Gujarat eed

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Gujarat is a state in western India. It has an area of 75,686 sq mi (196,077 km) with a coastline of 1,600 km, most of which

lies on the Kathiawarpeninsula, and a population in excess of 50 million. The state is bordered by Rajasthanto the

north, Maharashtra to the south, Madhya Pradesh to the east and theArabian Sea as well as the Pakistani province

ofSindh on the west. Its capital is Gandhinagar, while its largest city is Ahmedabad. Gujarat is home to the Gujarati-speaking

people of India.

The state encompasses major sites of the ancient Indus Valley Civilization, such as Lothal and Dholavira. Lothal is believed

to be one of the world's first ports. Gujarat's coastal cities, chiefly Bharuch, served as ports and trading centers in

the Maurya and Gupta empires. Mohandas Gandhi, considered India's "father of the nation", was a Gujarati who led

the Indian Independence Movementagainst the British colonial rule.[1]

Gujarat played an important role in the economic history of India throughout the history of India.[2]

The state has the fastest

growing economy in India.[3][4][5]

It is also one of the most industrialized states of India, and has a per capita GDP almost

twice that of the national average.[6]

Geography

Gujarat borders with Pakistan to the north-west, bounded by theArabian Sea to the southwest, the state ofRajasthanto the

northeast, Madhya Pradesh to the east, and by Maharashtra, Union territories ofDiu, Daman, Dadra and Nagar Haveli to the

south. Historically, the North was known asAnarta, the Kathiawad peninsula, "Saurastra", and the South as

"Lata".[15] Gujarat was also known as Pratichya and Varuna.[16] TheArabian Sea makes up the state's western coast. The

capital, Gandhinagaris a planned city. Gujarat has an area of 75,686 sq mi (196,077 km) with the longest coast line

1600 km, dotted with 41 ports; 1 major, 11 intermediate and 29 minor ports.

Forests and wildlife

As per the India State Of Forest Report 2009, Gujarat has 7.46 % of its total geographical area under forest cover. As per the

districts, The Dangs has the largest area under forest cover. Gujarat has 4 National parks and 21 sanctuaries. Gujarat is the

only home ofAsiatic Lions. Outside Africa, Gujarat is the only present natural habitat of lions. Gir Forest National Park in the

south-west part of the state covers only part of the lions' habitat. Besides lions, the other big cat that can be found in the

state is the leopard. Leopards are spread across large plains of Saurashtra and mountains of South Gujarat.

Other National parks include Vansda National Park, Blackbuck National Park, Velavadarand Marine National Park, Gulf of

Kutch. Wildlife sanctuaries include: Wild Ass Wildlife Sanctuary, NalSarovar Bird Sanctuary, Porbandar Bird

Sanctuary, Kutch Desert Wildlife Sanctuary, Kutch Bustard Sanctuary, Narayan Sarovar Sanctuary, Jessore Sloth Bear

Sanctuary, Anjal, Balaram-Ambaji, Barda, Jambughoda, Khavda, Paniya, Purna, Rampura, Ratanmahal, and Surpaneshwar.

Gujarat is one state where you can find major mountain-ranges of India.Aravalli, Sahyadri, Vindhya and Satpura are having

their presence in Gujarat. Apart from this Gir hills, Barda, Jessore, Chotila etc. are situated in different parts of the

Gujarat. Girnaris the tallest hill of Gujarat. Saputara is the only hill-station of the state.

Major rivers

Narmada is the biggest river of Gujarat followed by Tapi, although Sabarmati covers the longest area in the

state. SardarSarovar Projectis built on Narmada river. Narmada is one of the major rivers ofpeninsular India with a length of

around 1312 km. It is one of only three rivers in peninsular India that run from east to west the others being the Tapi River

and the Mahi River.

Industrial growth


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ludeA

edabad, Surat, Vadodara,

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avnagar. Inear

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orld's fastest growing

ities includedA

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engduand

ongqing from

ina. Surat isalsoone

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e fastest growingcit

in India.!ajorresources

"

roducedby t

estate includecotton, groundnut, dates, sugarcane, and

"

etrochemical"

roducts.#hestate isrich

incalcite, gypsum, manganese, lignite, bauxite, limestone, agate, feldsparandquart$

sand, andsuccessful miningof these

minerals isdone in theirspecifiedareas. Gujarat producesabout% &

% of India'srequiredamount of Soda Ashandgives the

countryabout' &

% of itsnational requirement ofsalt. It isoneof India'smost prosperousstates, havingaper-capitaGDP

significantlyabove India'saverage. Kalol, Khambhat andAnkleshwarare todayknown fortheiroil andnatural gasproduction. Dhuvaranhasa thermal powerstation, whichusescoal, oil andgas. Also, on theGulfof Khambhat,

(

kilometres)

mi0southeast ofBhavnagar, is theAlang Ship

ecycling Yard)theworld's largest

0.General

!otors

manufactures itscarsat1

alol nearVadodara,#

atamanufactures2

ano from SanandnearAhmedabadand A! 3

trucksare

madenearBhuj. Surat, acityby theGulfof Khambhat, isahubof theglobal diamond trade. In

, %

% of theworld's

diamondswerecut andpolished in Surat.[

4 5

]

Gujarat passedanact forthe SI

sandset up the first suchhubPetroleumhemical and Petrochemical Investment

egion)P

PI

0spreadacross

6 ( ,

squarehectaresin Bharuch

%. SI

sarespecial regionsspreadovera

minimum(

,

hectareswhere industriescanbuy landsdirectly from local owners. # heyarenot offeredconcessions like

taxbenefitsas in SEZs. 1 owever, themainbenefit of SI

s is that theyprovidequality infrastructureanddevelopment even

beforeunitsbecomeoperational. IneverySI

,( (

percent area is tobeset aside forresidential townshipsandothernon-

processingunits.[7 8

]

During theperiodof % 9

@ %

, Gujarat established itselfasa leader invarious industrial sectors including textiles,

engineering, chemicals, petrochemicals, drugsandpharmaceuticals, dairy, cement andceramics, andgemsand jewellery,

amongst others. A post-liberali$

ationperiodsawGujarat's StateDomestic Product)SDP

0risingat anaveragegrowthrateof

6% perannum inreal terms

)from

% % 6 @

0. Gujarat achievedasmuchas

(% ofaugmentation in itspowergeneration

capacityduring theperiods % % ( @ % 9

and

@

.

#heproducers

)IPPs)havecontributedsignificantly in thisaddition.

Gujarat isoneof the first fewstates in India tohaveencouragedprivatesector investment, someofwhicharealready in

operation. Inaddition, the liquidcargo)

chemicals)handlingport atDahej isalsoset up in joint sectorandmadeoperational.

