Dhamra Port - Aamaraodisha

The Government will handle the Dhamra Port

feedback.nospam@nospam.aamaraodisha.com (Admin) — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 08:08:00 +0000

I am flying to Delhi for a business meeting and I am dreading the heat as summer time has started and it is going to be sweltering. I am going to attend a conference on how the government has been successful in partnering with private enterprise to bring speedy development to infrastructure projects. This brings the cynical me back to the Dhamra port which is surrounded by controversy. To remind all the Dhamra port is being developed by DPCL (Dhamra Port Company Ltd.), a 50:50 joint venture between Tata Steel and Larsen & Tubro. This is an infrastructure project critical to the development of Orrisa. IUCN had organized a conference on Dhamra Port which was held in Bhubaneshwar, Orissa, India on 24-25 February 2009, and was followed by a trip to the port site.

I agree a lot of time these conferences seem like a waste of time but are also crucial to create a setting for open discussions and get different opinions on board. The Dhamra workshop brought together a diverse mix of government representatives, the private sector, leading local and international scientists, technical experts, academics and local community representatives. “If this sort of an effort cannot solve a problem, nothing can – it is a valiant attempt. We have never seen this before” said Kinsuk Mitra, President, Winrock International India.

The one piece of critical information that environmentalist forget in their protest that the Port once ready and operational will be handed over to the government to manage. As pointed out by Aban Marker Kabraji, Regional Director, IUCN Asia “Eventually the port will be handed over to the Government of Orissa. Therefore a strong Environmental Management Plan is required. IUCN is using the sea turtle as an indicator species in this ecosystem, but the overall ecology of the area is critical. IUCN sees its work here as on-going, dynamic, participatory and forward looking” .

The other issue which weighed heavy on everyone’s mind was that there had been no mass-nesting at Gahirmatha since last year. “There are too many factors, we need to study this. We need issues and suggestions thrown up and find a delicate balance between environment and development,” said Upendra Nath Behera, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Forest & Environment Department, Government of Orissa. This however now has after a spectacular nesting this year been a matter of relief for a large number of senior government officials and technical experts.

The past 10 years the government has achieved great success in development of infrastructure projects due to their partnerships with private enterprise. The benefit has largely been because of efficiency and timely completion of projects. The advantage of private enterprises is that they are usually on top of technological advances and quick to respond to any problem. Even in the case of the Dhamra project DPCL has taken active interest and investment to ensure safety of marine life. They are very seriously implementing an Environmentally Sustainable strategy so that when the port is handed over to the government it is an efficiently managed port.

Cape Canaveral, Florida – Part Duex

feedback.nospam@nospam.aamaraodisha.com (Admin) — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 06:06:00 +0000

Since a main area of concern is the effects of dredging with regards to the nesting ground for the Olive Ridley Turtle in Orrisa I would like to discuss with you readers the findings and the operation modification of the dredging plans at Cape Canaveral and how this would help us in Orrisa. Of course my readers are aware of the fact that over 1.7 Lac turtles nested on the beaches of Gahirmatha and have had a safe nesting in spite of the dredging work. The Sea Turtle/Dredging Task Force in USA offered suggestions which were very effective in the process of protecting the turtles.

Restricting dredging to a season when turtles are least abundant or least likely to be affected was one of many alternatives that have been implemented. They designated September through November as the best time for dredging based on the turtle’s seasonal density trends and the presence of gravid females during the summer nesting season. Similarly at Dhamra all the maintenance dredging will happen in the non-nesting season. Other measures were used at the Cape Canaveral were to turn off the draghead pumps when the daragram was raised or lowered. According to the climate and sand and silt type the safest and most efficient dredgers and draghead type were selected and used at the site to avoid and minimize any loss to the sea turtles. Various options were tried for the deflectors for Draghead and the most effective and flexible design was approved. The Dhamra port is also following the best suited method and machines and in addition will be dredging along a naturally deep alignment.

The authorities at Cape Canaveral also had to tackle issue of relocating turtles by various method of using trawlers or baiting or a dispersal technique to move the turtles away from the channel. Fortunately this is not necessary at the Dhamra port as the actual port is 30kms from the nesting site, even this year’s arribada occurred at the rivers southern beaches of Nasi 1 and Nasi 2 and the port is towards the north of the river.

