Impact of Industrialisation on Natural Resources – Gandhian Perspective

 

Dr. S. Radhakrishnan¹, P. Deepan Bharathi², Mr. S. Yesu Suresh Raj³

¹Assistant Professor, Department of Gandhian Thought and Peace Science, Gandhigram Rural Institute- Deemed University, Gandhigram – 624 302, Dindigul, Tamil Nadu.

^2,3Ph.D. Research scholar Department of Gandhian Thought and Peace Science, Gandhigram Rural Institute- Deemed University, Gandhigram – 624 302, Dindigul, Tamil Nadu.

 

ABSTRACT:

Aftermath of globalization is mushroom growth of industries in the sub urban areas. In the name of foreign direct investment government is entering with so many industries to increase the industrial growth and GDP. The newly arrived industries are given lot of concession and exemption from excess ding industrial loss as a result the industries exploit the natural resources in the suburban areas. Where the industries located initially cultivable lands are occurred and water resources are exploited.  The earth is polluted by the waste water disposal from the industries, air is also polluted even water resources also polluted in this situation attempted made to find out the loss of natural capitals after the arrival of industries.

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is the compensation given to the society by the companies for the damage caused by them in the society because of their entry. They exploit, natural capital, human capital, social capital, financial capital, physical capital and other resources, and as a result conflict is created in the society or existing social peace is disturbed. The industry has the potential for many conflicts among the communities and so an introduction is given to conflicts.  At the same time the industry has a potential to transform environments, communities and economies. Many a times, such transformation may finally end in conflicts or disputes between a resource developer and local communities or the entire community may be put into crisis.

 

It may be the crisis with industrial effluent or with any valid reason. The study has taken the strategies the corporate adopt as conflict resolution mechanisms to bring peace among local communities. The various strategies adopted by the companies as CSR programmes are briefed followed by the sustainable livelihood frame work utilized to measure the impact of the strategies in the livelihood of the communities and communal harmony which leads to peace.

 

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY:

·         To identify the growth of industries in suburban areas

·         To find out loss made to natural capitals and

·         To estimate victims of loss of capital

 

METHODOLOGY:

This research design is exploratory in nature. The primary data were collected at the micro level village communities. The sample respondents were selected from two CSR projects operating in ten villages. To fulfill the objectives of the study the researcher collected primary data through two case studies and group discussion among the selected respondents like traditional village leaders and elected representatives of the local government, farmers, small farmers, labour both skilled and unskilled, CSR staff of both the companies, Youth and Self Help Group members. Collected particulars are analyzed and tabulated in fifteen tables and interpreted accordingly in this chapter. Interpretations of particulars in the table need special skill and I tried my level best to explain the matter using my field experience.

 

 

Table 1. Conflicts on Natural capitals

S. No	Name of the village	Conflicts on Natural capital
		Extraction of ground water	Air pollution	Land alienation	water pollution	Total
1	Alathur	7	6	4	3	20
2	Pattipulam	2	11	2	5	20
3	Paiyanoor	5	5	8	2	20
4	Thandalam	7	5	3	5	20
5	Thirupour	5	6	6	3	20
6	Keevalur	7	2	6	5	20
7	Mevalurkuppam	6	3	10	1	20
8	Katrampakkam	12	1	7	0	20
9	Irungatukottai	5	4	9	2	20
10	Thandalam (S)	8	1	9	2	20
Total		64	44	64	28	200
Percentage		32	22	32	14	100

Source:  Computed from field data

 

 

From above table no. 4.1, 32% of the respondents feel that the conflict on natural capital is land alienation, and another 32% of the respondents feel that the conflict on natural capital is water extraction, 22% of the respondents feel that conflict on natural capital is air pollution and 14% of the respondents feel that the conflict on natural capital is water pollution.