At an investor'ssummit entitledAVibrant Gujarat,

Aarrangedbetween

anuary

'to

anuary

', at Science

ity,Ahmedabad, thestategovernment signed

6

!

emorandaofB

nderstandings forSpecial Economic Zoneswortha total

of

.(

lakhcrore.1owever, most of the investment was fromdomestic industry.

[7 7

]In the fourth Vibrant Gujarat Global

Investors' Summit heldat Science

ity,Ahmedabad, inanuary

%, therewere

9

foreigndelegates. Inall,& 9 9 &

! C B

s

worth

.(

lakhcrweresigned, estimated tocreate

(lakhnew jobopportunities in thestate.In

, Vibrant Gujarat

Global Investors' Summit! C B

sworth

trillion) B

S$6 9

billion)weresigned.

Gujarat isonlystatewithsurpluselectricity.

ecentlyGujarat Government hasupgraded its installedcapacityof ,

( &

megawatts) ! 3

)byaddinganother

,6 & &

! 3

. According to theofficial sources, against demandof6

,' %

millionunitsduring theninemonthssince April

, Gujarat produced6

,& 6 &

millionunits. Gujarat soldsurpluspower to

States.#he

statesare

ajasthan, # amil 2 adu, B ttarPradesh, ! aharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, 1 aryana, Karnataka,

hhattisgarh,

Bttarakhand,

!adhya Pradeshand

3est Bengal.

Gujarat government hasa front runner indevelopment ofsolarenergy in thestate. It hasalloted' 9

! 3

of SolarPower

capacity to 6

national and international solarproject developers in

%; against theplanned

(

! 3

capacityunderits

SolarPowerPolicy.#his isexpected tobring in investmentsof I

2

croreandgenerateemployment for(

,

people.

It'saalsobiggest industrial isceramicbusinessaround!orbi,

1imatanagar.

Agric l re


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Gujarat is the main producer of tobacco, cotton, and groundnuts in India. Other major food crops produced are rice, wheat,

jowar, bajra, maize, Tur, and gram. Gujarat has an agricultural economy; the total crop area amounts to more than one-half

of the total land area.[26]

Animal husbandry and dairying have played a vital role in the rural economy of Gujarat. Dairy farming, primarily concerned

with milk production, functions on a cooperative basis and has more than a million members. Gujarat is the largest producer

of milk in India.Amul - Anand milk co-operative federation products are well known all over India, and it is Asia's biggest

dairy. Among livestock raised are buffalo and other cattle, sheep, and goats. As per the results of livestock census 1997,

there were 209.70 lakh livestock in Gujarat State. As per the estimates of the survey of major livestock products, during the

year 200203, the Gujarat produced 6.09 million tonnes of milk, 385 million eggs and 2.71 million kg of wool. Gujarat also

contributes inputs to industries like textiles, oil, and soap.

As in much of India, since the 1960s farmers in Gujarat have increasingly relied on extensive groundwater irrigation to

maintain production. In recent years, however, experts have become increasingly alarmed at the rate of water depletion in

the state. The water table in Gujarat has been falling steadily for the last 1520 years, leading to a risk of catastrophic,

irreversible salt-water intrusion into the groundwater.[28]

The problem is exacerbated by the fact that electricity for farmers is

subsidized,leaving little incentive to conserve water. To address this issue, the government of Gujarat has begun working

with NGOs and universities to create new incentives for water conservation and to promote the adoption of water-saving

technologies.

Demographics

The population of the Gujarat State was 60,383,628 as per the 2011 census data. The density of population is 308/km2

(797.6/sq mi), a lower density compared to other states of the country.

About 89.1% of the population of Gujarat are Hindu.[32]Muslims (Attarwala) account for 9.1%, Jain 1.0% and Sikh 0.1% of

the population.[32]

Amongst Hindus, the deity ofKrishna is famously worshiped in His form ofShrinathji throughout Gujarat.

Gujarat, as a heavily industrialized state of India, attracts lots of outsiders from various parts of India.

Education

The Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB) are in charge of the schools run by

the Government of Gujarat. However, most of the private schools in Gujarat are affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary

Education (CBSE) and Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) board. Gujarat has 13 universities

and four agricultural universities.

Gujarat is also known for many national level institutions. The Space Applications Centre (SAC) is an institution for space

research and satellite communication in Ahmedabad, India, under the aegis of the Indian Space Research

Organization (ISRO). Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, a renowned scientist, industrialist, and visionary Gujarati, played an important

role in it. He also founded Physical Research Laboratory, a research institute encompasses Astrophysics, Solar System, and

cosmic radiation. He also envisioned Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, one of the internationally reputed

management research institute that is located in Gujarat's commercial capital Ahmadabad and is the top ranked

management institutes in the country.[citation needed]

Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute has been established underCouncil for Scientific and Industrial

Research Govt. of India at Bhavnagar. It was inaugurated by Late Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the firstPrime Minister of

India on 10 April 1954, with a view to carry out research on marine salt, and salt from inland lakes and sub-soil brine. It is


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working on reverse osmosis, electro membrane process, salt and marine chemicals, analytical science, marine

biotechnology, and other related fields.

B.K. School of Business Management is ranked 6th in terms of financial Management. K. S. School of Business

Management is also an MBA College in Gujarat University providing a unique five year's integrated MBA Cource.

The National Institute of Design (NID) in Gandhinagar is internationally acclaimed as one of the foremost multi-disciplinary

institutions in the field of design education and research. In addition, Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA) is one of

the leading sectoralinstitution in rural management. IRMA is a unique institution in the sense that it provides professional

education to train managers for rural management. It is the only one of its kind in all Asia.

SardarVallabhbhai National Institute of Technology located in Surat is one of the best engineering colleges in India. It is one

of the 20 National Institutes of Technology created by the central government and is a deemed university. It has students

from all over India and some foreign students as well. Also, there is Nirma University ranked 14th in self-financed

engineering colleges in India. Gujarat Science City,[64]

is a government initiative to draw more students towards education in

science, which hosts India's first IMAX 3D theatre, an energy park, a hall of science, an amphitheatre, and dancing musical

fountains among others.

Apart from that, Mudra Institute of Communication Ahmedabad (MICA) is one of the most famous institutes for mass

communication and is well-renowned across India. IIT Indian institute of technologywas established at Gandhinagarin theyear 2008. IIT Gandhinagaris mentored by IIT Bombay. IIT'S first batch started on 1 August 2008, at a temporary building of

government college, Chandkheda, Gandhinagar.The Institute of Seismological Research (ISR) has been established by the

Science and Technology Department, Government of Gujarat in 2003 and is registered as a Society.ISR campus is at

Raisan, Gandhinagar in a sprawling and picturesque area on the banks of Sabarmati river. Aims and objectives include

assigning optimum seismic factors for buildings in different regions and long-term assessment of earthquake potential. The

ISR is the only institute in India fully dedicated to seismological research and is planned to be developed into a premier

International institute in few years time.