In the USA Each Corps District is required by the Endangered Species Act to conduct literature or biological surveys before every dredging project to document any endangered species presence in the area of dredging and determine the potential impacts related to the dredging activities. To be true to marine life and human life we need a balanced approach especially by ‘Green Monster’ they should not be allowed by you and me to spread mis-information and create roadblocks for companies or individuals going about their usual business. If you ask me the name ‘Greenpeace’ is big enough to evoke instant trust, a trust they should realize once broken in India will result in them losing the support of our people. Even the better and honest efforts by their organization will be looked at with doubt.

CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA

feedback.nospam@nospam.aamaraodisha.com (Admin) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 08:34:00 +0000

No I am not crazy, I know we are discussing the Dhamra port in Orrisa and not the Cape Canaveral in Florida but this is fascinating information on a real time case of how the dangers to five species of sea turtles which occur along the United States coastlines listed as threatened or endangered was effectively reduced by Environmentally Sustainable methods.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) in Florida had determined that because of their life cycle and behavioral patterns the loggerhead, the green, and the Kemp’s Ridley are put at risk by hopper dredging activities (Studt 1987). The Cape Canaveral entrance channel was a safe haven for the turtles until the maintenance dredging in 1980 commenced. The shrimpers had reported the presence of large number of sea turtles in the channel two years prior to the maintenance dredging.

I firmly believe that there is always some good that comes from some bad, the problem with the sea turtles in Florida led the authorities to study the problem keenly and find effective solutions which have provided us with International Standards. The issue was taken up very seriously by the US Army Engineer District, Jacksonville in May 1981 to address the issues of Sea Turtle mortalities from dredges and maintaining a navigable channel for commercial interest and national defence. A Sea Turtle/Dredging Task Force was formally established and it comprised of representatives from the NMFS, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Florida Department of Natural Resources, US Navy, university representatives, and the US Army Corps of Engineers.

This has helped create the best practices for dredging which are great tools in the protection of marine life and helps support their co-existance with Ports. The main changes suggested were with relation to alternative dredging equipment, operations, and management techniques recommended by the task force and others. The documented numbers of turtles affected by dredging at Cape Canaveral entrance channel have been reduced from seventy-one in 1980 to three in 1981, nine in 1984, five in 1986, twenty eight in 1988, and seven in 1989.

The 1988 channel maintenance removed the largest number of cubic yards of dredged material (approximately 1.5 million cu yd) since 1980 and had much lower estimated turtle mortality than 1980. The incidental take of sea turtles during dredging operations has been documented in the Cape Canaveral ship channel since the first study conducted in 1980 and King’s Bay, Georgia, ship channel since its construction in 1988.

We have to exist in the real world where development and infrastructure growth are a critical part of our lives. Especially in a country like India where there is a requirement for fast paced growth. The best part about the development in today’s India is that we have the learning of the developed world to take advantage from and also the resources to create world class infrastructure. The Dhamra Port authority has taken the Cape Canaveral learning into consideration and has in place effective Dredging Policies complying with the best the world has to offer.

The Problem for Olive Ridely Turtles because of Fishing Trawlers

feedback.nospam@nospam.aamaraodisha.com (Admin) — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 11:23:00 +0000

It would be very misleading to say that until now the Olive Ridley Turtles have had a smooth sailing and undisturbed arribadas on the coast of Orrisa. This unfortunately is far from the truth and the woes of the Turtles are much older that the port, which is 30kms away from their nesting grounds. Somehow not enough importance has been given to the effects of fishing trawlers with regards to the Olive Ridley Turtles. Yes the law says that during the nesting season no fishing trawlers should be in the waters. Well what is a trawler exactly? Trawlers are mechanized fishing boats, which are used for active fishing that requires extensive manpower, which in turn gets a good yield. They are very common and popular along the coast of all maritime fishing nations of the world. Trawlers became the most popular fishing gear in India since its introduction in 1960. The name trawl is derived from the manner of operating the fishing gear. This is a large bag net tapering from the mouth forming a flattened cone, with some device for keeping the mouth of the net open, while it is towed or dragged.

