Economic Growth & Environmental Quality in MP
Content
Economic Growth & Environmental Quality in MP
By Avik Sinha & Vaibhav Khandelwal
Economic growth often entails faster exploitation of natural resources, which eventually leads
to long term deterioration in the environmental quality. This has been experienced world-over
and the same can be witnessed in case of Madhya Pradesh as well. According to a draft of MP
State Action Plan on Climate Change report, released in 2012, approximately 37 lakh hectare
of forest land is in different phases of degradation in MP. This is going to adversely affect
biodiversity, communities dependent on forest for their survival, as well as for the urban
population. The environmental degradation adversely affects agriculture also, which is a
source of livelihood for a vast majority in MP. This is already evident in irregular and illtimed rain cycles.
This constant conflict between Economic Growth and Environmental quality has led to the
creation of two camps. One is the set of environmentalists, who believe that if we do not
make any sweeping changes in the manner in which we are growing, we are set for doom.
The other camp can be called as pro-growth which believes that the survival of the ever
burgeoning population is dependent upon growth without which there will be a problem of
scarcity. An evidence of the conflict between the two is clearly visible in the forests of
Mahan. There are said to be huge coal reserves in the forests of Mahan which the companies
like Essar & Hindalco want to mine. However, this will result in displacement of thousands
of people who are dependent on these forests for their livelihood, will destroy the complete
ecosystem that exists in those forests and also put the climate at risk due to environmental
degradation. To oppose the mining projects, people of Mahan have come together and have
formed Mahan Sangharsh Samiti in March 2013 to protect the forests. They have gradually
expanded their scope to 11 villages now and have also got the support of several NGOs with
special mention be made of the efforts put in by Greenpeace International. However, there are
reports that the villagers living in these forests as well as the Greenpeace activists stationed in
the forests are being threatened to withdraw their opposition to the mining project. The time
has come now to understand that neither of the extremes can hold good now. There is a need
to blend the two approaches if the present needs are to be met along with ensuring that we are
able to meet the needs of the future generation. Investment in “Green Technology” is the way
forward.
By Avik Sinha & Vaibhav Khandelwal
Economic growth often entails faster exploitation of natural resources, which eventually leads
to long term deterioration in the environmental quality. This has been experienced world-over
and the same can be witnessed in case of Madhya Pradesh as well. According to a draft of MP
State Action Plan on Climate Change report, released in 2012, approximately 37 lakh hectare
of forest land is in different phases of degradation in MP. This is going to adversely affect
biodiversity, communities dependent on forest for their survival, as well as for the urban
population. The environmental degradation adversely affects agriculture also, which is a
source of livelihood for a vast majority in MP. This is already evident in irregular and illtimed rain cycles.
This constant conflict between Economic Growth and Environmental quality has led to the
creation of two camps. One is the set of environmentalists, who believe that if we do not
make any sweeping changes in the manner in which we are growing, we are set for doom.
The other camp can be called as pro-growth which believes that the survival of the ever
burgeoning population is dependent upon growth without which there will be a problem of
scarcity. An evidence of the conflict between the two is clearly visible in the forests of
Mahan. There are said to be huge coal reserves in the forests of Mahan which the companies
like Essar & Hindalco want to mine. However, this will result in displacement of thousands
of people who are dependent on these forests for their livelihood, will destroy the complete
ecosystem that exists in those forests and also put the climate at risk due to environmental
degradation. To oppose the mining projects, people of Mahan have come together and have
formed Mahan Sangharsh Samiti in March 2013 to protect the forests. They have gradually
expanded their scope to 11 villages now and have also got the support of several NGOs with
special mention be made of the efforts put in by Greenpeace International. However, there are
reports that the villagers living in these forests as well as the Greenpeace activists stationed in
the forests are being threatened to withdraw their opposition to the mining project. The time
has come now to understand that neither of the extremes can hold good now. There is a need
to blend the two approaches if the present needs are to be met along with ensuring that we are
able to meet the needs of the future generation. Investment in “Green Technology” is the way
forward.
