DMK's manifesto sidesteps critical environmental justice issues. The planet is going to hell in a handbasket; whats proposed is tree planting, CNG buses, ban on wallposters. Meanwhile mega thermal power plants in wetlands in Cheyyur/Udangudi r to be revived. #Disappointing
What's said is more disturbing than all that could have been said but has been left unsaid. No mention of protection for sanctuaries -- only upgradation of tourist facilities and research. Vedanthangal denotification; threat to Pulicat find no mention. 2/n
Barring one worthwhile mention of climate crisis via forming agroclimatic zone level advisory grps to advise farmers and avert crop loss due to extreme weather, no cognisance of the rapidly approaching ecological collapse. 3/n
Mention of river protection is welcome; but interventions restricted to effluents/waste. No mention of catchment/basin level interventions, sand mining. 4/n
Much cld've been said on energy sector to creatively meet electricity needs without investing in fossil fuel or addnal production. Unambitious, disastrous and uncritical promotion of mega coal. Party shld wake up and smell the carbon. 5/n
The manifesto extends a threat to build yet another dam in the much ravaged Western Ghats in the Anamalais. Exact location not known. But the Anamalai Idamalayar region is rich in habitat of canopied forests and grasslands. 6/n
Uncreative, known-to-fail technofixes like groynes (தூண்டில் வளைவு) as erosion control measure will only serve one purpose -- keep stone quarries and lorry contracts, and engineers in business. 7/n
Of 8 items undr env is one abt stringent penalties 4 damaging public property targeting wall posters, billboards and wall paintings. Really?? Is that the level of DMK's ambition? What abt a/cbility of TNPCB? Stringent penalties for Compnies tat pollute public property? 8/n
River interlinking -- another environmentally fraught, expensive, contractor-friendly disaster disguised as solution -- finds major play. 9/n
+ves. Some notable positive mentions on environment are in sections other than environment. 1. Rejection of GE is welcome. Should follow up with mechanism to keep GE seeds/products from entering the state -- that will be challenging. But you will have ppl's support. 10/n
Promise to keep methane/shale gas out of TN is welcome but does not say it all. What abt oil wells? Will they be permitted? Delta will handle 10 times more oil with expansion of Narimanam refinery. Is that OK? 11/n
Separate Division for organic/natural agri within dept of Agri is super good. Would have been great if govt had announced spl procurement of organic produce for 500 Kalaignar Unavagams. Can still do. 12/n
90% subsidy for drip irrigation for farms upto 5 acres sounds good as it targets small farmer & H2O efficiency. But not my subject area. Think this is good. 13/n
Important and happy that this found mention: "Alienation of agricultural lands without consent of farmers will be avoided." 14/n
Rs. 10K subsidy for pumpset for small farmers is good socially. But can intensify groundwater depletion unless accompanied by crop selection changes and other support. 15/n
This was the one that really caught my fancy and something I hope they will put their weight behind. A proposal to improve drylands & tharisu wastelands to make them productive cropland for millets and coarse cereals. Fantastic. 16/n
+ve contd: Regulation of Coastal Aquaculture. It is good they mention this. But what goes unsaid is "What the hell is PCB" and Aquaculture Authority doing? Most aqua farms are illegal, polluting and unlicensed. Regulating shldnt mean rewarding them with post-facto licenses. 17/n
+ve contd: Ban on borewells in hill districts to avoid dessication of waterbodies downstream. Excellent. 18/n
For a party that announced its environmental wing with much fanfare, this manifesto is much ado about nothing. This can be repaired by what you announce, and retract in your local constituency-level manifestos. 19/n
8-lane exprsswy, Thoothukudi, Adani-Kattupalli, Ennore wetlands, Kodai mercury clean-up, Kanyakumar Intl Container Terminal, Koodankulam nuclear plant etc are major issues -- Silence will b construed as unwillingness to stand by ppl. Withdraw Sethusamdrm, Cheyyur, Udangudi. 20/20
DMK's manifesto just got better. Diluted EIA 2020 will not be implemented; fisheries and agri-damaging Adani Port expansion and 8-lane expressway wont be permitted; resolution in assembly against CAA & efforts to urge union to withdraw CAA. Tks @mkstalin @ksivasenapathy 
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