The main problem with the trawlers are that trawling in offshore waters, dead sea creatures such as turtles and dolphins are found along the shore. Thousands of turtles are being washed ashore dead, after being caught in the nets of the trawlers that continue to ply in the Dhamra region illegally during the breeding season. Unable to surface to breathe, they suffocate and drown and are eventually washed onto the beaches along the coast here.

Over the years since the discovery of the arribadas on the Orrisa coast active turtle conservation efforts by various NGOs, research institutions and the state government have resulted in satellite telemetry studies, capture-recapture studies, nesting site studies, which helped us understand Olive Ridley ecology and habitat usage, which has helped protect turtle habitats. This has alas alienated the trawl fishermen who were forbidden by the law to fish during the breeding season. They also have not agreed to use Turtle Excluder Device which would allow the turtles to escape the nets and reach to safety. This maybe perhaps as the Turtle Excluder Device would result in a smaller fish catch. The ban does not provide the support of alternate livelihood so the poor fishermen are left with little options to feed their families.

There are many local issues which need attention and funds, now the port and its promoters have an opportunity to help in changing the perceptions of the trawl fishing community and work towards conservation. But this can only be done in a collaborative effort together with conservationists and conservation scientists, and only when conservation science and industry can come together for conservation. The presence of the Dhamra Port Company Ltd. (DPCL) has helped the local communities and also provided support to government initiatives to improve life for all concerned.

Sensitivity towards Orrisa which requires decisive action!!!!!!

feedback.nospam@nospam.aamaraodisha.com (Admin) — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 13:07:00 +0000

We all are aware of the facts of the Dhamra port and the controversy surrounding it. The debate regarding the nesting ground of the Olive Ridley Turtle continues and even as DPCL (Dhamra Port Company Ltd.) is facing the heat Greenpeace has walked away from the negotiation tables. This is with complete disregard of the human life in Orrisa. The promise of a port and the ancillary industries being developed in the region is of a brighter future for a lot of people of Orrisa. This is a state rich in natural resources and also ravaged by the forces of nature any improvement in their lives is destroyed by cyclones and other problems.

A lot of people in sheer desperation migrate to other states in hope of a better life, and that for many means two meals a day for the family. As a nation which is developing at a fast pace we all have an obligation to include all Indians in this success. We have a duty towards development of industry and creation of opportunity in Orrisa to kick-start its growth. That is exactly what the Government of India had in mind when they commissioned DPCL to develop a port on the river Dhamra. The plans if implemented will help create a cascading impact on the states overall development. Yes the reality is all development projects have to face the question of its impact on the environment. DPCL has reputed companies backing their project and also an agreement with IUCN to ensure sustainable development. The theory concentrates on the essence of the balanced way of life ahead in the modern world, as it lays its foundation on human needs and preservation of the environment.

DPCL is committed to improve the standard of living and enhance the rural infrastructure. The commitment of this project is made on creating a self-reliant community in compliance with all regulations of protecting the environment, conservation of natural resources, restoring ecological biodiversity. DPCL will strive to make Dhamra a centre of opportunity generation for locals and do the development of the complete port with the use of eco-friendly practices. The sustainable development phenomenon holds a more significant position in the rural areas as it can help eradicate the social evils like, unemployment, illiteracy, lack of medical help, poverty. The development of the people has to go hand in hand with the preservation of the environment which is our only life support system.

India is a very diverse country with its own set of inherent problems and lop-sided growth. The government with the support of industry is trying very hard to create an equitable society. Greenpeace must understand this and stop holding the growth of Orrisa hostage and must return to the negotiation tables with wasting any more time.

Death comes cheap in India?

feedback.nospam@nospam.aamaraodisha.com (Admin) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 06:39:00 +0000

Yes, we all can be proud of the fast paced development of our country and the improvement in the standards of living for all of us. We have the cars, the houses, the mobiles and the lifestyle. I agree that development has also trickled down and there is a marked improvement in the lives of people from all spectrums of life. However, we a still a very diverse and overpopulated country with both cities and towns having their own set of problems.

