What people know
As yet, people living near paper mills have not been at peace with their polluting neighbour. Not only are there conflicts, but clearly the local community in many cases has been able to assert its demand for the industry to clean up or close down. It would not be wrong to say that in this higher form of regulation, if anything, has pushed industry to improve its performance. The stick has never come from central or state pollution control boards. It has been local pressure; people have asserted their demands, mostly through the legislative system.
Paper mills, because of their tremendous demand for water and wood, are invariably located in areas where money is scarce, but natural resources in terms of water and raw material are abundant. This disproportionate power system works for a while to keep the lid on things, but as the water intake in the paper mill continues, the river begins to dry up. Simultaneously, the pollution increases, for the river no longer possesses the ability to assimilate and dilute the waste; and tensions increase.
The local community, the local pollution board, the local doctors, NGOs and others are important sources for information for GRP. Their knowledge and perception is an important gauge to judge the veracity of the data collected through company sources. A "green inspector'
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