There are large number of leather industries in a major industrial town of India. They provide employment to large number of people and are also a prominent source of revenue for the state. Lately it has been observed that despite following the present emission control rules, the collective ecological footprint of these industries remains quite high affecting the surrounding areas in an adverse manner. The new technologies available for emission control are quite costly and thus acts as a disincentive for the owners of the industries for adopting them. In light of this information, the government is contemplating the following options: (a) Shutting down the industries in the region (b) Relocating the industries to a new region (c) Making the emission control rules stricter (d) Providing incentives to the industry owners for adoption of new technology. Analyse the above options in terms of their merits and demerits. What course of action would you choose and why?

i) Companies ii) Employees iii) Environment iv) Society as a whole.

Ethical dilemmas: i) Right to livelihood or right to protect the environment. ii) Sustainable development or growth

a) Shutting down industries in the region: Merits: the pollution can be brought under control

• the climate change can be controlled.

Demerits: loss of livelihood of numerous people.

• Lead to rise in poverty levels.
• Frustration, anger among people.
• May lead to instability in society.

b) Relocating the industries to a new region: Merits: employees will not loose their jobs

• companies can continue production

Demerits: the new region will be subjected to pollution

• the employees may not be in a position to relocate
• the companies may not have the capacity or capability to relocate
• economic loss for the older region
• may affect the subsidiary industries and their employees
• short term quick fix solution

c) Making emission controls stricter: Merits: i) the pollution can be kept in check. ii) the employees do not loose their jobs. iii) the regions economic growth is maintained. iv) the subsidiary industries thrive.

DEMERITS i) the capital cost of installing pollution control equipments may be an additional burden on companies which being small cannot bear it. ii) it may lead to loss of profit of industries, laying off people, make the companies turn sick. iii) slow down of economic growth.

d) Providing incentives to industry owners: Merit : i) owners may be more interested to adopt the measures. ii) pollution can be controlled iii) no job losses.

DEMERITS i) misuse of incentives by industry owners by not properly implementing the new technology. ii) lack of skilled personnel to adopt and use the new technology in the industry. iii) may need additional investment to hire such specialist personnel, adding up cost.

I would go for a simultaneous course of actions. → I would make emissions control stricter → along with providing incentives for adopting the new technology. → I would engage NGO's, civil societies, BDO's to generate awareness among people of the harm being done by the industries and thereby develop a public opinion in favour of adoption of the technology. This would create a public pressure on the industry owners. → I would also persuade the industry owners by providing them assistance in installing and using the new technology.