An integral part of our lives are the domestic help who cook and clean for us and one shares their joy and sorrow. I write about this as the lady who works as a part time help with us just lost her brother. He was the victim of a freak accident and was suffering for the last two years; his life was extended perhaps only because the mill that his wife works for, took it upon themselves to partially pay for his medical expenses. Being my maids’ only brother she was very depressed and was thankful for the paid leave that we had granted to her. She has worked with me for over 3 years and has been through thick and thin with me. However she was not so fortunate with her other job as they were quick to replace her. Seeing her pain one realizes that no matter what the differences in the standard of living maybe but the pain and joy for all is alike.

I shudder to think that the situation in the villages is probably worse and the economic challenges and lack of infrastructure would make it worse. The flocks of people migrating to cities in hope of a better life or education is only a sign of how difficult things may be for them back home. The government and the corporate world on the macro level are compassionate about these issues and are attempting to improve lives of the common Indian. The economic growth of our country has not only given us a bigger house and fancy car, but has created a lot of Retail, IT, Hospitality, Construction etc. job opportunity for the lower strata of the population thus help them improve their standard of living.

Since independence be it the Jamnagar refinery, the TATAs Jamshedpur plant, ONGC, Birla, Godrej the list goes on have helped contribute not only to our GDP but also created employment for lacs of people. India is the apple of the eye for Private Equity and the Investment banking community. The growth is largely being driven by large scale industry and infrastructure, however what is heartwarming is the confidence with which millions of small time business and innovation have contributed to this growth. For India to be a fair and equitable society growth has to continue with inclusion of each and every Indian. The price of the loss of each Indian live has to mean the same and all individuals should have the same rights and opportunity regardless of which state they belong. The Dhamra port is one such attempt in this direction. Please support the cause of Sustainable Development for the people of Orissa.

Swadeshi vs Vedeshi

feedback.nospam@nospam.aamaraodisha.com (Admin) — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 09:08:00 +0000

It’s a hot humid evening in Mumbai and all I can think about my childhood, maybe this nostalgia stems from my meeting with Ramesh. His father was a driver in my father’s employment and we were the best of friends until he moved to Jamshedpur as his father got a job with the TATAs. I was visibly surprised when he sent me a linkedin invite. He works in Mumbai as an IT consultant and has also bought a house in the suburbs. I was very glad to that this bright boy got the right opportunity and was so successful. He told me that, ‘I owe TATA the life that I lead, the son of a 8th Pass factory worker, thanks to free primary education and a Scholarship programme by the TATAs I have achieved a safe and comfortable life.’

He also seemed upset about something, when I probed he brought up the Dhamra port issue which I have been following keenly. He had a different view to the whole thing he said, ‘It shocks me that even after 62 years of freedom, the Swadesi vs. Vedeshi debate continues. The formidable TATA is being challenged by Greenpeace, and our own people are turning against India’s most respected company. An organisation, which could teach a thing or two to the western world about ethics and corporate responsibility.’

Greenpeace has made lot of hue and cry also mocked Nano which is a modern day marvel and a major success for India. They have belittled and embarrassed us in International press with huge advertisements against the Nano. They have influenced the judgment of a lot of Indians to induce them into writing protest letters to TATA. Well, all those people who are writing protest letters to TATA. I ask you to atleast once explore the role of TATA before pointing fingers. You would find ample information about what a fantastic job TATA is doing to protect the environment, right from a location which by no standards is near the nesting grounds of the Olive Ridley turtle.

The basis of Greenpeace report, namely a study conducted by Dr. S.K. Dutta of North Orissa University, is itself mired in controversy. The university has gone on record disputing it as having been tampered with by Greenpeace. The report published by the University in their website is different from the one published by Greenpeace. Neither the original report nor the report published by Greenpeace has any evidence regarding movement of live turtles. They only refer to turtle carcasses. There are many such crucial changes by Greenpeace in its published report, which raises serious questions about its credibility. It angers me that Greenpeace has gone to great lengths to set-up the TATA and gain public sympathy on this issue.

