Manifestoes churned out by political parties in an election season are usually boring documents that are never read or taken seriously. But if you love the sensuous and succulent delights of theAlphonso mango, I urge you to take a look at this particular manifesto that has been put out by activists of the 'Save Western Ghats Campaign'.
To be fair to the manifesto, the Alphonso is not the only item on its agenda. There are other thingstoo. Such as: Protecting natural forests to ensure water security and energy security (through hydel projects) of south India. The need to regenerate forests with indigenous rather than exotic species of plants. The rights of forest dwellers in national park areas. The need to extend employment guarantee scheme (NREGA) specifically for ecological rehabilitation and the necessity to declare Western Ghats a 'GM free zone' figure prominently.
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The campaign is essentially targeting 32 parliamentary constituencies spread across five states (including Karnataka) that fall in this region that hosts one of the richest slices of bio-diversity on planet Earth. The item at the end of the chart is the one that relates to theAlphonso and it says that a series of mega thermal power projects being established in the Konkan and the west coast are severely affecting the micro climate required to cultivate these world-famous mangoes.
Since I have an edible interest in the Alphonso and have already tasted dozens of them this season, I naturally followed up on its fate with some farmers and activists living in the adjoining districts of Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg in Maharastra, where these mangoes are majorly grown. The following is the summary of what I gathered from my conversations:
Apparently, in the 1990s, the Alphonso cultivation in Ratnagiri district was just on 37,000 hectares and in Sindhudurg it was limited to 11,000 hectares, but in 2008 the area of cultivation spread to about 63,000 hectares in Ratnagiri and touched 26,000 hectares in Sindhudurg. This systematic spread in area and increase in production happened because of various promotional schemes of the government in the last two decades. The two districts were also declared agro export zones in 2003-04. But nevertheless, with a spate of power projects being announced in the region in the last few years, people feel that an agriculturalzone is fast becoming an 'unofficial special economic zone for power plants'.
Ever since the mid-1980s, there has been an increasing awareness about the potential of the region and when the regional development map was created in 1987, Ratnagiri area was marked as 'eco-sensitive' and a conscious decision was taken not to allow any industries that emit hazardous chemicals. In pursuance of this policy, around 1991, a major boost was given to horticulture in the region and a lot of subsidies were offered to people who took it up. And till about 1995, a good eight years, no 'harmful' industries were allowed. There were no coal-based power projects and the only power project in the area was the Koyna hydel project.
Not to allow industries that let out harmful emissions was crucial to protect the delicate climate of the region that allowed theAlphonso crop to flourish. In fact, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg form a narrow strip between the Arabian sea and the Sahyadri hills, measuring close to 400 kms. The pH quality of the dew that falls here during the flowering season, as well as the humidity and rainfall levels are said to greatly influence the distinct flavour and aroma of the mangoes grown here. But now people fear thatSulphur Di-oxide and other emissions from thermal power plants will affect the pH quality of the dew and, in turn, the quality of mangoes. Arguably, the sweetest ones are grown in the 15 km width and 180 km length of the Arabian sea here, on an expanse of five taluks. The mangoes grown in this limited area carry the Geographical Indication (GI) tag and are marketed as the very special RatnagiriAlphonso or Haapoos in the local Marathi tongue. The GI tag is similar to the one conferred upon Champagne, the sparkling white wine produced from the grapes grown in the vineyards of the Champagne region in north-east France. The cherished sourness of the grapes of Champagne is similarly dependant on the micro climate of the region.
Interestingly, nearly 200 farmers in the two districts have been given the global Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) certificate that allows them to export their mangoes. After nearly 35 years, in 2006, Japan and USA, besides Europe started importing mangoes from this region. Earlier, they were banned because of fungus, absence of quality control in cultivation and also indiscriminate use of pesticides. But now with the GAP certificate farmers follow definite processes. The GAP certificate, issued by a Netherlands-based agency, clearly states that there should be no polluting industries in the area where the mangoes are grown and the certification could be withdrawn if such industries do come up. Yet, the very year the GAP certification was received by farmers there was a major turn around in policy for the region when a number of power projects were sanctioned by the government without proper public hearing or a 'cumulative' environment impact assessment (EIA) in the area. "The EIAs being smartly produced now are for single power projects that are being sanctioned, but what is needed is a study of the total or cumulative impact all these projects would have on the climate of this little strip," says Dr. Vivek Yeshwanth Bhide, an Ayurvedic physician and president of the the Ratnagiri Zilla Jagruk Manch.
If you think people in these two districts are being alarmists and are talking a predictable anti-development language, just consider the number of power projects that have come up or have been sanctioned since 1995 and more so in the last three to four years: In 1995, Dhabhol or Enron made its entry into the district with a plan to produce 2200 MW. The company is now renamed Ratnagiri Gas and Power Private Limited. Ten years after the Enron fiasco, in 2005, the Maharastra government entered into an MOU with the Jindals (JSW Energy (Ratnagiri) Ltd) to set up a coal-based 1200 MW power plant in the first phase. At a place called Ranpar, about 15 km from Ratnagiri town, Finolex first proposed a 22 MW captive coal-based power project and then increased it to 43 MW. Now a proposal to further expand this plant to 1000 MW is pending. In Dhopave of Guhagar taluk in Ratnagiri a coal-based plant of 1600 MW capacity has been approved. Again, in Dapoli of Ratnagiri, a 1980 MW coal-based power project of the GMR company has been sanctioned.
In Sindhadurg district at Dhakore-Azagao a 2000 MW coal-based power project has been sanctioned and in Munge a 4000 MW project has been approved. In Sawantvadi taluk of Sindhudurg a 2000 MW project has been approved. Also, in Jaitapur of Ratnagiri, India's biggest atomic power project with a capacity of 9600 MW in the first phase and 5400 MW in the second phase has been planned. But ironically Jaitapur is said to be rich with geo-thermal energy and unfortunately prone to seismic hazards. "In the last two years alone, 91 low-intensity tremors have been felt in the area," says Dr. Bhide.
With all these power projects coming up, what happens to the heritage fruit Alphonsois too serious a question to lay buried in a manifesto. By the time the next mango season arrives, let's hope that at least one MP from one of the 32 parliamentary constituencies in the Western Ghats would have raised a question in this regard in Parliament. If not instant action to save it, surely at least theAlphonso deserves a question in Parliament. Long live the Alphonso!
