The Enron Corporation: Background to the Protests: Ratnagiri District Environmental Degradation (January 1999)



"Many energy companies have invested in closed or repressive countries -- arguing that their investment would help develop the local economy and thereby improve the human rights situation. But in this case, Enron has invested in a democratic country -- and human rights abuses there have increased. Enron hasn't made things better for human rights; it has made things worse."	Background to the Protests: Ratnagiri District Land Acquisition Environmental Degradation Fresh water Contamination of salt water Warnings of Protests Organization of Opposition to the Project
Table of Contents Key Individuals Named in this Report I. Summary and Recommendations II. Background: New Delhi and Bombay III. Background to the Protests: Ratnagiri District IV. Legal Restrictions Used to Suppress Opposition to the Dabhol Power Project V. Ratnagiri: Violations of Human Rights 1997 VI. The Applicable Laws VII. Complicity: The Dabhol Power Corporation VIII. Responsibility: Financing Institutions and the Government of the United States IX. Conclusion Appendix A: Correspondence Between Human Rights Watch and the Export-Import Bank of the United States Appendix B: Report of the Cabinet Sub-Committee to Review the Dabhol Power Project Appendix C: Selected Recommendations and Conclusions from the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Energy, May 29, 1995 Appendix D: Correspondence Between the Government of India and the World Bank	Environmental Degradation Coupled with land acquisition, concern over environmental impact fostered opposition to the project and dominated correspondence with the company. The three primary areas of concern were: the pollution of fresh water, diversion of fresh water to the project site, and the potential contamination of salt water which would adversely affect fishing communities. Indeed, degradation of fresh water, used for consumption and irrigation, has been a serious problem for villages surrounding the project since 1994 when construction first began. The effect, if any, on sea water will not be known until the project goes on-line in March 1999.