Gujarat Fact File

Area : 1,96,024 sq km

Population : 50,671,017

Capital : Gandhinagar

Principal Langua : Gujarati

Other Languages : English, Hindi and other Indian languages

Literacy Rate : 79.8%

Rainfall : 93.2 cm

Temperature : Summer: min 25 degrees to 45 digs

Winter: min 15 degrees to max 35 digs


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Season : November to February

Eco System : Ranges from deserts, scrublands, grasslands, dec

forests, and wetlands to mangroves, coral reefs,

and gulfs.

As the century begins, natural resources are under increasing pressure, threatening public health and

development. Water shortages, soil exhaustion, loss of forests, air and water pollution, and degradation of

coastlines afflict many areas. As the worlds population grows, improving living standards without destroying the

environment is a global challenge.

Most developed economies currently consume resources much faster than they can regenerate. Most developing

countries with rapid population growth face the urgent need to improve living standards. As we humans exploit

nature to meet present needs, are we destroying resources needed for the future?

Environment getting worse

About 3 million die from pollution each year.

In the past decade in every environmental sector, conditions have either failed to improve, or they are worsening:

Public health:

Unclean water, along with poor sanitation, kills over 12 million people each year, most in developing countries. Air

pollution kills nearly 3 million more. Heavy metals and other contaminants also cause widespread health problems.

Amount of land lost to farming by degradation equals 2/3 of North America.

Food supply:

Will there be enough food to go around? In 64 of 105 developing countries studied by the UN Food and Agriculture

Organization, the population has been growing faster than food supplies. Population pressures have degraded

some 2 billion hectares of arable land an area the size of Canada and the U.S.

Freshwater:

The supply of freshwater is finite, but demand is soaring as population grows and use per capita rises. By 2025,

when world population is projected to be 8 billion, 48 countries containing 3 billion people will face shortages.

Coastlines andoceans:

Half of all coastal ecosystems are pressured by high population densities and urban development. A tide of

pollution is rising in the worlds seas. Ocean fisheries are being overexploited, and fish catches are down.

The demand for forest products exceeds sustainable consumption by 25%.

Forests:

Nearly half of the worlds original forest cover has been lost, and each year another 16 million hectares are cut,

bulldozed, or burned. Forests provide over US$400 billion to the world economy annually and are vital to

maintaining healthy ecosystems. Yet, current demand for forest products may exceed the limit of sustainable

consumption by 25%.


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2/3 of the worlds species are in decline.

Biodiversity:

The earths biological diversity is crucial to the continued vitality of agriculture and medicine and perhaps even

to life on earth itself. Yet human activities are pushing many thousands of plant and animal species into extinction.

Two of every three species is estimated to be in decline.

Global climate change:

The earths surface is warming due to greenhouse gas emissions, largely from burning fossil fuels. If the global

temperature rises as projected, sea levels would rise by several meters, causing widespread flooding. Global

warming also could cause droughts and disrupt agriculture.

Toward a livable future

How people preserve or abuse the environment could largely determine whether living standards improve or

deteriorate. Growing human numbers, urban expansion, and resource exploitation do not bode well for the future.

Without practicing sustainable development, humanity faces a deteriorating environment and may even invite

ecological disaster.

Taking action:Many steps toward sustainability can be taken today. These include: using energy more efficiently, managing cities

better, phasing out subsidies that encourage waste, [etc.]

The world must sustain 1 billion more people every 13 years.

Stabilizing population:

While population growth has slowed, the absolute number of people continues to increase by about 1 billion

every 13 years. Slowing population growth would help improve living standards and would buy time to protect

natural resources. In the long run, to sustain higher living standards, world population size must stabilize.

Lessgrowth will providetimeto solvesustainability problems.

Populationandsustainabledevelopment

Environmentalists and economists increasingly agree that efforts to protect the environment and to achieve better

living standards can be closely linked and are mutually reinforcing. Slowing the increase in population, especially in

the face of rising per capita demand for natural resources, can take pressure off the environment and buy time to

improve living standards on a sustainable basis.3,8,11,12

As population growth slows, countries can invest more in education, health care, job creation, and other

improvements that help boost living standards.11

In turn, as individual income, savings, and investment rise, more

resources become available that can boost productivity. This dynamic process has been identified as one ofthekey reasons that the economies of many Asian countries grew rapidly between 1960 and 1990.

5

A dynamiceconomy alsoneedsslowerpopulationgrowth.

In recent years fertility has been falling in many developing countries and, as a result, annual world population

growth has fallen to about 1.4% in 2000 compared with about 2% in 1960. The UN estimated recently that

population is growing by about 78 million per year, down from about 90 million estimated early in the

1990s.10

Still, at the current pace world population increases by about 1 billion every 13 years. World population

surpassed 6 billion in 1999 and is projected to rise to over 8 billion by 2025.

Inmany countries, birthsfaroutnumberdeaths, creatingoverpopulation.


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Globally, fertility has fallen by half since the 1960s, to about three children per woman.10 In 65 countries, including

9 in the developing world, fertility rates have fallen below replacement level of about two children per

woman.9 Nonetheless, fertility is above replacement level in 123 countries, and in some countries it is substantially

above replacement level. In these countries the population continues to increase rapidly. About 1.7 billion people

live in 47 countries where the fertility rate averages between three and five children per woman. Another 730

million people live in 44 countries where the average woman has five children or more.7

Theriseinpopulationsismainlyindevelopingnations.

Almost all population growth is in the developing world. As a result of differences in population growth, Europes

population will decline from 13% to 7% of world population over the next quarter century, while that of sub-

Saharan Africa will rise from 10% to 17%. The shares of other regions are projected to remain about the same as

today.6

Partsof Africawillexperiencedrasticwatershortagesby 2025.

As population and demand for natural resources continue to grow, environmental limits will become increasingly

apparent.6 Water shortages are expected to affect nearly 3 billion people in 2025, with sub-Saharan Africa worst

affected.2

Many countries could avoid environmental crises if they took steps now to conserve and manage

supplies and demand better, while slowing population growth by providing families and individuals with

information and services needed to make informed choices about reproductive health.

Family planningiseffectiveinstabilizinggrowth.

Family planning programs play a key role. When family planning information and services are widely available and

accessible, couples are better able to achieve their fertility desires.4

Even in adverse circumstance low incomes,

limited education, and few opportunities for women family planning programs have meant slower population

growth and improved family welfare, the World Bank has noted.1

Conclusion

If every country made a commitment to population stabilization and resource conservation, the world would be

better able to meet the challenges of sustainable development. Practicing sustainable development requires a

combination of wise public investment, effective natural resource management, cleaner agricultural and industrial

technologies, less pollution, and slower population growth.