I also shared with him the fact that this year the Olive Ridley turtles have had a safe and successful arribada and the dredging has had no impact whatsoever. We also discussed a bit about the arm twisting tactics that Greenpeace is known for and how they have got into trouble with the law in more than one instance.

Greenpeace exaggerates its facts

feedback.nospam@nospam.aamaraodisha.com (Admin) — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 11:55:00 +0000

Yes they are a foremost environmental group but its philosophy is so extreme that they have been caught with their hand in the cookie jar more than once. Recently Greenpeace has signed a court agreement that will prevent its supporters from protesting against ExxonMobil for the next seven years in the US. The consent judgment, believed to be the first of its kind involving a US company and an activist group, prevents Greenpeace from staging protests on Exxon’s property or filling stations, or at any event sponsored by the company or involving company officers. So, I think we should also seriously look at TATA’s side of the story.

The agreement stems from a global-warming protest staged by Greenpeace supporters at Exxon’s corporate headquarters in Irving, Texas. The incident, in which 30 protestors entered Exxon’s front lobby and climbed on the roof of the company’s headquarters, was part of a long-running and bitter campaign by Greenpeace against the company. Protest litigation experts are predicting the injunction could serve as a precedent for other US companies that face “direct action” by protest groups, including such activist targets as Wal-Mart and Huntingdon Life Sciences.

In another instance the Trade Practices Act in Australia was used successfully against Greenpeace in 1991. The Act contains provisions, "secondary boycott provisions", that were originally introduced to stop trade union actions, including strikes. It made it illegal for a group of people to interfere with the provision of services or products that one party has contracted to provide to another party. This act was used against Greenpeace Australia in March 1991. Greenpeace Australia, using the Rainbow Warrior, interfered with the seismic testing by continually moving a buoy that the testing boat was dragging behind it to receive back the resonations from the sonic booms. This interfered with their measurements. In response BHP used a section 45D of the Trade Practices Act to gain a court injunction to stop Greenpeace from coming near the testing boat.

“The Greenpeace break-in should not be mistaken as following ‘the right of non-violent protest’,” Exxon counters. “Greenpeace breaks laws not because its members are subject to unjust laws, but because Greenpeace has failed by democratic means to get its way.” Which is exactly the situation in Orrisa regarding the Dhamra port, I mean just as they have been unsuccessful to arm twist their demands they have broken negotiation talks. These talks are the only way to find a solution for the problem at hand. Greenpeace also has to realize that the major stakeholders are the people of Orrisa who would benefit from development in their state and this is an overall sensitive issue.

They think by targeting TATA and the Nano they will be able to blackmail them into meeting their demands, my personal opinion is that this isn’t the best strategy and coming back to the table to talk would result in any solution.

The final straw: Greenpeace attacks the NANO

feedback.nospam@nospam.aamaraodisha.com (Admin) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 13:29:00 +0000

Much to my dismay Greenpeace is still not budging from its underhand tactics. What surprises me more is that I assumed after the olive Ridley turtles had a safe and successful aribadda this year they would have backed down and accepted that the port has nothing to do with the nesting site and have taken the measures promised by the Dhamra Port Autority (DPCL) to ensure the safety of the turtles and their aribadda. So I guess you were as shocked as I was when I read about the latest attack on TATA by Green peace in the article published in The Times of India ‘Below belt? Green group uses Nano to hit Tata on Orissa turtles’ 6 Apr 2009, 0018 hrs IST, Amit Bhattacharya, TNN, ‘On March 23, the day of the launch, full-page ads appeared in two international papers with a prominent picture of the 'cheap' car. The ad had nothing to do with Nano - it was a high profile attempt by NGO Greenpeace to get international attention to bear on Olive Ridley turtles.’

I agreed with what the author has to say, that the motive is nothing more than pressure tactics by Greenpeace to stop work at the Dhamra Port coming up in Orissa, about 25km from Gahirmatha, one of the two mass nesting sites of the Olive Ridleys on the state's coastline. He goes on to say ‘It was one of the costliest campaigns yet mounted to 'save' the turtles, claiming the port was threatening to take the Olive Ridleys closer to extinction.’ .In a dramatic twist, even as the ad appeared in Financial Times and International Herald Tribune, tens of thousands of female turtles made their way to Gahirmatha beach for nesting. According to Siddhanta Das, conservator of forests, Bhubaneswar circle, the mass nesting at Gahirmatha started on March 21 and continued till March 24. In these four days, around 1.7 lakh turtles had nested at the site, Das said.’

