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New Delhi: Realizing the Importance of the discourse on interface & inter linkages between economic growth and ecological security the center for environment & food security (CEFS) in collaboration with India Habitat Center (IHC) organized a public debate on 5th September 2005. The lead debaters included Mr. Gurucharan Das , world – renowned management guru and writer, Mr. Ramaswamy Iyer, honorary professor , center for policy research & former bureaucrat, Dr Suman Sahai , President Gene Campaign, professor Smitu Kothari, noted environment activist & visiting professor Princeton University United States. Mr Parashuram Rai, Director CEFS, moderated the debate.

Initiating the debate Mr Gurucharan Das questioned about the need of the debate itself. He presented some facts that there are data, which suggest that India has progressed in last 25 years where 200 million people have crossed poverty line. He recognized the significant contribution of the 1st green revolution. According to him India will cross the per capita income of USA per capita income by 2066 if we keep moving in the direction. He said India needs water storage system and the big dam to store water for various purposes round the year. It is requirement as there is only 3 months of rain in year. He supported by saying that there are several evidences and data suggest that the people who got benefit of Bhakhara dam their per capita income is higher than the people who could not. He stated the environment protection is an important issue but preference given to environment over human is criminal & immoral. He emphasized that environment protection to be done by providing ownership rights and Title to the people.

Championing the cause of ecological security, prof. Smitu Kothari argued, “ It is an extremely important debate and there ought not necessarily to be a conflict in economic growth and ecological security both are equally important. He said there is an interconnectedness of life & planet. He asked the champions of the economic growth as it is happening? Can they tell why desert are expanding? & why ground water table is going down? He referred researches that in Panjab, the water table has gone down by 400 feet from 200 feet after the Bhakra Dam.

He said Katrina crisis is caused due to imbalance in the ecological system. Scientists say, “even more sever storm than hurricane Katrina”. We live in a finite planet and all the resources are finite . If we keep extracting resources in the manner we today in the name of economic growth we will become much more vulnerable. He asked who pays for the economic growth? We are acting very hostile towards nature and becoming illiterate towards the ecology. Our increased literacy towards economic growth creating a huge illiterate community towards the ecological system. He stated that USA has 7% of world population, which consume 40% of the world resources. Between 100-200 people have been forcibly displaced varied reasons from their original sites since independence. Can this be called economic growth? The current economic growth has created more ecological refugee who are populated in unacceptable conditions of slums in cities. It is estimated that in the next 25 years around 80% Indian population will be urban. He suggested making balance between ecology & economic growth we need to –

• Transit to solar energy
• Ownership and title to community
• Alternative fossil fuel
• Production process which ensure ecological protection
• Ecology audit
• Concentration on resource regeneration and recovery

Prof. Kothari criticized linking rivers project, as this is an invitation for the greater disaster than before. At the end he invited to demonstrate greater connectedness. Dr. Suman Sahai argued that our policy framework is towards taking us back to the 19th century than in 21st century. The re is challenge to take turnaround and maintain ecological balances which possible. There is need to marry economic growth and ecological balance.

She critics Intellectual Property Right (patent) as the originally things are created by the nature and the first up gradation which account 90% is done by the farmers and tribal population. Why Patent by somebody else. History witnesses that we have achieved everything till now without any Patent. According to World Bank report Kenya, which is the signatory of Patent, imports everything for its survival .She coated Gandhi saying that there is enough other planet for everybody’s survival but not for greed. She advocated for the legislation for Plant Protection and Farmers Protection.

Prof. Ramaswamy Iyer said there is no conflict between ecology and economic growth but there is need to understand that every piece is closely knitted in the universe. He cautioned against the issue development seen as destruction. He also stated that consumption does not mean that people will not be responsible for the regeneration of the resources. He sided against the trend that the people who are struggling for the food held responsible for the regeneration and protection of ecology system.

He argued that development & prosperity will maintain the ecology balances. Chennai Delhi and Mumbai will be cleaner and greener than many of the areas where resources for life flow from, he said. He further stated, “ people who prosperous will be more inclined to save their environment and will be in position to contribute in it. He exemplified the world over places underdeveloped or not developed or more vulnerable than places, which are developed. He called out people to see development as to offer balance than destruction or see as disease

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