Keeping the national security in mind, examine the ethical dilemmas related to controversies over environmental clearance of development projects in ecologically sensitive border areas in the country.

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Toppers wrote this one in a test series: “The Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) is proposed on a river in a northeastern state of India, a recognized biodiversity hotspot. Covered in dense forests, this region harbors a rich diversity of flora and fauna, including numerous endemic species. Although sparsely populated, the region's communities have livelihoods and cultural practices deeply intertwined with the natural landscape. Its ecological wealth has been preserved over the years due to its environmental significance and cultural heritage. Additionally, the Upper Siang basin holds immense strategic importance due to its proximity to international borders, offering potential leverage in regional security and resource management. The SUMP aims to harness the river's energy for economic growth, proposing infrastructure that includes an 11,000 MW "mega dam," power stations, and transmission lines that could transform the state into a renewable energy hub. Proponents argue that the project will boost the state's economy through power generation, employment, and enhanced infrastructure while also helping meet the country's clean energy targets. However, a local NGO has raised concerns about the ecological and social costs of SUMP. The project would require extensive forest clearance, which plays a crucial role in carbon sequestration. Additionally, experts warn that construction activities could disturb the region's delicate ecosystems. This may affect riverine biodiversity and increase the risk of soil erosion and sedimentation, with potential downstream effects on agriculture and water quality. Another major issue raised is the potential displacement and cultural impact on local communities. This could threaten their subsistence-based livelihoods and disrupt their way of life. Critics also highlight that the project may contradict India's commitments to sustainable development. Despite these concerns, supporters of the project argue that SUMP's strategic importance and clean energy potential cannot be ignored. Moreover, they emphasize the project's strategic location, which would strengthen energy security, reduce regional inequalities, and contribute to the country's long-term development goals. They argue that amidst rising energy demands, the country cannot afford to forgo such an opportunity, especially given the presence of hydroelectric projects across borders that could shift regional control over water resources. (a) What are the ethical issues involved in the above case? (b) In your opinion, which should take priority between development and conservation, and why?”

