INDUSTRY VERSUS TOURISM

DEMAND TO LIFT RESTRICTIONS ON OPENING OF NEW INDUSTRIAL UNITS

By Brij Khandelwal

Agra November 26 (IANS)

The annual "Heritage Week" observed by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has just ended in the Taj city but most people gave it a miss.

A sense of detachment and cold apathy has been visible as conservationists and the industrial lobby fight out a long drawn battle in various foras including the apex court.

Even with three world heritage monuments and half a dozen other architectural marvels, the locals feel no sense of pride in their heritage which draws millions of visitors from all corners of the world round the year.

The ‘disconnect’ between local aspirations and heritage or history, is causing concern as conservational efforts need emotional involvement of the citizens of the city, says Surendra Sharma, president of the Braj Mandal Heritage Conservation Society. “It is a sad fact that Agra is not tourism friendly and the locals see tourism as a hurdle in their march towards material prosperity,” Sharma adds.

Since industrial growth in Agra has remained inhibited due to restrictions imposed by the Supreme Court to insulate the Taj Mahal from environmental pollution, the local population remains largely indifferent to tourism. “Arbitrary classification of economic activities in various categories, has adversely affected expansion of not only industries but also hotels and hospitals,” says KC Jain, secretary of Agra Development Foundation.

Industry leaders never fail to point out that the city was not dependent on tourism for sustenance but for over a century has been a leader in manufacturing, in iron foundries, glass industries, handicrafts and shoe making. “Agra iron foundries played a crucial role in promoting the Green revolution by manufacturing a wide range of agricultural implements and diesel generators with pump sets, at competitive rates. Cast iron pipes and manholes have been exported all over the world for decades,” says Firozabad industrialist Shyam Sundar.

The industrial organizations have been fighting hard last several months to present their case for inclusion in the draft Heritage Vision document to be presented to the Supreme Court by the School of Architecture and Town Planning, New Delhi.

In terms of employment, while the tourism sector engages hardly 5 percent of the district’s 40 lakh population, it is the traditional shoe industry, the iron foundries, the diesel generator manufacturers,  the petha and handicrafts sector, the glass manufacturing units, now mostly concentrated in Firozabad, a new district carved out of Agra, that provide sustenance to the majority. “But the new classification of industries is set to deal a blow to these sectors,” fears the ADF in its memorandum to the state government.  

The central environment ministry had on September 8, 2016 imposed expansion ban on industries listed in the green, orange and red categories, leaving out those in the white list. The local industrial organizations are now demanding a revision and lifting of the ban.

“Most industries in these categories have no role or contribution to make to add to the overall pollution load. Big investments waiting in the hotel, hospitals and shoe sectors are held up denying job opportunities to the locals. The real causes of air pollution in the eco-sensitive Taj Trapezium Zone, spread over 10,400 sq kms, are increasing number of vehicles, bad state of roads, denudation of forests, burning of waste and the dry Yamuna bed. Unfortunately,  instead of targeting these problem areas, the government agencies have selectively restricted industrial growth and imposed a ban on new units,” says the ADF.

The battle continues. While conservationists and environmentalists want drastic pollution control measures including restrictions on polluting industries, the industry leaders plead for a more sensible and open policy based on empirical studies to pinpoint polluters and the causes for increasing air pollution.