There are many people's movements. There are no barriers for the journalists to cover them. Everyone agrees on these. But why are pollution-causing factories being ignored? The new reason is development. Sometimes resistance comes from the Media as well as public at large because they are development-oriented. And they raise their voice for opposing development? Unlike other people's movements, environmental and pollution movements do not enjoy the same public support as other people's movements. Unless they are impacted, they are not raising their dissent. This is the time when people want development, said Dr K Srinivasa, Editor of the Telugu daily Andhra Jyothi.
He along with Prof.G. Haragopal and other environmentalists and noted activists jointly released a book titled 1056 Bar 90, Telugu, at a function held at Marigold Hotel in Ameerpet on Wednesday. It was authored by Mr. Samayamanthri Chandra Shekhar Sharma on a writ petition in the Supreme Court. The book explains in detail how the pharma companies in Patancheru are creating environmental destruction and what kind of movements and agitations have been undertaken by the people's groups.
Prof. Haragopal said, "This is a fascinating book. A haunting book. The public response was poor, though the factories were ruining lives. What has happened to this society? Are we lost? he asked. We come from a society that protects and worships nature. He expressed his anguish that now we have gone to the extent of ruling over the same nature and creating destruction. Destruction of the environment and pollution in the name of development is intolerable. This is the wrong model. We need to review that. This pollution destruction is not only in Patancheru but all over the world. Companies that make drugs are the ones who spread the disease. "Haragopal said.
Such things should be widely highlighted. We need humanity to respond, he added.
Dr. Kalapala Babu Rao, an environmentalist said 2 crore people who went on the road in America forced the policy makers to come up with environmental and work safety laws. We can't make changes unless and until we force our rulers.
This effort to bring to light the tragedy and discrimination of Sharma's pharma-affected people in unfavourable circumstances should reach all Telugu people. In the name of development, the deterioration of basic needs such as water and gas, the failure of systems that need to be protected, and anti-people tendencies should be known to all. Only then that Sharma's efforts pay off.
This is a terrible environmental disaster. Environmental injustice means putting the burden of pollution and environmental harm on the poor and vulnerable. There are no official figures on how many people died in the Bhopal disaster, nor on the number of Hyderabad pharma victims. It's a sacrifice zone. Their sacrifices are not even acknowledged. It seems the poor don't have a constitutional right to live. The government does not protect them. For them, businesses are more important than their lives. It is a form of constitutional democracy, he added.
This tragedy is due to the neglect of environmental crimes by the politics that is a pawn of investment. He said that the government and politics are sending a message that economic development is possible only by destroying the environment by diluting the existing weak laws.
This effort to bring to light the tragedy and discrimination of Sharma's pharma-affected people in unfavourable circumstances should reach all Telugu people. In the name of development, the deterioration of basic needs such as water and gas, the failure of systems that need to be protected, and anti-people tendencies should be known to all. It was only then that Dr Sharma's efforts would be paid off said Kalapala Baburao
Though there are many systems in our country, still there is no justice is meted out on this matter. Rajashukha said.
Prof. G. Vijay said that strict action should be taken against erring companies. These pharma companies are manufacturing drugs to save lives, and export them to save the lives of foreigners by manufacturing life-saving drugs but at what cost? They are endangering the lives of local people with pollution.
The author of the book, SM Chandra Shekhar Sharma, said that the Patancheru-Bollaram anti-pollution movement came with the demand to strike a balance between development and the environment. This is the first of its kind in the state. The local people and farmers are in distress.
The Patancheru Bollaram Writ Petition 1056/1990 came up for hearing in the Supreme Court and resulted in several crucial judgments. It was later transferred to the High Court for monitoring the implementation of the verdict. The case was reviewed by the High Court for a decade. The case was later transferred to the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The NGT, which heard the case, delivered a preliminary verdict in 2017 and then a crucial verdict in 2022, dismissing the case. This petition deals with several issues. There is a direct impact on people's living conditions, health, croplands, livestock, and ponds. All these years, the lack of complete justice for the victims has made me focus on this writ petition. Having had the experience of reporting on this case from time to time in the press and being connected with the area and its people on the ground, I have been following the local situation for two and a half decades. That's why I picked up this subject to pen this book. An English translation will be available soon.
Saraswathi Kavula acted as a presiding officer of the function.
Janachaitanya Publications CEO B. Ramesh proposed a vote of thanks. He said that he would publish a book on any issue that would benefit society.
A number of journalists, activists and environmentalists took part in the event.
You can contact Sri Jana Chaitanya Publications for copies of this book of 400 hundred page
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