Toppers’ answers to other close questions

• Nestled in the lap of the Himalayas, Purabkashi is a town located on the way to major pilgrimage destinations. The town is traversed by a section of the Panch-Dham Road Project, whose objective is to improve connectivity to the five major pilgrimage centers in the region. The project aims to develop and widen nearly 900 km of national highways in the Himalayas, making journeys to these centers safer, faster, and more convenient. The project is being constructed at a very high cost and is expected to boost tourism in the region and reduce road accidents occurring in the hilly region. The project is also important from a security point of view, as these roads can act as strategic feeder roads that connect the border with the Army camps in the nearby areas. The roads may facilitate quicker movement of troops and supplies and can serve as a strategic asset in connecting the border regions. However, from the conception stage of the project itself, various NGOs have raised several fault lines regarding its environmental sustainability. It has been noted that the project may destroy about 690 hectares of forests, and an estimated 20 million cubic meters of soil need to be removed. Experts raise concern that such a high-impact activity may aggravate erosion and destabilize the slopes. Large-scale uprooting of vegetation can prove to be perilous for biodiversity and regional ecology. Indiscriminate blasting during road construction creates cracks in soil and rocks that may enhance the possibility of landslides and associated disasters in the future. In 2018, the project was challenged in the Supreme Court by an NGO for its potential impact on the Himalayan ecology due to felling trees, cutting hills, and dumping excavated material. The Supreme Court then constituted a high-powered committee that warned against widening the road by 12 meters. It had suggested that the widening stay between 5.5 and 7 meters. However, this recommendation by independent experts was opposed by government officials and ultimately sidelined. The worst fears of the local and scientific communities came true when about 40 workers got trapped inside a tunnel after the under-construction tunnel structure collapsed in Purabkashi. Overnight, Purabkashi became the talk of the country. The project was awarded to the contractor, PQR Enterprises. Mr. Vinay Kumar, who has experience completing many such projects in the past, was appointed as Project Director, overseeing the smooth completion of the project and monitoring the contractor's work. Mr. Vinay is known for his honesty and dedication. Prior to the mishap, he had successfully overseen this project to meet its timeline. But after the mishap, the higher authorities are privately requesting the project director, Mr. Vinay, to take responsibility for the mishap. To manage the growing resentment in the locality and nationwide, he is being asked to step down as project director. But Mr. Vinay feels that he is being unfairly blamed. To alleviate the pressure from the public, he is being scapegoated. The project had issues right from the conception stage, given the ecological fragility of the region. Various ecological experts and geological scientists think that the incident has exposed not only the prject's vulnerabilities but also the lapses in the safe tunnel construction mechanisms carried out, like the failure to construct an escape tunnel. Several experts have pointed out this incident as a warning for future disasters, as now questions have been raised about the fragility of the Himalayas in sustaining massive infrastructure projects like the Panch-Dham project. The government, despite many voices against the project, is treating the incident as an isolated incident and moving on with the further construction of the project. There is a protest happening in the state with a demand by the people to consider the project's environmental consequences and also the operations of the contractor, PQR Enterprises, in the particular project. a) What are the various ethical issues involved in the above case study? b) As the head of the Panch-Dham Project, what are the options available to Mr. Vinay? Analyze the advantages and disadvantages of each. c) In your opinion, between the twin objectives of development and conservation, what should be given more priority and why?1 answer
• Grander Neobar Island is one of the world's most important biodiversity hotspots. Covered by thriving rainforest, the Island hosts a vast diversity of flora and fauna, many of which are endemic in nature. The Island is also known for being home to some of the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). For years, the region has been preserved for its ecological and cultural importance. Besides its environmental richness, the Grander Neobar is also particularly unique for its geo-strategic importance. The position of the Island in the Indian Ocean makes it ideal for gaining strategic leverage over the country's adversaries in the region. Grander Neobar Development Project (GNDP) is a security and infrastructure project proposed for the southern tip of the island. The project is important for economic benefits, such as logistics, commerce, industry, and coastal tourism. GNDP includes an international container transhipment terminal, a greenfield international airport, township development, and a gas- and solar-based power plant together occupying over a large area in the island. Though touted as vital for country's economic growth and strategic presence in the region, some NGOs have been protesting against the project for its high environmental cost. The NGOs claim that the project would require cutting down of more than 900,000 trees of the rainforest biome, which are a prime source of carbon sequestration. Further, the loss of tree cover will not only affect the flora and fauna on the island, but it will also lead to increased runoff and sediment deposits in the ocean, impacting the coral reefs in the area. Also, the influx of outside population is expected to impose a significant ecological pressure on the island and its surroundings. The PVTGs residing in the Island for centuries may lose their traditional rights over land, and may also face undue interference in their culture and practices. As per some experts, as PVTGs are secluded from mainland since time immemorial, a sudden contact with outside population may pose grave health risks in forms of various infections. It is also being highlighted that the project is in contradiction to the government's vision to promote a sustainable world and a climate friendly lifestyle. However, the supporters of the project firmly believe that the project is essential, given its strategic importance for the country. The supporters of the project reason that since, other countries also host several military bases in the region, India cannot afford to remain absent from this strategic backyard. Further, as per the advocates of the project, presence of a robust security infrastructure can check the oft-occurring incidents of piracy, cementing the country's role as the net security provider in the region. Moreover, the proponents of the development project argue that Grander Neobar is located close to one of the busiest choke points in the global trade route, and neglecting its development may run counter to country's trade and security interests. Also, as per a government think tank's report, the proposed port will allow Grander Neobar to participate in the regional and global maritime economy by becoming a major player in cargo transhipment and a delay in the same may have the effect of losing the competitive advantage. a) What are the key ethical concerns present in the above case study? b) According to you between the twin objectives of development and conservation what should be given more priority and why?2 answers
• Identify the key stakeholders involved in the case and analyze their respective interests. (b) Discuss the ethical dilemmas faced by the officer in balancing economic development, environmental sustainability, and tribal rights.2 answers