from Vapi CETP, from FETP – Ankleshwar, ECP-Vadodara, and CETPs of Ahmedabad are allowed to discharge their effluent in to the water body even though the effluent is not able to meet the prescribed GPCB norms.
Keeping in mind the above alarming facts and reality which is not under dispute, we can surely describe the grave situation as a “chemical emergency”. In order to reduce further harm to the people and environment, the following immediate steps should be taken:

The concerned authority should immediately cancel the ‘Consolidated Consent and Authorization’ (CC & A) of ‘to ‘Narmada Clean Tech (NCT).
The concerned authority should immediately issue a closure notice to Narmada Clean Tech (NCT).
The concerned authority should take exemplary action including cancellation of ‘Environment Clearance’ (EC) of all the defaulting polluting industries and their main owner and responsible officers of these industrial estates.
A committee should be appointed to assess the ongoing damage and the damage of the past to quantify and pay the real compensation for the damage done to the villagers.
An immediate short and long term plan should be made for remedial measures to decontaminate the ground water based on the “Polluter Pays Principle”.
A high level committee of the MoEFCC, CPCB, GPCB, local state authority, representatives of affected villagers and the representatives of the voluntary organizations working in this area on environment should be appointed to do day-to-day monitoring of the area.
We expect your prompt immediate response in the interest of life, livelihood and environment of the area. If you do not act know it will also be considered as the contempt of the court of the Hon’ble Supreme Court order dated 22 February 2017 in our PIL – Writ Petition (Civil) 375 of 2012.

Comments

Adani coalmine delayed? Australian senate fails to pass crucial "reform" amendment for project's financial closure

Adanis' Mundra power plant, controversial in Australia By A Representative In what is being described as a new “new hurdle”, the proposed Adani coalmine in the Queensland state of in Australia failed to get the crucial Australian Parliamentary nod, essential for financial closure for one of the biggest coalmining projects in the world. The government lost the Senate vote 35-33, meaning the legislation won't pass until the Senate returns in mid-June.

Aurangzeb’s last will recorded by his Maulvi: Allah shouldn't make anyone emperor

By Mohan Guruswamy Aurangzeb’s grave is a simple slab open to the sky lying along the roadside at Khuldabad near Aurangabad. I once stopped by to marvel at the tomb of an Emperor of India whose empire was as large as Ashoka the Great's. It was only post 1857 when Victoria's domain exceeded this. The epitaph reads: "Az tila o nuqreh gar saazand gumbad aghniyaa! Bar mazaar e ghareebaan gumbad e gardun bas ast." (The rich may well construct domes of gold and silver on their graves. For the poor folks like me, the sky is enough to shelter my grave) The modest tomb of Aurangzeb is perhaps the least recognised legacies of the Mughal Emperor who ruled the land for fifty eventful years. He was not a builder having expended his long tenure in war and conquest. Towards the end of his reign and life, he realised the futility of it all. He wrote: "Allah should not make anyone an emperor. The most unfortunate person is he who becomes one." Aurangzeb’s last will was re...

Beyond his riding skill, Karl Umrigar was admired for his radiance, sportsmanship, and affability

By Harsh Thakor* Karl Umrigar's name remains etched in the annals of Indian horse racing, a testament to a talent tragically cut short. An accident on the racetrack at the tender age of nineteen robbed India of a rider on the cusp of greatness. Had he survived, there's little doubt he would have ascended to international stature, possibly becoming the greatest Indian jockey ever. Even 46 years after his death, his name shines brightly, reminiscent of an inextinguishable star. His cousin, Pesi Shroff, himself blossomed into one of the most celebrated jockeys in Indian horse racing.

Haven't done a good deed, inner soul is cursing me as sinner: Aurangzeb's last 'will'

Counterview Desk The Tomb of Aurangzeb, the last of the strong Mughal emperors, located in Khuldabad, Aurangabad district, Maharashtra, has this epitaph inscribed on it: "Az tila o nuqreh gar saazand gumbad aghniyaa! Bar mazaar e maa ghareebaan gumbad e gardun bas ast" (the rich may well construct domes of gold and silver on their graves. For the poor folks like me, the sky is enough to shelter my grave).

