Many Third World countries already have far-sighted laws to protect the environment, but these are often ignored because of vested interests. a lack of resources and powerless environmental agencies. 

 Environmental regulations abound in the Third World, but they are seldom implemented. The fear of decision makers that restrictions may brake economic development is just one reason for the inaction. Others include bureaucratic conflicts, a lack of cash and status in environment or natural resources ministries, and the political power wielded by large businesses.

Mexico, for example, boasts advanced anti-pollution laws. But Luis Manuel Guerra, an outspoken environmental campaigner, says: "Neither the infrastructure nor the awareness exists to ensure that the laws are carried out."

With just nine inspectors to visit more than 40,000 industries, environmentalists complain that the government is not taking the problem seriously. "Too many key bureaucrats still believe that environmental protection is a luxury that a poor country like Mexico can’t afford," Guerra says.

Despite the high level of air pollution in Mexico City, only three factories have been removed from Mexico City’s metropolitan zone since the law was passed in 1988. More than half the chief executives of potentially polluting factories said they did not know they were supposed to move out. Neither, it seems, do the authorities. Mexico City’s mayor, Manuel Camacho Solis, says the factories must leave in eight months’ time but the Urban Development and Environment Secretariat says none will have to close if they fit anti-pollution equipment.

Brazil’s problem has always been one of political will and lax implementation, rather than of legislation. During the previous Sarney administration, many environmental laws were enacted that should have made Brazil a showcase for the developing world —there were exemplary controls on the use of heavy metals and pesticides and even the sale of chainsaws was controlled. Yet vested interests were never challenged — the killers of ChicoMendesstill await trial. -

Emil Salim has been in charge of Indonesia’s environment since 1978. Salim was a member of the Brundtland commission on environment and economics whose report directs much current thinking about the need to preserve as well as use the environment.

And although he commands great respect from Indonesian conservationists and environmentalists, his regulations are often ignored. Meanwhile, the government justifies the clearing of 143-million hectares of forests with the fact that 48-million hectares have been set aside as conservation areas.

However, environmental lobbyists say there are many instances where the conservation areas have been violated. These violations can partly be explained by the fact that the ministry of environment and population does not have enough power or funds.

Although most environment ministers would be loath to admit it, the increasingly vocal environment lobby is helping their case. In Thailand, public opposition to the Nam Choan Dam on the upper Kwaii River led to the postponement of a 80MW hydroelectricity project which would have led to savings of about US$140-million but would have destroyed some of the country’s finest natural forests.

In India, Maneka Gandhi, sister-in-law of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, is the new minister for environment and

forests. She has expressed sympathy for the environment groups that are campaigning against the 254m high Tehri Dam to be built in an area subject to earthquakes, and the Sardar Sarovar dam and reservoir project on the Narmada river which would flood 25,000 hectares of farm land and forests.

But her sympathies have been outweighed by the criticisms from her outspoken colleagues in the water resources ministry and the hostile attitude adopted by the chief ministers of the states of Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat where the two controversial dams may be built. However, the adverse national and international public opinion will ensure that all environmental precautions are taken if the two dams are finally built.

Grassroot activists in India have learnt to distinguish between two sets of attitudes — those reflected in the policy statements emanating from New Delhi and the attitudes of the officials and politicians in areas where the projects are located. Large projects bring rich rewards in terms of prestige, construction jobs and inflows of hard currency. Efficiency and conservation projects are less visible, harder to prepare and move less money. 

-Bharat Dagra in New Delhi, Ben Davies in Bangkok, Mary Farquharson in Mexico City & Pamella Hapsari in Jakarta

Source : South, June, 1990

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