An Open Letter to Maruti Motors

Date: 27-05-2011

Ahmedabad

http://www.marutisuzuki.com/Maruti-joins-hands-with-the-Gujarat-Government-to-set-up-Driving-and-Technical-Training-Institute-for-Tribal-Youth.aspx

Dear MARUTI,

As a leading car manufacturer of India, we are undoubtedly proud of you and we are deeply attached with the brand and products of Maruti with the stories it has spelled over the years and years now.

With the sheer concern and with the respect towards Maruti, I would like to bring your attention to a serious matter. As it has been read in all newspapers and on your own website, Maruti is coming to Gujarat to establish an automobile training institute. Well, many congratulations! It is a very good news. Being an open-eyed citizen of Gujarat and having seen the tide of awareness in Gujarat being spread by some authentic leaders, I would like to bring your attention to a few things which you must check, verify and confirm before you land into this huge initiative:

• The present Gujarat government has been involved in a random land distribution to the industries and businesses **2 with the least concern to the owners of those lands, environmental safety and also overlooking the legitimacy of the transactions. Hence, firstly it is very important that the land acquisition taking place by Gujarat government for Maruti is legal and more importantly, moral.

• It is also important that whatever clearances and certificates Maruti receives from government or relevant departments, it is necessary to verify that it has been provided to you it all of its legalities and maturity.

• As the initiative is mentioned to be a part of Maruti’s social responsibility, it is strongly recommended that the CSR team visit and assess the land situation and people’s concern wherever the training institute is going to be located.

• The issues may range from forced land acquisition, underpaid purchasing of land, type of land (fertile lands cannot be used for industrial development) **1, employment of local people, pollution and other environmental hazards affecting the local people, the portion of water and other natural resources used by the training unit and if that affects the overall need of the local people.

If all these issues are addressed and if all the clearances from the Environment department are proven and well assessed, you are more than welcome in the throbbing land of Gujarat. Gujarat is rich with its agriculture and farmers in hundreds of villages, enriched with remarkable and beautiful natural resources in remote places in all over state. We and I am sure, you too would like to preserve these natural resources, preserve the livelihoods of people and preserve the human integrity wherever you are, or we are.

Recently, Supreme Court has rejected the clearance of environment safety for cement plant of Nirma in Mahuva, Gujarat. After two years of agitating protest of farmers and people of Mahuva, who were about to lose their livelihoods which majorly relies on the fertile lands and water resource around Mahuva. MoEF has advised SC that Nirma has to move the cement plant from their current site to save the natural resources. In the entire circus, even if we forget everything, Nirma is going to lose several crore rupees of investment because of this decision from MoEF.

Nirma tasted the sweetness when they got the clearance from environment department and also got the wetland for very good price, but at the end they suffer a huge loss. This can happen to any industrialist and any business if they do not chose the right path. One would not be able to blame government who helped them grabbing all good lands and natural resources for cheap prices. People are waking up and they are ready to act.

With all due respect to Maruti, it is the only small request of mine that please consider the nature, people and farms before presenting projected graphs of fantastic social responsibility work.

Kindest Regards

Sneh

Email: sneh@red-em.com

Phone: 9979506249

Some Links to refer:

**1 http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Nirma-cement-plant-has-violated-green-norms-SC-told/articleshow/8232346.cms

**2 http://www.livemint.com/2011/03/16223138/A-land-policy-debate-unfolds-i.html

http://www.inewsone.com/2011/03/27/no-more-forced-land-acquisition-says-buddhadeb/38584

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-05-25/india/29580895_1_land-owners-urgency-clause-public-purpose

http://deshgujarat.com/2011/03/18/sc-orders-formation-of-8-member-committee-on-nirma-issue/