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| Environmental regulations and compliance in the textile dyes sector of Gujarat: A policy analysis |
| Amrita Ghatak* |
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Despite receiving attention from policy makers and academia, the question of quality and enforcement of environmental regulations is still pertinent in India partly because of the lack of effective regulatory mechanism and also because of inadequate engagement of government with the public in decision making process. The new Government in India is committed to increasing business investments by ‘smoothening the path to environmental clearance’ and ‘lowering transaction costs’ (Ghosh 2014). The process of ‘smoothening the path to environmental clearance’ and ‘lowering transaction costs’ involves not only institutional restructuring of regulatory bodies that often fail to work independently; but also improving public consultation, transparency and credibility, providing sufficient independent appraisal and post-clearance monitoring.
In this context, it is useful to examine the integrity of existing processes for environmental clearance and enforcement of regulations. This research focuses on costs and benefits that may influence textile dyes manufacturing firms to moderate their water pollution. The study also identifies challenges faced both by manufacturing firms and Central Effluent Treatment Plants.
Using information collected through in-depth interviews of stakeholders, including regulators, representatives of industries and civil society organisations, the study analyses the effectiveness of existing institutional arrangements to manage water pollution in Gujarat, India.
Reference
Ghosh, Shibani, 2014, ‘Is There a Case for an Environmental Regulator?’, Economic and Political Weekly, vol. XLIX, no. 26 & 27, pp. 19-22.
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Ms. Amrita Ghatak works at the Gujarat Institute of
Development Research in Ahmedabad, India.
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