Conclusion: Werisk destroyingourstandard of livingifwedontcontrol populati on growth.

Worries about a population bomb may have lessened as fertility rates have fallen, but the worlds population is

projected to continue expanding until the middle of the century. Just when it stabilizes and thus the level at which

it stabilizes will have a powerful effect on living standards and the global environment. As population size

continues to reach levels never before experienced, and per capita consumption rises, the environment hangs in

the balance.

Forest Cover

Currently, nearly half of the original forest cover has already been lost worldwide. More than 16 million hectares arecleared annually. As world populations grow, there will not only be an increased need for resources to be extractedfrom those forests but the space that the forest occupies as well. Current demand already exceeds the limits ofsustainable yield by more than 25 percent worldwide. Forest cover is linked not only to biodiversity issues but also tothe preservation of freshwater ecosystems, groundwater supplies, and reducing the amount of greenhouse gases,which cause climate change.


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More achievements for Gujarat in the 'green' region - the latest report of the forest survey of India revealing that the state's green coverhas gone up fractionally by 16sq km.

However, though the extension of the total forest area has seen an upward movement by 0.08% and the state has thereby gained 86sq kmin open forest area, 70sq km of moderately dense forest has been lost.

This brings the state's total forest cover to 9.66% of the state's total geographical area, much lower than the ideal requirement of a third ofthe total land. The report quotes state forest officials citing tree cutting by villagers as the reason for loss of forest cover in districts ofNarmada, Surat, Valsad and Navsari. The report is on the basis of the satellite data derived in a survey conducted in 2007.

Though the increase might be diminutive, foresters are happy about the development, though not satisfied. "We have been striving hard forsome time to increase the state's forest cover. Though we are happy that there has been some improvement, it is by no means satisfyingand we have a lot more to do before we can settle down," principal chief conservator of forest, PradipKhanna said.

Most of the increase in the green cover has been attributed to mangrove plantation in districts of Ahmedabad, Bharuch, Jamnagar andKutch. The forest cover had decreased by 99 sq km comprising 0.66% of the total state forest cover as per forest survey of India's findingsof 2005.

Forest cover has been one of the main concerns of the state forest department and a good deal of their efforts are geared towardsincreasing the green cover. Over the past few years, aggressive mangrove plantation has been the main activity of forest departments likeGujarat Ecology Commission and intensive studies on mangroves by GEER Foundation.

Global Warming : Climate Change Initiatives

Forest & Environment : Smart Goals 2008-

2009

To take actions with regard to Climate change

and its awareness

To take special measures for Gir Lions

To expedite forest settlement issues and

dwellers' rights

To utilize the JBIC fund for afforestation

To increase network of JFMs and expand the

coverage of Eco- clubs

To finalise the Eco fragile zone through

surveys

Development of new forests / eco based

tourism spots

Declaration of ChhariDhandh as Conservation

reserve

Relocation of maldharis on alternate lands

To take series of preventive pollution

measures, through user industries and

The Environment wing of the Department is the apex

body in the Gujarat State for implementation of all theenvironment related matters to achieve the sustainable

development in the State and introducing the sound

environmental management practices. The Department

has four executing agencies viz Gujarat Pollution Control

Board, Gujarat Ecology Commission, Gujarat Institute of

Desert Ecology and Gujarat Environmental Management

Institute, for discharging its functions.

Various studies are initiated for Environmental

Management and sustainable development in the State

of Gujarat by identifying the critical areas that need

special attention for Green Cover. The Forest andEnvironment initiatives have been implemented at length

as 60% of Population in Gujarat dwells in rural areas who

rely for living on Forest regions. Hence, the regeneration,

maintaining the productivity level and sustainability of

the non-forest lands, particularly the common lands has

become imperative for the state for a continuous supply

of rural needs.

Gujarat Forest Department manage a Social Forestry

Programme for planting trees on non-forest lands and

became a pioneer to improve Green Cover of the state.

The objectives were to increase the number of trees inGujarat, promoting the participation of people and

institutions to grow trees, make use of unproductive land

to productive use apart from many other areas that

called for attention towards sustainable growth.

Managing Climate Change is a major challenge to

humanity. To tackle it, Gujarat has established a

separate Department for Climate Change. This Initiative

by Gujarat Government is a trendsetter not only for India

but for the whole of Asia as it is the First in Asia with a

Department for Climate Change. It is the only 4th


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companies and make an Environmental

Infrastructure Plan for 10 years in light of

Vibrant Gujarat offers.

To ensure more strict enforcement of

pollution control laws and encourage. P - P- P

in laying of effluent lines , pipes and adoption

of hazard dumping sites for green zones

Thirty nine clean energy initiatives of

energy and petrochemicals, urban

transportation, forest and

environment, rural development and

industrial and mines will fall under this

new Department. It will also carry out

a study on the impact of global

warming along the State's 1600 km.

coastline. Gujarat currently has 29percent share of the entire country's

carbon credit. State government

further intends to launch 'Green Credit

Movement' on the lines of carbon

credit. Under the Green credit

movement, if someone cuts trees to

set up an Industry he would have to

replace with the same number of full

grown trees.

State/Province in the World to have a Department for

Climate Change.

Set up in February 2009, the Department is headed by

CM NarendraModi to handle issues of Climate Change.

The Initiative is to give a human face to environmental

issues; empower people to become active agents of

sustainable development; promote an understanding

that communities are pivotal to changing attitudes

towards environmental issues; and advocate partnership,

which will ensure all citizens and people in Gujarat toenjoy a safer and more prosperous future.

The Green Priorities of DCC:

Promote Green Tech

Earn more carbon credits

Power saving

Preserve ground water

Promote CNG network

Increase mangrove cover

Fund research in Green Tech

Preparation of comprehensive multi-dimensional Climate Change Policy of Gujarat State


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Conservation of Land, Water and Air

Coordination with all other departments with respect to Climate Change Educational curric

Climate Change will be prepared and introduced.

Universities will undertake R&D on Climate Change along with introduction of new courses

teachers training modules on Climate Change.

Public Participation and Public Awareness will be developed in this cause in an extensive w

Cooperation with national and international agencies will be undertaken. Constant interact

and consultation will be undertaken with National Clean Development Authority and conce

international agencies under the umbrella of United Nations.

Factopedia: Global Warming

There is seriousness of Global Warming, an increase in the earth's temperature due to the use of

fossil fuels and other industrial processes leading to a buildup of "greenhouse gases" (carbon

dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and chlorofluorocarbons) in theatmosphere. It has been known

since 1896 that carbon dioxide helps stop the sun's infrared radiation from escaping into space

and thus functions to maintain the earths relatively warm temperature. This is called the

"greenhouse effect."

