River Pollution_anand Goyal_iim Calcutta

Ashwamedha Ignite

River Pollution

Anand Goyal [email protected] IIM Calcutta

PPP Model Principles • Use of information disclosure • Adopting market-based incentives • Voluntary pollution reduction • Increased devolution to state and local governments • Increased Stakeholder involvement • Improve coordination in efforts

Goal: Environment Stewardship and Economic Gains

Action Guideline – Involving the Community

Create Local Advisory Groups • Residents • Local govt. officials • Local business representatives

Change Perception

Educate Community

• Assess citizen perception of site • Mitigate misconceptions

• About the importance of project • About the role of various participants

Action Guideline- Information Dissemination

Formal official channel

• Maintain an information repository • Include documents and other information about the site, e.g consent orders, work plans, reports, copies of applicable laws

Informal public • Distribute news to local media- radio, newspaper, television • Announce any significant findings channel • Notify community of any public meetings

Action Guideline- Action Plan Evaluation

Status Update Reports • Written in non-technical language • Proposed to coincide with particular milestones

Public Comments • Enable interested parties to evaluate recommended alternatives • Stipulated minimum period e.g. 30 days

Action Plan- Government Speed up regulatory transactions, do away with paperwork and improve ability to gather, analyze and report data

Incentives for environmental friendly technology and equipment e.g. Accelerated write-offs and sales tax breaks

Government

Fund the creation and working of Local Advisory Groups

The government has to play the key role of a pivot and drive the process

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Action Plan- Community Encourage efficient use of fertilizers etc and public outreach efforts to adopt novel practices like drip irrigation

Pledge campaigns by bodies like Rotary Club, YMCA etc

Community

Planting of vegetation along river banks to minimize erosion

The community will have to take the ownership of the whole process

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Action Plan- Local Business Ride the “Green Wagon”- Connect to the consumer

Incentivized environment friendly and non-polluting technologies

Local Business

Initiation of alternate business opportunities such as eco-tourism, agro-forestry

The local businesses are the third pillar of the PPP model

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Academics and Environmental Groups Technology demonstration to drive adoption of most “suitable” rather than “best”

Periodic monitoring of efforts through use of satellite imagery etc.

Role Measurement of results through in-situ analysis of quality parameters

Long term Campaigns through web based exercises, photo exhibitions

Key Insights No quick fix solutions-Sustainability only if guided by economics Need to change the way to count environmental costs rather than applying the right technological fix Need to adopt cooperative, non-adversarial approach to problem- overcome social resistance

Learn how to combine the best elements of a regulatory framework – steep learning curve