Temples, travesties, or something else? The developmental state, ecological modernization, and hydroelectric dam construction in India

Developmental state theory and its application in geography

“…Developmental state theory has been deployed to understand the postcolonial state's role in fostering industrial growth in India (Bardhan 1984;Evans 1995), Brazil and South Korea (Evans 1995); bureaucratic autonomy in Latin American countries (Stepan in Evans et al 1985); the connection between the Indian state, society and democracy (Jayal 1999); how newly industrializing countries bargain with advanced capitalist states on global environmental issues (Rajan 1997); state's role in forming private sector partnerships (Aggarwal 2019;Kim 2019;Larson and Park 2014;Levien 2013) and the state's role in environmental protection (Burrier and Hultquist 2019;Belal et al 2015;Knight 2014;Swilling et al 2016). Bardhan (1984) examines at length the role of the Indian state in agricultural and industrial development from 1950-51 to 1981-82 and argues that in newly industrializing countries, the state executes an active role in enhancing economic growth.…”

“…The state authorities barely addressed issues of environmental pollution that resulted from long periods of economic growth that China witnessed (Knight 2014). In constructing hydroelectric power projects in India, environmental Impact Assessments have been minimal and bureaucratic power structure has given more power to the economic agencies and limited role to the environmental agencies (Burrier and Hultquist 2019). In Bangladesh, present rise in economic growth due to export-oriented economic strategy has led to the worsening of environmental problems including increase in pollution, loss of bio-diversity, rise in factory waste and loss of agricultural and coastal lands to industrial growth (Belal et al 2015).…”

“…Swilling et al (2016) discuss how the South African developmental state has been weak in addressing varied environmental challenges that has been the fallout of industrialization and has failed to promote employment generating industrial growth. Burrier andHultquist (2019), Belal et al (2015), Knight (2014) and Swilling et al (2016) demonstrate that with a preoccupation in industrial growth whether through public sector initiatives or through partnerships with the private sector, developmental states for the most part have failed to address environmental problems.…”

Integrating sustainable development goals into environment impact assessment in India: A conceptual analysis

“…India has transformed into a neoliberal developmentalist State with a consistent modernisation project characterised by cost–benefit calculations, focusing on economic benefits and undermining long‐term socio‐ecological costs, despite the constitutional mandate for environmental protection (Burrier & Hultquist, 2019). The conventional development discourse causing systemic and wide‐ranging ecological disruptions is primarily projected as unavoidable measures for economic growth and social inclusion, contributing to national development (Menon & Kohli, 2015).…”

“…The conventional development discourse causing systemic and wide‐ranging ecological disruptions is primarily projected as unavoidable measures for economic growth and social inclusion, contributing to national development (Menon & Kohli, 2015). For example, the cumulative environmental impacts of small hydropower projects (SHPs) stand ignored, and the projects are legitimised through faulty sustainable development arguments and green growth narratives (Asher & Bhandari, 2021; Burrier & Hultquist, 2019). The state agencies and developers subvert any opposition to development projects by civil society groups and local communities through the projection of public purpose and the ‘anti‐national’ rhetoric (Chitra, 2013; Follmann, 2015; Karambelkar, 2017; Nielsen, 2017).…”