 

In this table the respondents have highlighted the conflicts equally for both ground water extraction and air pollution. The local people have written many complaints to Pollution control Board and also made direct complaint to many pharma companies to take control on both air pollution and water extraction. Ground water extraction creates acute water shortage during summer; people in this area face problems especially in getting drinking water and for other household use. Some companies like Orchid Pharma make alternative arrangements to supply water through tankers to local villages. However this doesn’t solve the issue as the need is more.

 

 

Table 2. Exploitation of Water resources by the Companies

Source:  Computed from field data

 

Table no. 2 shows that majority of 177 companies are purchasing water from the farmers well, two companies are pumping water from company owned well/bore well, and one company is directly taking water from the lake. The researcher understood that a vast majority of 177 companies are taking water from the wells of the farmers; this clearly indicates that farming is almost discontinued in most of the villages. At summer people feel acute water scarcity in this nearby industrial area.  It may be noted that Hyundai Motors is taking water directly from Chembaramkam Lake where one of the main source of drinking water supply to the major metro city of Chennai is done from this lake. As the usage of water from these industries are increasing day by day people face acute shortage of drinking water at every summer.

 

Table no. 3 explains decimation of water bodies before and after industries, 244 acres of water body land is lost at Pattipulam village after industries, 47 acres of water body land is lost at Paiyanoor village, 24 acres of water body land is lost at Althur village, 24 acres of water body land is lost at Katrambakkam village and 3 acres of water body land is lost at Irungattukkottai village.

 

Table 3. Decimation of water bodies before and after industries

Source:  Computed from field data

 

From the above table it is clear that due to industries water bodies of villages like, Alathur, Pattipulam, Paiyanoor, Katrambakkam, and Irungattukkotai is taken for industrial purpose. In most of the cases the water bodies have been converted in to buildings for industrial purpose due to which the ground water is depleting in these areas

 

Table no. 4 explains about land taken for industrial purpose, a maximum of 1844 acres of land has been taken for industrial purpose at Irungattukkottai village, 600 acres of land has been taken for industrial purpose at Paiyanoor village, 575 acres of land has been taken for industrial purpose at Keevalur village, 550 acres of land has been taken for industrial purpose at Katrampakkam village, 153 acres of land has been taken from Alathur village for industrial purpose, at Thandalam village 50 acres of land has been taken for industrial purpose, 37 acres of land has been taken at Thandalam (S) village for industrial purpose and at Pattipulam village 36 acres of land has been taken.

 

Table 4. Details of Land taken for Industrial Purpose

Source:  Computed from field data

 

From the above table it is evident that except Thiruporur and Mevalurkuppam village a considerable number of lands have been taken for industrial purpose. The maximum acres of 1844 have been taken from Irungattukkottai village. All these lands were fertile and paddy was main cultivation in these villages, the land owners and dependent agricultural labours have lost their livelihood.  The farmers have lost their main source of income and most of them remain unemployed especially the agricultural coolies who were dependent on agricultural activities.

 

Table 5. Reasons for decrease in cultivation

S. No	Name of the village	Reasons for Decrease in cultivation
		Failure of monsoon	Non availability of labour	Depletion of water due to arrival of Industries	Farming is not profitable	Total
1	Alathur	3	9	6	2	20
2	Pattipulam	2	8	5	5	20
3	Paiyanoor	3	6	4	7	20
4	Thandalam	4	7	5	4	20
5	Thirupour	3	6	6	5	20
6	Keevalur	2	7	4	7	20
7	Mevalurkuppam	3	8	5	4	20
8	Thandalam(S)	4	7	7	2	20
9	Katrampakkam	2	7	4	7	20
10	Irungattukottai	4	9	6	1	20
Total		30	74	52	44	200
Percentage		15	37	26	22	100

Source:  Computed from field data

 

From table no. 5 reasons for decrease in cultivation is explained, 37% of the respondents have opined that reason for decrease in cultivation is due to non-availability of labour, 26% of the respondents have opined that the reason for decrease in cultivation is due to depletion of water due to arrival of industries, 22% of the respondents have opined that farming is not profitable and 15% of the respondents have opined that the reason for decrease in cultivation is due to failure of monsoon. One of the major reasons for decrease in cultivation is highlighted by majority of the respondents is non-availability of labour. This is mainly due to industries, as most of the agricultural coolies have shifted their labour to contract workers in industries. Getting labours for agricultural activities is day by day reduced. As agriculture labour is seasonal in nature agriculture coolies prefer contract work since the job and wage is assured throughout the year.

