GS4 · UPSC Mains
Nitish is an aspiring civil servant. One day, while reading the newspaper, he came across an article about a demolition drive. In a large Indian city, the state government had launched a significant urban reclamation project aimed at restoring the banks of a heavily polluted river. The river, which flows through a densely populated area, had become severely degraded due to illegal encroachments and industrial pollution. Over several decades, thousands of families had settled along the riverbanks, constructing homes, shops, and factories without proper authorization. The river had long been a dumping ground for industrial waste from other parts of the city, contributing to severe pollution. Environmentalists have time and again emphasized the need for a comprehensive clean-up and sustainable development plan. To rejuvenate the river and its surroundings, the state government initiated a comprehensive demolition drive to remove the illegal constructions. The project aimed not only to restore the river's natural ecosystem but also to develop the area into an eco-tourism destination. The demolition faced strong resistance from the residents, including appeals and protests in front of local authorities. Many residents, claiming that they had settled with the tacit approval of administration, hold the administration itself responsible for the issue. Some of them approached the courts to halt the demolition. The blame-game has erupted between the opposition and ruling parties in the state over the matter. Most of the affected residents belonged to marginalized sections of society, raising concerns about their displacement and livelihood. Nitish, who himself comes from a family of limited means, sat there, reflecting on the pain of the people who had invested their life savings to build their homes and businesses. The drive disrupted thriving local commerce and displaced thousands of families. He questioned whether uprooting established communities by the demolition of residential and commercial properties was justified in a country where millions of people are homeless, poor, and have meager savings. a) Discuss the ethical issues in this case. b) How far do you think Nitish's thinking is justified? Discuss by assessing the merits and demerits. c) As an outsider, what measures would you suggest to prevent such situations and manage the interests of all stakeholders?
GS4 · Case studies on the above issues
| Topper | Rank | Source | Copy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lakshay Aggarwal | AIR 164 · 2025 | Forumias | p.50 |
| Farkhanda Qureshi | — · 2024 | Forumias | p.51 |