As the head of the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), you are tasked to complete the construction of a power plant. The project needs to be completed expeditiously to fulfil the promise made by the government to ensure access to power for all. The selected site is in a remote area and is ideal for plant construction. However, the project would require relocation of the people living in the vicinity. Initially, the local community objected to disruption in their lives but were convinced later about the economic benefits that would accrue to the region through this plant. The project had started gathering pace, but recently a local NGO working for environment protection got involved with the local community regarding the issue. And now the local community has started protesting against any developmental activity in the region. As the officer-in-charge for the speedy execution of the project, answer the following: (a) What are the issues involved in this case? (b) What course of action will you take and why?

(a) Issues concern various stakeholders (i) local people (ii) I (iii) NGO (iv) larger society as plant gives energy + employment

Ethical issues are:-

(i) development of all vs displacement of few.

(ii) whether those who are relocated enjoy any benefits of the plant

(iii) rehabilitation rights of the people

(iv) Environmental impacts of plant on community

(v) Any loss of livelihood due to relocation, any cultural issues

(vi) Cost to the public exchequer due to delay in the project completion

(vii) Energy access to all and developmental activities.

(viii) Trust of the locals in the SPV as they had initially agreed. Whether they were manipulated or misinformed.

(b) Course of Action:- (i) Engage with NGO and community

• acknowledge concerns regarding relocation, environmental damage (ii) Based on these concerns, assess the Environmental Impact Assessment Report of Project.
• accomodate environmental concerns if possible
• to engage NGO and community and discuss EIA report and sustainability of project.
• Reassess the project if environmentally unsustainable. Bad environment cannot be good economics
• Identify solutions for environmental problems.

(iii) Relocation issues

• engage with local community as they had initially agreed.
• find if they were manipulated
• New concerns regarding relocation
• Rehabilitation plans should be discussed.

(iv) If consensus is reached on relocation

• ensure that the community is benefitted from the plant
• employment to locals
• Relocation is effective and smooth

(v) If consensus cannot be reached

• institutionalised engagement through SPV committees
• understand the concerns.

(vi) If concerns are genuine, may be accomodated and if required the plant may be shifted to other location. (vii) However, focus on consensus building.

• NGO has spearheaded the protest, so engage them in project implementation planning
• try to address the concerns