Abstract

Tension between sustainability and development continues to define a challenge in environmental governance in India. The infrastructural expansion through industrialization and urbanization has further serious adverse impacts on ecosystems, biodiversity, and vulnerable communities. The present paper critically highlights the continuously clashing interests of environmental sustainability and the developmental ambitions of India. Through an analysis of the key sector of mining, it highlights that most developmental projects override environmental safeguards. Such weakening of environmental regulatory frameworks also includes dilution of the norms of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), which worsens the tussle. The study includes case studies related to the Tungsten issue in Madurai, Tamil Nadu. The paper critically looks into the role of the judiciary, civil society, and international obligations in mediating this conflict.

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