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The Dahanu Taluka Environment Protection Authority (DTEPA): a model institution
A unique prototype of a democratic institution set up to protect the ecology, natural resources and livelihoods of a region, the Dahanu Taluka Environment Protection Authority (DTEPA) has for a period of ten years been more than just a watchdog institution. Recognising the ecological politics of control over natural resources, the Authority has unwaveringly stood by the principles of social justice and equitable rights for local communities. With its landmark orders and judgements, the DTEPA has contributed to the environmental discourse and debate in India.
With the local groups in Dahanu seeking legal redress for consistent flouting of environmental laws, the Supreme Court in a landmark order, in 1996 recommended the setting up of a special Authority in "order to address the complex issues of planning and management of ecologically fragile areas". (Read Supreme Court Order, October 1996)
With the mandate to protect the ecologically fragile area of Dahanu taluka, specifically control pollution, consider and implement the Precautionary Principle and the Polluter Pays principle, the Authority was set up in December 1996 headed by Justice Chandrashekhar Dharmadhikari (Read Notification setting up of the special Dahanu Taluka Environment Protection Authority, 1996). The Authority also has as its members experts from the areas of hydrology, environmental engineering, urban planning, etc. Government representatives like the Collector of Thane and Member Secretary, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board are also its members.
Considered a quasi-judicial body, the Authority has functioned like a peoples' court responding to local environmental complaints and problems. Through a process of hearings, the Authority has been able to discuss and debate issues in a most democratic manner holding both public and private institutions accountable. In a sense an environmental consciousness and responsibility has been forced into the minds of both bureaucrats, elected representatives and private players with the Authority taking the position of a strict school teacher.
 For instance, the Authority ensured that the Power Grid Corporation while setting up high transmission lines through Dahanu, undertakes a massive compensatory afforestation project of planting ten trees for every tree cut. Preference was given to indigenous varieties and the project was not sanctioned until a deposit was give to the forest department to start the afforestation project.
The Authority started its term with a heavily contested project - despite the fact that Dahanu had been declared ecologically fragile, its coastline fell under the most stringent clause of the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification (CRZ) and there was a series of orders and judgements restricting industrial development, a proposal to set up a multi-billion dollar industrial port in Dahanu was mooted.
The Authority took up this issue and a series of hearings were conducted. Representatives of global giant P&O had to appear and submit their reports and so on. Community members, environmental groups also submitted their data on the negative effects of the Port on Dahanu. Eventually, with the substantive legal arguments, scientific reports and well articulated resistance to the project from affected communities, the Authority rejected the siting of the port in Dahanu.. (Read landmark order of September 1998 rejecting the siting of the port at Vadhavan)
 The thermal power plant has been another significant area of intervention. The Dahanu Authority passed an order in May 1999 directing that the thermal power plant comply with clearance conditions and set up a Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) Plant to reduce the emissions of sulphur from its plant. Once again the 2005, the Authority passed a significant judgment directing energy giant Reliance to shell out a bank gurantee of Rupees 300 crore to show it commitment in setting up the FGD unit.
(Read landmark 300 crore order passed by the Authority on March 19, 2005)
The Dahanu Authority continues to play an important role in ensuring that Dahanu Taluka becomes a model taluka of environmental protection and conservation.
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