Many of the world's top scientists have urged immediate action, and have called for international

cooperation on the problem. Many scientists agree that warmer temperatures would cause rise

in sea levels, the oceans when warmed up will occupy more space. The glaciers and polar ice will

begin to melt. Since humidity of the atmosphere increases with the temperature, more snow

would fall on earths extremes. It is is predicted by 2030, the sea will rise by 150 to 300 mm

endangering coastal town and cities around the world. The growing blanket of Carbon dioxide gas

will become thicker and cause havoc. The Nuclear threat of explosions has yet posed another

man made environmental imbalance and its after effects will have yet to be weighed as to the

cause of temperature effects.

Gujarats Initiatives In Environment Conservation

1. A Dynamic, Investor friendly, new Solar Policy with a target to set up 500 MW of Solar Energy Plants


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2. A proactive Wind Power Policy to make the wind energy capacity from 1300 MW to 8000 MW

5. Gandhinagar Solar Energy Project under implementation, as a part of Energy Conservation Program and is under CDM

6. Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) being implemented to shift 40% of the trips from Personal transport vehicles to Public

8. Large Urban Efficiency Program covering all Municipal Corporations and Municipalities in the State under implementat

lead to 30% energy saving.

11. 3.6 Lac Auto Vehicles switched over to Clean Fuel of CNG/LPG in the last 7 years. Ahmedabad, which was the 4th Most

India has improved to the 66th rank in the last four years.

12. 25000 Hectares of Mangrove Forest have been added in the Postal areas of Gujarat which will be working as strong Ca

absorbing 50 tons of Carbon per Hectare.

13. Social Forestry in Gujarat has achieved a benchmark of 14 Trees per Hectare.

14. Ground Water dependence has been reduced by a laying a State wide Water Grid which covers 75% of the Population

surface water resources for drinking water.

15. 3 Lac Water Harvesting Structures constructed in last 5 years has increased the ground water level throughout the Stat

the Agriculture Income by four times.

16. Drip Irrigation System (DIS) has been introduced and inter-linking of 21 rivers of the State for Conservation of water.

The Protection of Environment is rooted in Indian Culture

Honble CM, NarendraModi

The literacy rate among the Gujarati population has improved. The literacy rate has increased to 69.97% from 61.57% recorded in the

census conducted ten years ago.

Projects & Initiatives

Smart Goals with a future vision 'Education for All' is a major Project of the Education Department with its

Continuous Education and Literacy Policies geared to promote Literacy, reduce drop out rates, Focus on Gir

Education, Teachers Training and a series of other Initiatives being implemented.

Girl Education, Infrastructure, Health and Sanitation are the many areas in the process of continuous Education,

Literacy, Edu Awareness and on path to enhancement in quality implementation. The Government vision is forSEE (Socio-Economic-Education) growth with primary education, secondary education, higher education,

continuous education, literacy education, technical education, pharmacy education etc.

The focus is on Concentration of plan and non-plan provisions and best use of investments made in education

sector and the purpose of development. It aims for UEE (universalisation of primary education) for children in age

group 6 to 14 years with specific planning, target setting and power initiative key role to 100% male and female

literacy by 2010.

The Campaign for Education for All is implemented with Literacy initiatives like Training to 9000 teachers

covering all the students of Standards 4 and 7 under student Achievement profile, Extra coaching to girls studying

in standards 2,3,4 and 5 in 12,500 schools to upgrade level by 10 to 15% in Gujarati and Arithmetic . It aims for


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increase in capability by 5 to 10% in writing, reading and calculating by students of standard-3.

Financial Aid schemes like Viidhyalaxmi Bond Yojna and Insurance schemes like VidhyadeepYojna are implemented

by the Government to provide facilities to children and families to support Education. Health of School children is a

prime concern for the Government and hence, with co-operation of WHO (World Health Organization, UNICEF,

UNESCO) and World Bank Health Developing School-Programme pilot project pioneer in Gujarat.

Computer Training is enhanced for Primary Level Education. The Government adopt Technology by promoting

Computer aided Learning, which is expected to benefit around 8,50,000 students of government run schools ofGujarat. It also aims for education in rural places to set path of development with continuous power supply and

broadband connectivity.

The Government has also initiated the SCOPE program to sharpen English language skills among Gujarati learners.

Desirous Schools to set up Language Laboratory are supported by learning software for improving pronunciation,

vocabulary and grammar. The software includes self learning program for improving pronunciation, vocabulary and

grammar. The students can master the English language skills and gain confidence.

The Education Departments SarvaShikshanAbhiyaan (National Program) and other promotional schemes are

managed by Gujarat Council of Elementary Education (GCEE) which has grown from an agency implementing a

project in just three districts to an organization implementing several different projects in primary education sector

in the state, viz. DPEP (Distant Primary Education Program) II & IV.

National Project Implementation:

SarvaShikshaAbhiyan Mission (SSAM),

Education of Girls at Elementary Level (NPEGEL)

Kasturba Gandhi BalikaVidyalaya (KGBV)KGBV

-Project Initiatives:

Under SarvaShikshaAbhiyan Mission (SSAM), all the 25 districts and Municipal Corporations in Gujarat are

being covered.

Under the umbrella of SSAM, it is implementing National Programme for Education of Girls at Elementary

Level (NPEGEL) in 1093 clusters of 78 rural Educationally Backward Blocks (EBBs) and 39 clusters of 13 urban

slums in 21 districts (excluding Bharuch, Dang, Porbandar and Valsad) in the state.

The Department execute Kasturba Gandhi BalikaVidyalaya (KGBV) Yojana, under which, 30 residential

elementary schools with boarding facilities are being set up for girls belonging to the disadvantaged groups ofSC/ST/ OBC/ Minority and BPL in difficult areas.

Childhood in Gujarat should not be lifeless but full of vigour and enthusiasm

CM, NarendraModi

Adopted to Enhance Education


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Primary Education

Vidhyalaxmi Bond Yojna

VidhyadeepYojna

Hon. Chief Ministers The Girl Child Development Program

School-Health Check-up Program

Computer Training at the Primary Educational level

Secondary and Higher Secondary Department

Diploma for the teachers to improve their teaching skills ( Teachers Training Program )

Common Entrance Test for admission

Teleconference for the students of Std. 10th and 12th.

Technical Education

Self employment programs for the women

KanyaKelavani

The Educated Girl Child Initiative was born out of a painful distress call as Womens Education in Gujarat in

2001 stood on 20th Position with Literacy rate among Female with 48.1%. Honble CM joined hands with allGovernment officers IAS, IPS and other beauracrats, in a massive KanyaKelavaniRath and turned into

massive movement to face the challenge in 2009.

