Concerns about the likely cancellation or withholding of ongoing projects in the name of irregularities in environmental clearances raised in the editorial “Environmental choices” (October 20) are understandable. However, as rightly mentioned in the editorial, the clearances might have been granted as a matter of formality, without proper scrutiny by the Environmental Investigation Agency. In India, once the project is launched full steam ahead, it is not uncommon for most of the polluting entities to circumvent environmental clearances.
Take, for example, the industrial area in Uppal, a suburb of Hyderabad Metro region. The ring road in the Uppal area stinks because the unchecked effluents are discharged into the small ponds in the area.
It not impossible for environment and development to co-exist without hurting each other. Let India set its record straight and support Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh in his efforts.
J V Krishna, Hyderabad