‘"The advertisement was in bad taste inasmuch as it carried wrong information," said Santosh K Mohapatra, CEO of Dhamra Port Company Limited, a 50:50 joint venture of Tata Steel and Larsen & Toubro.’

Of course what is most interesting is that this is not the first time it has been claimed that the Olive Ridley turtles are heading towards extinction. In 1978, TA Davis and Rajesh Bedi claimed that the Turtles would be extinct soon. Alas, this was just hype and the turtles have been safe and have thrived over the years.

A large section of the environmental community feels that Greenpeace’s stand is very dramatic and malicious and takes the focus away from long-term conservation strategies which would be more helpful in preserving the species.

The report goes on to say that ‘When talks between DPCL and green groups broke down in February, both sides had agreed on the independent study. DPCL said it was ready to stop work for certain periods if the scientists required it. The environmentalists insisted on complete stoppage of work. "There's no point in getting an independent study commissioned on our own, as this too will be contested," says Mohapatra.

With the current level of trust deficit between the two sides, what's fast disappearing is a middle ground which could possibly have accommodated the interests of all, including the turtles.’

The biggest tragedy of situation is that even though DPCL has been forthcoming about trying to resolve the issue the adamant stand of Greenpeace has made talks impossible and the middle ground which could have accommodated everyone’s interest is fast disappearing. Also hangs in balance is the fate of the people of Orissa who have been waiting for development of their state and individual futures.

TATAs, Turtles and Social Responsibility….

feedback.nospam@nospam.aamaraodisha.com (Admin) — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 04:55:00 +0000

Now once you read a title like that you would assume the best, unfortunately what lay under was a sheer web of lies and complete misrepresentation of facts. If someone to tell any Indian to believe that the TATA’s Nano is somehow associated with something as serious as the extinction of the Olive Ridley turtle anyone would be zapped by the analogy. Also being asked to believe that TATA has acted in an irresponsible fashion towards the environment is hard to swallow. This is unfortunately happening and the lies are being peddled very smartly across various internet sites to garner support. Well sorry to disappoint but the facts are available for the public to research and make their own independent opinion.

A respected corporate, Tata, has left no stone unturned in its attempt to verify the safety of this project on the marine environment in and around the Dhamra port. The Dhamra Port Company Limited (DPCL) has obtained the environment clearance required from the responsible authorities, the Ministry Of Surface Transport and even the National Environment Appellate Authority (NEAA) has endorsed the environment clearances. Critical reasons for DPCL to have received the approvals is that the port is at the northern channel and has nothing to do with the southern channel which is relatively close to the turtle congregation areas. The shore towards the north of river Dhamra is typically muddy and clayey and in any way not conducive for nesting turtles.

In addition the DPCL has an agreement with the world’s most reputed international body the - IUCN. The IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, founded in 1948, helps find pragmatic solutions to the most pressing environment and development challenges. It supports scientific research, manages field projects internationally and brings governments, non-government organizations, United Nations agencies, companies and local communities together to develop and implement policy. A core principal of IUCN is working in tandem with the industry to guide them in developing a ‘Sustainable Environmental Plan’.

Both DPCL and IUCN along with working on issues like nesting, dredging and the impact of lighting on the turtles, will also promote improvement in the project’s performance in other aspects of environmental management, such as terrestrial habitats affected by access roads, railway lines and other secondary developments, and contribute to raising national and global standards for environmentally responsible development of mega projects, obviously with a special reference to those proposed for the Orissa coastline.

Let me ask you, is Greenpeace unaware of the credibility of IUCN or ignorant of the fact that they are an integral part of the Dhamra port protection, or is it just a case of witch hunt? The Dhamra port has the complete support of Larsen & Tubro, TATA and the IUCN, so all, doubts should be put aside, and be rest assured that the port, Olive Ridley Turtle and the future of Orissa is in safe and capable hands!!!!