Sharad Pawar's talk of developing hill stations draws activists' ire

MUMBAI: Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar has said that he has identified 26 sites in Maharashtra that can be developed as world-class tourism towns and provide investment and employment opportunities in the state, a statement that has provoked sharp reactions from environmentalists and conservationists that are opposed to commercial development in hilly areas or along lakes. These sites can be developed only if political opposition is avoided, Pawar said on Tuesday at an event organised by the Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture (MCCIA) in Pune.

“I am told there are over 10,000 people visiting Lavasa every weekend and a lot of activity happens there. I have identified at least 26 sites in Maharashtra where similar private hill stations or tourist centres can be developed,” Pawar said. “Most of these places are close to water bodies and there is no population there. These can be developed into modern world-class towns where great investment or employment opportunities can be generated but political opposition to any such project is a worry. Such opposition must be avoided.”

Apparently alluding to Gujarat, Pawar said, “Development projects in only one state in the country have been lauded by the national media and have been called a special model but actually similar development has happened in Maharashtra too. But in Maharashtra we have been sensitive to people’s demands. Political opposition to development creates hurdles which causes delay.” National Alliance for People’s Movements (NAPM) reacted to the statement saying it would vehemently oppose any plan to develop private tourist towns.

“People have got displaced because of large dams or other government projects. Now how can they be further pushed away from their habitat and their land given to private developers? We will oppose this at every stage. Such projects also cause major damage to the environment,” said social activist Medha Patkar of NAPM.

Another activist, Suniti Sura, also attached to NAPM, said, “We have experienced that whenever a carrot about development is dangled before the local residents and farmers, what follows is just destruction. Their farm land, their habitat and the environment gets destroyed. This will not be allowed henceforth.”