Government charts out plans to enroll 525,000 girls in the state in KanyaKelavani drive. It covers 1,865 routes

and as a result, 100% enrollment and reduction in the drop out rate from 40% to 2.29% is achieved. It foresees

a vision 2010 that, when Gujarat celebrates its golden Jubilee, there should be a zero - 0 percentdrop out rate

in Gujarat (Literally No Drop Outs).

Girl Child Education program is initiated in villages across Gujarat. It covers almost 18,000 villages esp. where

the literacy rate is below 20 percent and focus on identified suburbs of the urban areas to spread the message o

education.

The Government further envisage the Initiative to road ahead of success by making Jyoti-Gram and Broadband

connectivity available in all villages. Also, Education would be one of the major sector in the Gram MitraYojnacomprising of 5 Gram Mitra departments viz. Agriculture, Health, Education, Vikas (Development) and

Human Development. (Gram MitraYojna is aimed to provide a boost to the social and economic structure o

villages).

Education is power and the government is all set to transform the villages to illuminate with knowledge

information and awareness to bring a change in socio-economic drawbacks.

BalPravesh | Mid Day Meal Schemes

Government schemes like BalPravesh and NirogiBal is also made a part of the KanyaKelavani campaign.

Government ensures Literacy 100% in rural areas as it encourages BalPravesh (Child Admissions) by

providing Admission forms and enrolling over 525,000 girls in the state in KanyaKelavani drive. The

Ministers, beauracrats and other Government officials motivate, encourage and inspire the parents to enroll

their children for Education as it is a prime factor to combat poverty.


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To ensure co-operation and enhance better quality of food with nutrition, the officials even share the food

with children under Mid Day Meal schemes which was started by the Government as the second state inthe country, committed to social integration and social up-liftment.

NirogiBal

Government ensures on NirogiBal scheme along with BalPravesh as Health is a prime concern of the childwhile it attends the classroom. Literacy to Health with NirogiBal is announced for 2008-09 with mass

movement for Safe Health with impact to Social Development of Gujarat. It ensures universal reach an

delivery of quality health services. It also make certain of quality nutrition and growth through effectivimplementation of MamtaAbhiyan. One of the many goals is to guarantee Elementary Education and Lif

Skills Education for all children.

Vidhyalaxmi Bonds

Gujarat Government focus on role of Education in Poverty Eradication and the campaign is aimed at ensuring

maximum enrollment of boys and girls in primary schools all across the state. To encourage Girl Chil

Education, Vidhyalaxmi Bonds are entrusted among areas with low literacy rates, below 35 percent amon

women and this serve as an incentive to poor parents to send their daughters to schools.

Vidhya Deep Yojna

Vidhya Deep Yojna, the Insurance scheme is adopted children where the premium is paid by the

Government to ensure financial assistance to parents in case of untoward incident.

Teachers Training and Distance Teachers Training Program

For the KanyaKelavani Initiative, due care is taken by the Government to recruit qualified Teachers. The

Government sets up Teachers Training Centers and under Education Improvement programs, School

development Institutes gets grant and Teacher Incentives to procure enhanced teaching certificates.

Initiatives are taken by the Government for Distance Teachers Training Programme. Honble CM

addresses the Distance Teachers' Training Programme for the Elementary school teachers through SatellitTechnology. Over 1,94,000 Teachers over 4000 receiving Centers participated in the Interactive Trainin

Program in June 2009. Teachers get to watch and listen to eminent scholars as well as academicians as well

as interact with them.

Gujarat Government transforms lives and follows the Gandhian Principles. Gandhiji said, If one boy iseducation, a child becomes literate but if a girl is educated, the whole family gets literacy. The

Government believes in reforming lives and bring revolutionary change in the mindsets of people for edu-socio-economical growth.


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A glimpse to progress : 2007

8500 Schools upgraded since 1998

18053 schools equipped with power supply facilities

Primary School children gets School text books at no cost as 36 Crores Grant >> Initiated by Govt.

School Laboratories enhanced at the cost of 3.4 Crores every year

84,33,426 children gets Health Check up and 12, 27, 199 children get immediate .

health treatment by 2007

Key Factors & Achievement:

Special campaign to recruit 1.05 lakh Assistant Teachers for a strong and prosperous Gujarat

KanyaKelavaniRathyatra and PraveshMahotsav (mid June 2009) have led to a reduction in the drop out

Efforts in Primary chools have led to 49.34 lakh students obtaining uniforms at total expenditure of Rs. Efforts in Primary chools have led to 49.34 lakh students obtaining uniforms at total expenditure of

Rs.6,518 lakh

Facility of free bus transport for girls in rural areas

Special concentration on 6 special schemes of KanyaKelavani for girls in 41 most backward

talukas

With increased efforts, KanyaKelavani Fund has reached Rs. 21.83 crore, for girls EducationThe next steps for Gujarat in the area of Human Development Index: Children University andBalGokulamSanstha

Reading, writing and numeracy of students in Primary Schools has improved by 80%

Some Vision 2010

Admission rate in schools is 90.30% - to be raised to 100%

Rate of drop-outs in 48.1% - to be decreased to zero.

Literacy rate among male is 73% - to be raised to 100%

Literacy rate among female is 48.6 % - to be raised to 100%Literacy rate among scheduled castes is 61.07% - to be raised to 100%

Literacy rate among scheduled tribes in 36.45% - to be raised to 100%

Besides schools, Gujarat also houses some of the well known colleges and universities that are offering types of degree courses of

different themes. Like IIM Ahmedabad, National Institute of Design, National Institute of Technology Surat, SardarVallabhbhai Patel

Institute of Technology, NIT, Marine Chemicals Research Institute are some of the prestigious education institutes of higher education in

Gujarat. The four agricultural universities in Gujarat also play an important role in attracting students towards Gujarat. All these universities

and colleges offer different types of undergraduate and postgraduate level of degree courses.

Here indiaedumart offers state wise education system that includes list of schools, colleges and universities of every state and cities of

India. This section of indiaedumart offers detail information about Gujarat education that includes list of schools, colleges and universities

of the same.

GUJARAT

Industrial estates ofGujarat are cesspools offilth and environmental health hazards. Yet the government is blindly

promoting industry

Gujarat has more than 90,000 industrial units, according to the state government. About 8,000 of these units are polluting, also

says the state government. Major polluting industries are located in the Vadodara Petrochemical Complex, Nandesari,


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Ankleshwar, Vapi, Vatva and Hazira near Surat. The Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) was managing 270

industrial estates as on March 1996, and its activity plan for the year 1998-99 included sanctioning of eight new ones. About

70 per cent of the investment in Gujarat since the 1970s has been in the chemicals sector, says R C Trivedi, former

chairperson of the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB).