 

 

 

Table 6 Details of Loosing of grassing land before and after industries

Source:  Computed from field data

 

Table no. 6 explains about the loss of grassing land, 92.59% of grassing land has been taken at Keevalur village, 88.57% of grassing land has been taken by the industries at Paiyanoor village, 88.18% grassing land has been taken from Thiruporur village, 87.27% of grassing land has been taken by industries at Thandalam (S) village, 85.71% of the grassing land has been taken by the industries at Mevalurkuppam village, 83.33% of grassing land has been taken from Pattipulam village, 81.81% of grassing land has been taken from Katrambakkam village, 73.33% of grassing land has been taken by the industries at Irungattukottai village, 70% of the grassing land has been taken by the industries at Thandalam village and 54.55% of the grassing lands have been taken by the industries at Alathur village. These grassing lands were used for cattle rearing in all the villages, this was completely taken for industrial purpose, it is very pathetic to see most of the cattle at Alathur village stay at the industrial campus itself especially on the road at night. More over in these village cattle populations has drastically reduced as there is no place for grassing the animals. In some families people have started selling cattle as there is no green posture available. People have to spend money to purchase animal fodder which is an extra burden to the family.

 

Table no. 7 explains about the cattle population before and after industry, 90% of the cattle population is lost at Pattipulam village, 88% of the cattle population is lost at Thandalam village, 85% of the cattle population is lost at Keevalur village, 84% of the cattle population is lost at Alathur,83.33% of the cattle population is lost at Thiruporur village, 75% of the cattle population is lost at Paiyanoor village, 71.42% of the cattle population is lost at Mevalurkuppam village, 66.66% of the cattle population is lost at Thandalam(S) village, 60% of the cattle population is lost at Katrampakkam village, and 50% of the cattle population is lost at Irungattukottai village.

 

Table 7. Details of Cattle population before and after industry

Source:  Computed from field data

 

From the above table it is clear that from minimum 50% to maximum of 90% cattle population is lost after the industries. This is due to loss of grassing land and agricultural land. It is also linked up with the loss of cultivation activities in these areas.

 

Table 8. Water contamination due to Industrial Liquid waste

Source:  Computed from field data

 

From Table no. 8 it is evident that 51.5% or the respondents feel that there is nil liquid waste – water contamination, 15.5% of the respondents feel that the liquid waste – water contamination is high, 14% of the respondents feel that the liquid waste – water contamination is low, 12% of the respondents feel that the liquid waste – water contamination is medium and 7.5% of the respondents feel that the liquid waste – water contamination is very high.

The table also shows that around 13 respondents from Thandalam(S) village have expressed that the liquid waste – water contamination is very high, because a huge quantity of industrial waste water is being let out through drainage to a nearest water body i.e. lake at the Thandalam(S) village. The local people have made several complaints on this issue and no action has been taken. The water body is getting polluted day by day.

 

Table 9. Odour Problem due to Industrial Solid waste

Source:  Computed from field data

 

Table no. 9 very clearly depicts people’s perspective on solid waste–odour complaint that affects local community. A majority 62.5% of the respondents feel that there is nil solid waste – odour complaint, 18.5% of the respondents feel that there is low solid waste – odour complaint, 17% of the respondents feel that there is medium level of solid waste – odour complaint and 2% of the respondents feel that there is high level of solid waste – odour complaint.

