Of the 50 categories in DMK’s election manifesto, one is dedicated to environment and climate change — and it has 50 points, while in the 50-page AIADMK election manifesto of nearly 300 points, 10 speak about environmental issues.While this might seem inadequate, it’s an improvement, says Prabhakaran Veerarasu of environmental organisation Poovulagin Nanbargal (Friends of Earth). “When we used to approach political parties 20 years ago with environmental manifestos during elections, they were not welcomed,” he says. “There was probably one party with an environmental wing in Tamil Nadu but now there are five to six parties including DMK, TVK and AIADMK.
In the past few elections, they have been engaging with us on environmental issues.”This season, manifestos of all political parties have acknowledged that climate change needs to be fought on a “war footing”. “DMK’s manifesto has given more importance for heat mitigation and adaptation. It says the party will appoint heat officers to give early warning systems, which was missing earlier. Tamil Nadu is more vulnerable to heat especially in coastal zones,” he says.
DMK has also mentioned micro grid-based prediction and early warning systems which can predict floods and cyclones more accurately.A highlight of PMK’s manifesto, says Prabhakaran, is that it has mentioned that there will be no new coal mines in Tamil Nadu. “The Union govt is planning a new mine in Neyveli, which will destroy 41 villages in the area, so this is welcome.” Also, Pasumai Thayagam is an environmental NGO affiliated with PMK, which focuses on environmental protection.All parties have mentioned introducing electric vehicles. DMK plans to increase electric vehicles by 30% by 2030 while PMK has said there will be at least 60 buses for 1 lakh people to reduce
pollution
.DMK has promised to restore mangroves, but the habitats are yet to be mapped completely, says T D Babu, trustee of Nizhal. “Many of DMK’s actions in the past five years reflects their insensitivity towards environmental and habitat protection, such as failing to stop landfilling of water bodies in urban areas in Thoraipakkam, Pallikaranai, Perungudi, Sholinganallur, closure of coastal water bodies such as the one at Injambakkam, and elimination of green corridors near state highways leaving no scope for future greening.
”The AIADMK election manifesto has said that they will open Nammazhwar organic farming research centres in every university to promote organic farming. “Five years ago, the DMK manifesto had the same point but they only changed the name of the Coimbatore agricultural university’s organic research centre, “ says Prabhakaran. “The centres have to be started in the Kaveri delta districts so that the farmers will be getting benefited.
”All the manifestos have water management plans and solid waste management plans. The Congress manifesto, says Prabhakaran, seems to have added a few points on environmental issues for namesake, rather than providing a holistic approach.Prabhakaran says DMK has implemented 70% of their previous environmental manifesto points. “They have implemented 52 projects, schemes and missions for climate change adaptation and mitigation alone.
But we have to wait and see because many anti-environment policy projects are also in the pipeline.”No eyes on animal welfare?There is hardly any mention of animal welfare projects in the political manifestos of parties, say animal welfare organisations. DMK’s manifesto promises that one major veterinary hospital in each district will be upgraded into a 24-hour facility to ensure round-the-clock care and emergency services and the implementation of humane Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme, says Shruti Vinodhraj, Tamil Nadu Animal Welfare Board.
“It also says AI-based early warning systems, equipped with thermal sensors and camera traps, will be installed in identified wildlife corridors across Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Coimbatore, the Nilgiris and Eastern Ghats to reduce human-wildlife conflict, so we are hoping for the best.” The positives, in DMK rule in the past five years, says T D Babu, trustee of Nizhal, include taking over the turtle conservation by forest department retaining NGO involvement, global recognition on dugong conservation and spotlight shown to state animal, the Nilgiri Tahr. “But there has not been any protection of turtle nesting grounds for in situ conservation, and they have failed to stop sewage flow into rivers, waterways, wetlands. The Pallikaranai marsh has not been retrieved as per the NGT’s direction either,” says Babu
