I wanted to call attention to a New York Times article on the difficulties of a Chinese auto company (Beiqi Foton Motor) in building a a major factory on a 1,250 acre site near Shinde village, about 65 km. north of Pune, well beyond Pimpri/Chinchwad. The firm has encountered sustained local resistance and is far behind schedule. The resistance centers on local and regional access to caves used by holy men in the hills behind the site. The Chinese company seems clumsy in understanding the local conditions.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/31/business/international/a-chinese-company-in-india-stumbling-over-a-culture.html?_r=0
I only wanted to add that this is not the first time that local resistance has stopped industrial development in this industrial area, in spite of the backing of the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation. Between 2008 and 2010 local resistance prevented Dow Chemical from developing a large R&D facility there. Local leaders held Dow, who now owns Union Carbide, responsible for the Bhopal disaster. In the end Dow gave up and returned the site to the MIDC. The Times article notes that the sale of blocks of land for development hugely benefits the rural landowners and provides nothing for landless laborers. This result makes us think about what we mean by sustainable development – what is sustained and what is lost. This is a clear case where development increases the disparity of income of locals.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/31/business/international/a-chinese-company-in-india-stumbling-over-a-culture.html?_r=0
I only wanted to add that this is not the first time that local resistance has stopped industrial development in this industrial area, in spite of the backing of the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation. Between 2008 and 2010 local resistance prevented Dow Chemical from developing a large R&D facility there. Local leaders held Dow, who now owns Union Carbide, responsible for the Bhopal disaster. In the end Dow gave up and returned the site to the MIDC. The Times article notes that the sale of blocks of land for development hugely benefits the rural landowners and provides nothing for landless laborers. This result makes us think about what we mean by sustainable development – what is sustained and what is lost. This is a clear case where development increases the disparity of income of locals.