GS4 PYQ (Mains Answer Writing): Ethics Case Study - 18 | UPSC Mains: Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude PDF Download

A big corporate house is engaged in manufacturing industrial chemicals on a large scale. It proposes to set upon the additional unit. Many states rejected its proposal due to the detrimental effect on the environment. But one state government acceded to the request and permitted the unit close to a city, brushing aside all opposition. The unit was set up 10 years ago and was in full swing till recently. The pollution caused by the industrial effluents was affecting the land, water and crops in the area. It was also causing serious health problems to human beings and animals. This gave rise to a series of agitation thousands of people took part, creating a law and order problem necessitating stern police action.
Following the public outcry, the State government ordered the closure of the factory. The closure of the factory resulted in the unemployment of not only those workers who were engaged in the factory but also those who were working in the ancillary units. It also very badly affected those industry which depended on the chemicals manufactured by it. As a senior officer entrusted with the responsibility of handling this issues, how are you going to address it? (UPSC MAINS GS4 )

• As a senior government official and civil servant my concern will not be just maintaining law and order or putting a stop on economic activities which lead to pollution and other harmful consequences, but try to find better alternatives or arrangements to keep the businesses going with least or no adverse effect on natural resources as well as people. In modern and free India government officers and civil servants are seen not only as administrators and agents to implement and maintain law and order, but also as ‘managers’ of development and ‘agents’ of change and progress. In this spirit, I will not resort to linear and straight solutions in favour of either the businesses or people; a good solution of this problem does not warrant one-sided solution. 
• Businesses create wealth and employment, but these also lead to pollution and destitution if these units do not follow the principle of corporate social responsibility and corporate ethics. 
• I will actively engage with the directors and CEO of the chemical unit to find out how best the business activities could be reconciled with interest of the people and sustainable development rather than giving a dictate or order to close down. 
  • Secondly, I will remain human while dealing with protesting people against the chemical project, but will not decide about the fate of the chemical units. Instead I will take some time to buy peace and talk with people’s representative to convince them about the importance of the chemical industry for employment and raising standard of living highlighting its backward and forward linkages. 
  • Thirdly I will convene a tripartite platform to frequently bring the business, people and government officials together to analyse and evaluate and act against the evolving challenges due to the chemical and other industries in the vicinity. Many a times people’s protests in such cases are aggravated and flared up by local politicians. 
  • So I will convene a meeting with them and urge them to understand the gravity of the problem. I will tell them that development cannot be throttled on flimsy or political grounds and even if there are enough grounds based on the adverse effects, a better option would not be to close down the industrial units, but to find alternatives how to mitigate and eliminate the adverse effects. 
  • This will entail seeking experts’ advice and so I will seek help from experts to find a workable solution which allows the chemical industry to run and at the same time the adverse effects are minimised. Such solutions may take time and may be difficult to negotiate with different stakeholders. 
• Even then I would not fall victim to ‘knee jerk’ reaction or ‘quick fixes; there are times when trampling on the difficult paths yield a holistic solution to a problem, and so I will do the same. I will put all my mind and might to reach a solution which makes development possible with the least real cost or adverse effects while maximises income, output and employment.