Land Acquisition, Industrialization and Livelihoods: A case study on JSW Bengal Steel Plant

This book evaluates the effects of human intervention on the environment and people's livelihoods through land-use conversion caused by industrialization. It focuses on a case study of JSW Bengal Steel Ltd.'s planned 10.0 million ton per year integrated steel plant in West Bengal, India, which caused environmental and socioeconomic problems due to the acquisition of formerly productive lands. The book generates a database on land acquisition's negative impacts on non-timber forest products, agricultural impacts, policy dimensions, and project implementation delays. It appeals to environmental managers, industry workers, students, and researchers in environmental economics, anthropology, and human geography.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 318 pages
Publication date: 02 March 2023
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

This comprehensive book delves into the profound impacts of human intervention on the natural environment and livelihoods through the process of land-use conversion driven by industrialization. It offers a comprehensive assessment of these effects, shedding light on the diverse consequences that arise from land acquisition and its implementation in different geographical and socio-political contexts.

The book begins by examining a specific case study: JSW Bengal Steel Ltd.'s plan to establish a 10.0 million ton per year integrated steel plant in the upper catchment of the Sundra basin, a tributary of the Shilabati that eventually flows into the river Rupnarayan in Salboni Block, Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal, India. While this project was ultimately suspended, it left behind a trail of environmental and socioeconomic challenges due to the acquisition of formerly productive lands.

To address these issues, the book employs a comparative analysis approach, comparing the impacts of land acquisition in project-affected areas with those in non-project areas. This analysis seeks to generate a comprehensive database on various aspects of land acquisition, encompassing its detrimental effects on the geomorphology and hydrological characteristics of non-timber forest products, the resulting agricultural impacts that alter livelihoods, the policy dimensions of land acquisition, and the consequences of delays in project implementation.

The book is of immense value to a wide range of stakeholders, including environmental managers, industry workers, students, and researchers in the fields of environmental economics, anthropology, and human geography. It provides valuable insights into the complex dynamics of land acquisition, its environmental consequences, and the broader socio-economic implications it entails. By examining this case study and conducting a comparative analysis, the book offers a valuable resource for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers seeking to address the challenges and opportunities associated with land-use conversion and its impact on ecosystems and communities.

Weight: 534g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030902469
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022