Trust, we (from People to PM and President) did not take a Holy Dip in some Holy Shit!

By Dr Mansee Bal Bhargava I could see two deeply interlinked aspects between human and water in #MahaKumbh2025. Firstly, the HOPE that a ‘holy dip’ in the River Ganga (colloquially referred as dubki and spiritually as ‘Snan’) will cleanse oneself (especially the sins); and secondly, the TRUST that the water is pure to perform the cleansing alias living the hope. Well, I consider hope to be self-dependent while, trust is a multi-party dependent situation. The focus here is on the trust and I shall write later on hope.

Hyderabad seminar rekindles memories of the spark lit 50 years ago by students

By Harsh Thakor* History is something we constantly remember and reflect upon, but certain moments and events bring it back to our memory in a special way. For the Telugu people, and Telangana in particular, the memorial seminar held on February 20–21 was a significant occasion to recall the glorious events, transformations, leaders, and heroes of past struggles. Thousands of students rewrote the history of people's movements in Andhra Pradesh, carrying revolutionary zeal and the spirit of self-sacrifice to levels comparable to the Russian and Chinese Revolutions.

Vadodara citizens urge authorities to adhere to environmental mandates in Vishwamitri River Rejuvenation Project

By A Representative A coalition of environmental activists, ecologists, and urban planners in Vadodara has issued an urgent appeal to state and municipal authorities, demanding strict compliance with court-mandated guidelines for the upcoming Vishwamitri River rejuvenation project. Scheduled to commence in March 2025, the initiative aims to mitigate flooding and restore the river, but citizens warn that current plans risk violating National Green Tribunal (NGT) orders and jeopardizing the river’s fragile ecosystem, home to endangered species like crocodiles and Indian Softshell Turtles.

Buddhist communities in Michigan protest for Mahabodhi Temple’s return to Buddhist control

By A Representative Buddhist communities in Michigan have staged protests demanding the return of the Mahabodhi Vihara in Gaya, Bihar, India, to full Buddhist control. The Mahabodhi Temple, regarded as the holiest pilgrimage site in Buddhism, is currently managed under the Bodhgaya Temple Act of 1949, which grants a majority of control to non-Buddhists.

How the slogan Jai Bhim gained momentum as movement of popularity and revolution

By Dr Kapilendra Das* India is an incomprehensible plural country loaded with diversities of religions, castes, cultures, languages, dialects, tribes, societies, costumes, etc. The Indians have good manners/etiquette (decent social conduct, gesture, courtesy, politeness) that build healthy relationships and take them ahead to life. In many parts of India, in many situations, and on formal occasions, it is common for people of India to express and exchange respect, greetings, and salutation for which we people usually use words and phrases like- Namaskar, Namaste, Pranam, Ram Ram, Jai Ram ji, Jai Sriram, Good morning, shubha sakal, Radhe Radhe, Jai Bajarangabali, Jai Gopal, Jai Jai, Supravat, Good night, Shuvaratri, Jai Bhole, Salaam walekam, Walekam salaam, Radhaswami, Namo Buddhaya, Jai Bhim, Hello, and so on. A soft attitude always creates strong relationships. A relationship should not depend only on spoken words. They should rely on understanding the unspoken feeling too. So w...

A Communist leader, an advocate for unity, against opportunism and sectarianism

By Harsh Thakor* Dhurva Narayan, a prominent leader from Bihar and a Central Committee member of the former PCC, CPI (ML) as well as the newly merged CPI (ML)-MassLine, passed away on February 12, 2025. He was an influential figure in the Indian Communist revolutionary movement for over five decades, known for his role in opposing Hindutva politics and globalization. Narayan was committed to fostering unity within Communist ranks and advocating against opportunism and sectarianism.

Search This Blog