Are SDGs a Myth? Industrial Development and Water Pollution in India

About this book

This book discusses the continued emphasis on development gains in India's national policies and its quest to meet sustainable development goals. It offers an analysis of the laws and infrastructure for environmental protection in the country and their ineffectiveness in dealing with the water pollution which has had dire consequences on India's ecological landscape.

The book, while highlighting the need and importance of industrial development, argues for sustainable measures to moderate and monitor such developmental efforts in light of severe environmental degradations. Focusing on the state of Gujarat, it looks at published and unpublished data on industrial development and water pollution levels and data obtained via applications filed under the Right to Information Act. It also offers a detailed account of the concentration of red industries which release the most hazardous pollutants and their effects on the environment. The authors look at the data from a theoretical and empirical perspective, offering insights into how the checks and balances levied by the state have been violated. They highlight the patterns and trends which emerge from the study of these developmental efforts and underline the need to improve the effectiveness of policy instruments, and the need to diversify the existing mechanisms.

Are SDGs a Myth? will be of great interest to students and researchers of environment and development studies, public policy, sociology, law and governance, human ecology and economics.

Contents

List of Figures
List of Tables
List of Abbreviations
Acknowledgements

1. Introduction
2. Economic Performance of the States
3. Industrial Policies in Gujarat
4. Facets of Industrial Development in Gujarat
5. Environmental Governance
6. Industrial Water Pollution: Communities, Authorities and the Courts
7. Ahmedabad: Impact of Industrial Development on the Sabarmati
8. Ahmedabad: Performance Assessment of Environmental Infrastructure
9. Surat: Impact of Industrial Development on Water Bodies
10. Surat: Performance Assessment of Environmental Infrastructure
11. Why the CETPs are Ineffective
12. Industrial Development and Water Pollution: The Quest for SDGs

Appendix I
Appendix II
Appendix III  

Index

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Biography

Neeru Bansal is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Planning, CEPT University, Ahmedabad, India. She is a civil engineer and urban planner. R. Parthasarathy is MEGA Chair Professor and Director at the Gujarat Institute of Development Research, Ahmedabad, India.