As per the industrial norms all the industries are getting physical assistance from the local state government to dispose their industrial solid waste to a common solid waste disposal ground which is maintained by a private agency that is supported by state government.  As the solid waste is safely disposed by all the industries people don’t feel any odour complaint caused by industrial solid waste.

 

Table 10. Odour Problem due to Industrial Gas emission

Source:  Computed from field data

 

From Table 10 it is evident that a majority of 53.5% of the respondents feel that there is no gas emission, 36.5% of the respondents feel that there is low odour, 21% feel that there is medium odour due to gas emission, 18% of the respondents feel there is high level of odour complaint and 12% of the respondents feel that there is very high level of gas emission odour.

 

Based on the above table it is seen that 15 respondents from Pattipulam village and 12 respondents from Alathur village have mentioned that the gas emission odour is very high. This is because these two villages are very close to the pharmaceutical industries hence they feel very high odour complaint. At most of the companies gas emission is arrested at the source itself hence people don’t feel much odour due to gas emission. However the respondents have expressed that there is moderate odour problem during rainy season and winter season.

Table 11. Loss of soil fertility due to Industrial Liquid Waste

Source:  Computed from field data

 

 

The above table no. 11 clearly shows that a majority 46% of the respondents feel that there is no loss of soil fertility due to liquid waste contamination, 31.5% of the respondents feel that there is low loss of soil fertility, 20.5% of the respondents feel that there is medium level of soil contamination due to liquid waste, 9.5% of the respondents feel that here is high level of soil contamination due to liquid waste and 7.5% of the respondents feel that there is very high level of soil contamination.

From the above table it is evident that 6 respondents from Pattipulam village, 3 respondents from Thandalam village and 3 respondents from Irrungattukkotai have felt very high level of liquid waste soil contamination. The respondents those who have opined this has got some cultivable agricultural land. As these respondents are directly affected by this liquid industrial waste their cultivation activity is affected due to this.

 

Table 12. Odour Problem due to Industrial Liquid Waste

Source:  Computed from field data

 

Table no. 12 clearly depicts that majority 35.5% of the respondents have opined that there is nil liquid waste odour complaint, 33% of the respondents have opined that there is low level of liquid waste odour complaint, 20% of the respondents opined that there is medium level of odour complaint due to liquid waste 16.5% of the respondents opined that there is high level of odour complaint due to liquid waste and 12% of the respondents opined that odour complaint due to liquid waste is very high. It is very clear evidence that from Pattipulam village 10 respondents have mentioned very high and 6 have mentioned high. At Alathur village 8 respondents have mentioned very high and 7 respondents have mentioned high. From the above table it is evident that these two villages are worst affected by the industrial liquid waste disposal.  People from these villages opined that in most of the Pharmaceutical industries there is no proper effluent treatment plant (ETP) erected. They say that industrial waste water is being let out to a common pond that is not maintained by the government agency (SIDCO). Along with these villages other villages like Paiyanoor, Thandalam and Thiruporur are also close these Pharmaceutical industries. However the other 5 villages namely Kevalur, Mevalurkuppam, Irungattukkotai, Thandalam(S) and Katrambakkam are not affected, this is because in these areas there is no chemical or Pharmaceutical industries and this area is surrounded by car manufacturing industries.

 

 

Table 13. People’s aspirations on natural capital

Source:  Computed from field data

 

 

From Table no. 13 the researcher clearly understands that 31.5% of the respondents have aspired for tree plantation, 27.5% of the respondents have aspired for measures to control air pollution, 26% of the respondents have aspired for measures to control water pollution and 18% of the respondents have aspired for pond and canal desalination.

 

It is a clear evident that most of the respondents have viewed their opinion both for taking measures to control air pollution and water pollution, both in Pattipulam village and Alathur village most of the respondents have expressed their opinion because these villages are very close to the pharmaceutical companies. Both air pollution and water pollution has become a major issues. For those who are in close proximity to pharma industries people felt discomfort about the bad odour during winter and rainy season.