He says that in the 1970s, the state government was encouraging small-scale units in the chemicals sector through financial

incentives. These industrial units came up in huge numbers. But the government gave a very low priority to the environment.

This is why environmental problems cropped up in Gujarat, says Trivedi.

Nowhere more so than in the nearly 400-km stretch between Vapi in southern Gujarat and Vatva in northern Gujarat, called the

golden corridor, an industrialists dream come true. This stretch has become a hot bed of pollution. In the golden corridor, we

have created a number of potential disasters similar to the Bhopal gas tragedy. The time-bomb is ticking very fast, says

AchyutbhaiYagnik, secretary of Setu, an Ahmedabad-based ngo. Another example of an environmental nightmare is Alang, the

largest shipbreaking yard of the world, situated 50 km from Bhavnagar. The 11-km coastline of the yard has been severelypolluted due to scrapping of hazardous ships.(see Bare Facts; Down To Earth, Vol 6, No 20; March 15, 1998).

Government response, or the lack of it We are suffering because of the lack of proper planning in the past. But it is now a futile exercise to blame anyone for that. The

situation is in front of everybody. We have to come out of it, says Suresh Mehta, industry minister of Gujarat. Optimistic words.

But what is the state government doing to deal with the growing pollution problems? Well, it is trying its best to set up more

industries.

The state government has planned the Infrastructure Vision 2010, which hardly lays any focus on environment. In a meeting

organised by gec in Ahmedabad on October 29, 1999, K V Bhanujan, principal secretary of finance to the state government, had

observed: The Vision 2010 is a focused and comprehensive document on infrastructure. But environmental concerns ingeneral or anticipated as a consequence of the implementations of the vision have not been even touched upon anywhere.

Blackenedrivers

Gujarats rivers are bearing the brunt of industrial pollution, as are the people living on the banks of these rivers. All the major

rivers and streams of Gujarat are in a bad state due to effluent discharged by industry, be it the Kolak, the Mahi, the Daman

Ganga or the Amlakhadi. One can see red water flowing in the Sabarmati, released by the common effluent treatment plant

(CETP) in Vatva. Several times, drug factories in Vapi dump spoilt batches in the open. These contain chemicals that are highly

toxic.

Take the case of the farmers from 11 villages between Lali and Navagam, who irrigate their fields with untreated

effluents released into the Khaririver. Nearly 100 tubewells and borewells have been contaminated. When factories were

prevented from dumping effluents in the Mini river, they resorted to reverse boring, pumping untreated effluents straight intounderground aquifers, says SahabsinhDarbar, 73, a farmer from Sherkhi village in Vadodara district.

We do not require any study to confirm that channels and rivers in Gujarat are polluted. You can see that from the

colour of the water, says MayurPandya, a noted lawyer who chaired a committee set up to investigate pollution of Khaririver

near Ahmedabad by the Gujarat High Court in 1995. So, what have the people done to prevent their land and rivers from being

defiled?

The rise andfall ofa peoples campaign

On June 19, 1987, two people who had climbed down to do repair work in a well in Lali village died. The villagers knew the

cause of death. Effluents carried by the neighbouring Khaririver, better described as an effluent channel, had leached into thegroundwater. The reaction had produced poisonous gases, which lead to asphyxiation. The river has been carrying industrial

wastes for the past 20 years, says PravinbhaiJashbhai Patel, a farmer from Navagram village.

A public outcry followed. But as usual, the government chose to remain silent, says Patel. Finally, on February 16, 1995, the

11 villages filed a public interest petition in the Gujarat High Court. The bench comprising chief justice B N Kirpal and justice H L

Gokhale set up the Pandya Committee to look into the matter. The committee reported that water samples taken from the

Khaririver, where it flows through Lali, had pH levels as low as 2, showing that the water was highly acidic. The biological

oxygen demand was about 14 times the permissible limit and the chemical oxygen demand was much more than 16 times the

limit, says Jashbhai Patel.

On the basis of the report, on August 5, 1995, the court ordered that 756 industrial units, which were regarded as highly

polluting, pay up 1 per cent of their gross turnover of the year 1993-94 or 1995-96, whichever was higher. The court ruled:

The amount be utilised for the works of socio-economic uplift in the villages and on educational, medical and veterinary


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facilities and the betterment of the agriculture and livestock in the said villages.

But even today, farmers use waters from the polluted Khari river when water is released from the upstream Kadana dam, says

Girish Patel, a lawyer based in Ahmedabad. As for compensation, sources point out that while some industrial units have paid

up, others are still in the process of doing so. Several units have started production again. The situation has not changed at all.

Untreated effluents still flow in the river.

Water in the 100-odd wells near Khari is still a distinct red. Kanubhai Patel, a farmer, says the paddy yield has gone down by

half. The villagers find a difference in milk quality, too, which they attribute to cattle grazing in contaminated areas.

In August 1999, Down To Earth got a sample of groundwater from Lali village analysed at the Facility for Ecological and

Analytical Testing (FEAT) of the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur. It had a mercury concentration that was 211 times thepermissible limit. Mercury is an extremely toxic heavy metal and is known to cause damage to kidneys and the central nervous

system.

Failure of the courts

The most damaging aspect of Gujarats struggle against industrial pollution has been the failure of the courts to deliver. There

was a phase in 1995 when the Gujarat High Court was cracking down on polluters, giving an impetus to the environmental

movement in the state. Hundreds of cases were filed in the court. This continued for two to three years. As long Justice B N

Kirpal was the chief justice of the high court, he took stern action against polluters.

After this period, the court got bogged down in dealing with applications to reopen industrial units after a closure order given by

justice Kirpal. But the implementing and regulatory agencies remained lackadaisical. Soon, people handling these cases lost

interest as the exercise could not yield the desired results. In Gujarat, industry controls politicians, rather than the other way

round. The situation does not look like it will improve, says MayurPandya. If we try to find out how many industrialists have

been put behind bars under the Water Act or the Air Act, we will hardly find any. So they are not scared at all, adds Girish

Patel.

The courts usually go by the the findings of GPCB. This is not acceptable at all. The court should stop relying on GPCB

information if it wants better results, says AnandMazgaonkar of PSS. He says gpcb annual reports look like primary school

books: These are not the kind of reports needed in a state where so many industries produce extremely toxic chemicals.

Waste: solid and hazardous

Factories have been dumping thousands of tonnes of hazardous wastes in the open. Not only has this polluted the groundwater

but it has also damaged fertile lands. Take the case of Bajwa, a village in Vadodara district where industrial waste has been

accumulating for the past 30 years and there is barely any agricultural land to be proud of in terms of productivity. Now,

industries are constructing landfill sites. But even in the construction and planning of these, environmental health has not been

kept in mind. One example is GIDCs Nandesari Industrial Estate north of Vadodara. Plans of a site to dump toxic wastes are

severely flawed and there are fears of a major ecological disaster.

