ENVIRONMENT - 2004 - Indian Social Institute

esponsible for dumping high levels of lead and cadmium into the local environment. The team
comprises Edgar Isch, former Ecuador Minister for Environment, Arturo Q. Peralta, Professor of
Paediatrics at the University of Cuenca, Ecuador, Julio Monsalvo, a public health doctor from Argentina,
and Jeff Conant, a U.S. health communications specialist. They said the poor health of
the Plachimada inhabitants was linked to the existence of the Coca-Cola plant. No community's
water source should be allowed to be robbed and polluted like this by any plant, Mr. Isch said. He
said subjects like health and water should be dealt with outside the framework of trade. (The
Hindu 29.1.04)
North Bengal forests safe (9)
NEW DELHI, Jan. 31. — The forests of North Bengal, known for their rich bio-diversity and home
to several endangered animal species, are safe for now. The ministry of environment and forests
has informed the Supreme Court (coram, Khare, CJ, Sinha, Kapadia, JJ) that it has rejected the
National Highway Authority of India's proposed route for its ambitious East-West Corridor Project
passing through these areas. The project, intended to improve communication links with the
north-eastern states, would have cut through the northern part of forest-rich Jalpaiguri district. It
would have run through Mahananda Sanctuary, the Himalayan foothills of Kalimpong forest
division, Gorumara Sanctuary, Charamari Sanctuary, Jalpaiguri forest division and the forests of
Jaldapara Sanctuary and the Buxa Tiger Reserve. The proposal envisaged conversion of the
Islampur-Chalsa section 'on NH 31 and the Chalsa-Sankosh section on NH 31C into a six-way
express lane. It was to pass through Islampur, Bagdogra, Siliguri, Sevoke, Oodlabari, Mal, Nagrakata,
Banarhat, Telipara, Birpara, Madari-hat, Hasimara, Damanpur and Sankosh before
entering Assam. But local groups contested the proposed route, stating that the high-frequency
traffic on the expressway would affect the wildlife, especially elephants. They pointed out that
2,000 hectares of prime forest land, covered with trees worth Rs 2,000 crore, would also be lost.
Besides, the route would pass through flood-prone rivers Leash, Gheesh and Mal. Instead, they
suggested an alternate route passing through Islampur, Ghoshpukur (Siliguri), Jalpaiguri,
Maynaguri, Dhupguri, Falakata, Cooch Behar, Toofanganj and Baxirhat that would avoid this
forest stretch as also be 37 km shorter. (Sstatesmn 1.2.04)
Minimise environmental hazards in public transport (9)
NEW DELHI, FEB. 10. Calling for a proper policy framework to cope with increasing transport
services and its impact on environment, the Planning Commission today said the focus should be
on health while ensuring easy passage of goods and services. Releasing the TERI's auto policy
document, the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, said rapid growth in transport
services was a necessary concomitant of sustained economic development. "Public transport
must grow and policies have to complement its growth while minimising its impact on health and
the environment as a whole". Pointing out that the transport sector consumed 45 per cent of the
country's petroleum products, he said "the link between the transport sector and energy security
of a country is obvious. The National Fuel Policy should certainly be directed towards ensuring
sufficient, reliable and economic fuel supplies to support economic and social development."
Though several measures are being undertaken to reduce automobile pollution, many large cities
still faced pollution problem. And with more vehicles hitting the roads every year there was a need
to upgrade efficiency in the use of existing fuels and to switch over to environment-friendly fuels,
he said. (The Hindu 11.2.04)
Ban on use of groundwater by Coca-Cola plant (9)
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, FEB. 17. The Kerala Government will ban the use of ground-water
by the Coca-Cola factory at Pachimada in Palakkad district until June 15. The Chief Minister, A.K.
Antony, told presspersons after a Cabinet meeting here today that the decision was taken in view
of the acute drought situation in the district. The Collector would discuss the aspects of running
the factory with the management. The Chief Minister said that when the district was facing a
drought, the factory could not be allowed to tap water from there. The ban was limited to four
months as the monsoon was expected to set in by June. Mr. Antony said no decision had been
taken regarding the use of groundwater by the Pepsi cola factory functioning in the district. He
said the drought relief work would be taken up on a war footing in the district. The Centre would