 

Table 14. Canal Desalination by Hyundai motors and Orchid Pharma

Source:  Computed from field data

 

 

 

Table no. 14 explains the details of canal desalination by Hyundai Motors and Orchid Pharma, the canal desalination is done on water bodies that support cultivation from 1815 acre of agricultural land and an amount of 7, 35,000/-is spent by both the companies. Adopted villages by both the companies are agrarian society and the main source of water for irrigation is mainly from the Village Lake. Canal supplying water from the lake for irrigation was under repair and many times it would be filled with bush, thorns and mud that restrict free flow of water to the field and affect the livelihood of the farmers.  In order to overcome this issue Orchid Pharma and Hyundai Motors have taken the initiative of desalinating canals at the adopted villages before every monsoon period. This activity is done with the support of local community every year. Community people were ready to offer their labour for the same. This activity also involves local people’s participation. This particular canal desalination is useful for those who do cultivation and it also brings goodwill among the farmers.

 

Table  15. Tree plantation by Orchid pharma and Hyndai motors.

Source:  Computed from field data

 

 

From the above table no. 15 it is evident that both Orchid Pharma and Hyundai Motors have planted 2630 samplings through 16 local schools, a number of 1805 saplings have been planted through 456 farmers, 16,200 saplings have been planted through 4100 women in the villages and 3150 saplings have been planted through 9 local NGOs.

 

Both Orchid Pharma and Hyundai Motors have given importance in planting trees in and around their adopted villages this is evident that in these villages greenery is visibly present. With regard to Orchid Pharma they have the practice of giving saplings to community whenever they conduct any programme especially among women, youth and children. They have also started a new scheme for the newly recruited employees; on the first day of their joining duty every employee is encouraged to plant trees. Orchid also has initiated nursery development exclusively for distribution of saplings to local communities.  Both avenue trees and fruit bearing trees are supplied to community.

 

FINDINGS:

·         People have expressed the loosing of grazing land, decimation of water bodies, and the defection from the immigrant labour, contamination of water bodies, air pollution and decreasing of cultivation under natural capital.

·         Extraction of ground water (60%) effluent in space (30%) and land alienation (10%) are the major conflicts due to the arrival of the companies.

·         Water contamination is not much felt by (3%) people living in Thiruporur Town Panchayat.

·         Air pollution is felt very high by the people. People long for fresh air.

·         Solid waste problem is felt in Sriperumbudur panchayat due to the presence of more industries followed by pollution of air and is affected in dust allergy.

·         Loosing of soil fertility caused by the common pond where the untreated effluent water from the industries are flowing into.  Over flowing of this pond enter into the land and thus the soil loses its fertility.

·         Decimation of water bodies caused more by acquiring land for housing, followed by occupation of industries for parking. Totally in all the villages the lakes have lost 342 acres. Five big lakes have been totally lost of being occupied for various reasons.

·         Extraction of water by the companies is more from the farmers well followed by directly pumping water from the lake.

·         People expressed that the cultivable land has decreased by (60%) due to two main reasons. One is the farmers feel that farming is not profitable since the wage is gone high for agricultural labor and low profit from cropping when comparing with the daily wage offered by the companies.

·         Cattle population have come down by (80%) due to loss of grazing land and also a quick mode of transferring to non-agricultural labour. Since two decades.

·         Village communities common grazing land has been lost from (70%) to (80%) and that reflected in decreasing in cattle population.

·         Totally in ten villages 3845.768 acres of land were grabbed by the industries.

·         Extraction of ground water for industrial purpose is a major issue this got resolved by installing a R.O. plant to reduce, recycle and reuse water

·         People aspire that companies should take adequate technical efforts to control air, water and land pollution and majority give priority to this program.  People’s second priority is tree planting and free seedlings distribution followed by pond and canal desalination.

 

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