Develop informed infra environment: Moving away from the old 'development vs environmental protection' binary

There is a recurring debate that keeps raising its Janus head: what is more important – development or protecting the environment? The dice are loaded on the side of development, such as quality infrastructure, because there is a genuine need and demand for it. Besides, since development can be ‘seen’, it garners political dividends. But what about the environmental impact of runaway, untrammelled development? Moving away from the old ‘development vs environmental protection’ binary, the contours of the debate themselves are now, thankfully, changing.

A recent Delhi High Court order takes a step at restoring balance in that debate, giving citizens a chance to make an informed choice between development-at-all-costs and development that keeps quality of life and environment firmly in all equations. The court has asked central government agencies to display critical details, including the number of trees felled and location of compensatory plantations, at all construction sites. It also wants a joint secretary-level officer in the urban development ministry to ensure the order is complied with.

The court’s order is welcome. It will make it easier for citizens and experts, who otherwise have to file an RTI to access this kind of information, to cross-question authorities and suggest an alternative development model. In this era of climate change, open data can educate everyone, not just the environment-conscious, on the pros and cons of unregulated development, and the value of natural resources. But implementing this forward-looking order will be challenging. The Central Information Commission passed a similar order in 2011. Twelve years later, the high court has had to reiterate it. Well, it’s certainly worth making a start.