A big corporate house is engaged in manufacturing industrial chemicals on a large scale. It proposes to set up an additional unit. Many States rejected its proposal due to detrimental effect on the environment. But one State government acceded to the request and permitted the unit close to a city, brushing aside all opposition. The unit was set up 10 years ago and was in full swing till recently. The pollution caused by the industrial effluents was affecting the land, water and crops in the area. It was also causing serious health problems to human beings and animals. This gave rise to a series of agitations demanding the closure of the plant. In a recent agitation thousands of people took part, creating a law and order problem necessitating stern police action. Following the public outcry, the State government ordered the closure of the factory. The closure of the factory resulted in the unemployment of not only those workers who were engaged in the factory but also those who were working in the ancillary units. It also very badly affected those industries which depended on the chemicals manufactured by it. As a senior officer entrusted with the responsibility of handling this issue, how are you going to address it?

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Ghissu Editorial · Verified 4 Oct 2026 · 289 words

Q1.

A big corporate house is engaged in manufacturing industrial chemicals on a large scale. It proposes to set up an additional unit. Many States rejected its proposal due to detrimental effect on the environment. But one State government acceded to the request and permitted the unit close to a city, brushing aside all opposition. The unit was set up 10 years ago and was in full swing till recently. The pollution caused by the industrial effluents was affecting the land, water and crops in the area. It was also causing serious health problems to human beings and animals. This gave rise to a series of agitations demanding the closure of the plant. In a recent agitation thousands of people took part, creating a law and order problem necessitating stern police action. Following the public outcry, the State government ordered the closure of the factory. The closure of the factory resulted in the unemployment of not only those workers who were engaged in the factory but also those who were working in the ancillary units. It also very badly affected those industries which depended on the chemicals manufactured by it. As a senior officer entrusted with the responsibility of handling this issue, how are you going to address it?20

Introduction

The core dilemma is between the Right to Health and a Clean Environment and the Right to Livelihood, both part of Article 21. The officer must restore the first without abandoning the second.

Issues and Stakeholders in the Closure

Right to Health vs Right to Livelihood. Venn diagram: Right to Health, Right to Livelihood; overlap: Clean restart with just transition

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Residents

Damaged land, water, crops and health need remediation, not just closure.

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Workers and ancillaries

Lost incomes risk a fresh round of unrest.

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Company and State

The Polluter Pays Principle of Vellore Citizens' Welfare Forum (1996) binds the company, while the State's approval despite opposition shows Moral Myopia.

Immediate (first weeks)

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Health first

Medical camps, safe water and Pollution Control Board testing of soil and crops.

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Dialogue

A joint forum of residents, workers and management, and an inquiry into the police action.

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Worker relief

Closure compensation and unpaid wages under the Industrial Relations Code, 2020.

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Polluter pays

Recover remediation costs, as in Indian Council for Enviro-Legal Action (1996) [case].

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Conditional reopening

Restart only with zero liquid discharge and online monitoring, or stay shut, as the Supreme Court upheld for Sterlite, Thoothukudi in 2024 [current event].

Long-term

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Just transition

Reskill workers and help ancillary MSMEs diversify.

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Accountable approvals

Honour EIA public hearings and fix responsibility for the original clearance, per the 2nd ARC [committee/report].

Justification:

Gandhi's Talisman: the poisoned farmer and the jobless worker are both the poorest faces here, so every step must help both.

Conclusion

A remediated environment, a compliant industry and a reskilled workforce show that development and the right to life can be reconciled.

This model answer is indicative and the model can make mistakes; please verify key facts independently.

Question from the official UPSC Civil Services (Main) Examination 2018 paper. Answer written by Ghissu's engine and checked against our editorial standards. Found an error? Tell us and we correct it within 48 hours.