From Vapi to Mehsana, several units dealing with pharmaceuticals, dyes and dye intermediaries are constructing landfills sites to

dump their hazardous wastes. However, Mazgaonkar cites a 1977 study conducted for the us Environmental Protection Agency,

conducted on 50 landfills, showed that 86 per cent had contaminated underground water supplies beyond the boundaries of the

landfill.

Environment impact assessments by the National Productivity Council, Gandhinagar, in 1997-98 and 1997-98 showed high

levels of lead contamination in the groundwater of Nandesari. Samples taken nearby the gidc dump contained 38.25

milligramme per litre (mg/l) of lead, whereas the permissible limit is a mere 0.05 mg/l for drinking water. The groundwater has

been severely contaminated to a depth of about 60 metres, the study says.

Disposal of untreated mercury-contaminated effluent from caustic manufacturers has contaminated large tracks of land in

Nandesari in Gujarat, says a draft Sectoral Environment Report submitted in 1997 by the Union ministry of environment and

forests to the World Bank.

Systems that do not work

The entire machinery to control pollution in the state has failed, says Girish Patel. The view of the ruling party is that

environmental problems are just a problem of the elite. They do not accept that the poor people are the most severely affected

because it is they who live in a polluted environment and drink contaminated water, he adds.


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gpcb is the one of the worst pollution control boards in India. It has mainly political appointees or bureaucrats at senior

positions, who lack knowledge of environmental issues, rues Trivedi. It is an irony that only the first two chairpersons of gpcb

had any background in the field of the environment. I was the second chairperson during 1980-82. After me, either bureaucrats

or the political appointees have been appointed. A former chairperson of gpcb was allegedly forced to leave because he did not

work as the politicians wanted him to, says Trivedi.

There is no pressure from the implementing agencies over industrialists. They do not have an initiative to meet the

environmental norms, he adds. This has certainly helped big industries find ways to flout environmental norms. Today,

industrialists first invest money in a project and then plead in the court that they cannot stop the work on environmental

grounds as they have already made the investment. In most of the cases, the court relaxes some of the norms. As a result,

what happens is that the pollution remains, but the conditions disappear, comments Patel.

Afatigued civil society

The NGOs that are working in this field do not have the support to do anything concrete. So, by and large, there is no strong

voice against pollution problems in Gujarat today, says Girish Patel. D S Ker, president of GramyaVikas Trust, an NGO based in

Dwarka, says: NGOs here have not been able to mobilise grassroots-level support. The voice of ngos in the state mainly comes

from the middle class. But these people have not been able to carry together the grassroots level people.

Although people of Gujarat are gradually realising that pollution is becoming a serious problem, they are not reacting the

way they should, considering that their very lives are at stake. The spirit of public good that saw numerous people going to

court against polluting industry has been snuffed out after implementing agencies failed to enact the orders of the courts.

A way out?

Michael Mazgaonkar says the only way out of the present situation is to have a very democratic system of permitting industries:

If we can ensure this along with easy access to information, we can reduce the problem to a great extent. We have adequate

environmental rules that, if implemented properly, can control most of the industrial hazards. But the industries have found

ways to circumvent these rules. So even if all these rules are implemented and the decision-making is not democratic, the

problem is likely to continue, he feels.

The problem can only be dealt with if good ngos and people take up the issue seriously. If community-based organisations

come up, then some improvement can be made in the present situation, says Trivedi. C J Jose, member secretary of GEC, has

another view: To protect their trade at the international level, these industries will be forced to comply with international

environmental norms.

Gujarat clearly needs direction today when it comes to environmental governance. The civil society is faced with a huge task.

The first thing to do, however, is to involve rural communities and industrial workers in the struggle against pollution. That

being done, solutions will emerge. But if that is not done, then the cesspool is only going to worsen.

ContaminatedGroundwater

Until the 1980s, BharatbhaiBhagat, a farmer who lives a kilometre away from the Sarigam Industrial Estate (sie) in

Valsad district of Gujarat, had 600 mango trees. He had been selling 10 truckloads of mangoes every year. Today, we have to

buy the fruit, even for our own consumption, he says. Bhagats story is no different from those living in villages near sie. The

450-odd industrial units, including 50 chemical units, have in 12 years contaminated the groundwater. And if villagers are to be

believed, some units even use borewells to pump untreated effluents into the ground.

A recent Greenpeace study shows that groundwater in Sarigam is contaminated with organic pollutants such as tri-

chloroethane, benzene and several organochlorine compounds. Benzene is a known carcinogen and dichlorobenzene is a

persistent organic pollutant, which remains in the environment for a very long period of time.

Groundwater is the only source of drinking water for the villagers. But use of groundwater results in health problems,

ruins our crops and the land as well, says Prakash B Arekar, former sarpanch (head) of Sarigam village council. Arekar, along


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with fellow villagers, has been has been trying to bring to task industrial units responsible for contamination but without

success.

A 1986-87 incident explains their failure. Seventy-year-old blind farmer GaneshbhaiAmbalis 1.2-hectare land was

completely destroyed after untreated effluents from Ami Chemicals spilled onto his fields. The company official offered me

money. He said that was all I would get. He also said that since he controlled 32 inspectors of the pollution control board, I was

small fry, recalls Ambali.

The current controversy over Sabero Organics, which deals with chemicals, is also a case in point. According to Rajendra

Singh Jadeja, vice-president of the Sarigam Industrial Association, Sabero had been caught red-handed dumping untreated

effluents in the open. The Gujarat Pollution Control Board served a closure notice to Sabero in 1999. The company is now

seeking permission to set up a unit to manufacture the fungicide mancozeb. AnandMazgaonkar of the

ParyavaranSurakshaSamiti, a non-governmental organisation, says production of this fungicide has been banned in severalindustrialised countries in view of the health risk it poses: Its usage could adversely affect the central nervous system and is a

suspected endocrine disrupter.

In a public hearing held at the collectors office in Valsad on March 31, 1999, 100-odd people protested against Saberos

decision to set up the plant. However, some questioned the very idea of calling a public hearing when almost 60 per cent

construction of the proposed plant had been completed.

We have been cheated by our own representatives, says Arekar. In 1983, the Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation

(gidc) acquired land in Sarigam for setting up the industrial estate. Politicians played mischief with us. They had said there

would only be engineering units in the area, says Bhagat. But they declared it a chemicals zone. Now our area has become

like a multi-storeyed building without any latrines and bathrooms, says Arekar. But we have to fight. Our future generation

will curse us if we do not protect the environment now, he adds.

Gujarat eed

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