Last year for the third time in as many years, the Tatas agreed to talk to Greenpeace and a few other NGOs. For the third time we agreed to an ‘environmental impact assessment’ of the Dhamra Port Project – in a bid to address the concerns of the NGOs. We agreed to an independent study of the port’s environmental impact and agreed to stop construction and dredging where scientific opinion deemed it necessary.

But, in the recent past something happened. Greenpeace and the other NGOs in an unexpected and motivated move put forward a pre-condition to the study – a complete cessation of dredging from hereon.

This is shocking – we do not expect responsible members of the Indian NGO community to behave in an irresponsible fashion.

Shocking because this had not been a part of the discussion so far – and was clearly aimed at derailing the engagement and also holding us to ransom – ‘stop the dredging or we will walk out’. And they did walk out.

Shocking because they used it to get out of a potential opportunity to actual look after the interests of the Olive Ridley turtles.

Shocking because they say that the ‘Olive Ridley Turtle is the raison d’ etre of their existence. If they were truly committed to the cause they would not have walked away from the talks.

Shocking because no sooner had the talks stalled – they started a concerted media and online campaign against Tata Steel.

Shocking that GP has not seen the need to target the largest and oldest port on the East Coast of India, and other controversial projects, which affect mangroves and the marine ecosystem.

Shocking at the manner in which Tata Steel is being singled for attack on a project where they are 50% partners with L&T. The government of Orissa is also a stakeholder in the project but both L&T and the state government have not been attacked even once during the entire campaign.

Shocking because we have still to confirm the veracity of the list of 1,00,000 Tata customers who have been writing to the Chairman saying the port should stop. For the cause of transparency it would help if GP shared the database with us – because we have serious doubts about it.

Shocking that GP has neglected to mention that IUCN a world renowned organization with the best Turtle Scientists in the world is advising the DPCL on how to protect the turtles and Marine Ecosystem.

Shocking that these NGOs do not understand the financial implications of their unreasonable demands. That we have a commitment to our investors and shareholders – that Sustainable Development is not just about commitment to the environment but also commitment to the society where we operate and the business which we run.

Shocking that this organization, which is a few years old in this country – is teaching the Tata Group a hundred year old company – how to protect the environment. The history of Tata Steel speaks of benchmarks we have set in providing livelihoods, building communities and protecting the environment. We do not declare this from the rooftops but our actions speak for the values we embody.

Shocking, that at the end of the day it is not about the Olive Ridley Turtles but about Greenpeace and about battles it must win.

It is February 2009; we started engaging with NGOs in 2004. Do you think it is time for us to actually get on with protecting the Olive Ridley Turtle and its habitat and build a port, which is a global benchmark for how a sustainable port must work? We are in the process of creating a Orissa Fund for protection of the Olive Ridley Turtles and the surrounding marine ecosystem. It is time for you to take a stand on development, which is an imperative for the state of Orissa. We will walk the talk and take forward both development and the environment.

Click on the links to read DPCL's responses to Greenpeace