GS4 · UPSC Mains

The Indian Railways (IR) has approximately 43,000 hectares of vacant land, which is not required for operational purposes in the foreseeable future. Such plots of land are entrusted to the Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA) by the Railway Board for commercial development. As the Vice-Chairman of the RLDA, you are responsible for identifying the potential of these vacant lands and work out the best mode of commercial development. Meanwhile, the Union government is planning to build India's first intermodal stations, Intermodal Stations (IMS) are terminal infrastructure, which integrate various transportation modes such as rail, road, mass rapid transit system, bus rapid transit, inland waterways, auto-rickshaws, taxis and private vehicles so that people can move from one mode to another seamlessly. The Union Ministry has shortlisted two cities to build IMS. The land identified in one city, which also happens to be the home town of a Union Minister, belongs to the RLDA. You are supposed to clear a final report on this land based on which it will be cleared for building IMS. After going through the land details, you discover that the land contains natural urban forest with more than 40,000 trees that provide diverse ecosystem services to the residents of the cities. Clearing this land for the project will lead to cutting of these trees. Also, the news of this land being under consideration is already out and the environmental civil society groups in the city are protesting against it. They are threatening to go to the court if the trees are cut to proceed with the project. Further, an alternative site has been proposed by an environmental think tank, which could be suitable in terms of sustainable development of the project. On the other hand, there is pressure from the Union Minister to clear the land for the project. A senior member from the Railway Board has also approached you to look into the issue favourably else it might upset the political executive. (a) What are the ethical dilemmas faced by you in the given situation? (b) Under the given conditions, what are the options available to you? (c) Critically evaluate each of the options listed by you. (d) What option would you adopt and why? (Answer in 250 words)

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GS4 · Case studies on the above issues GS4 · Public/civil service values & ethics in public administration — status & problems; ethical concerns & dilemmas; conflict of interest

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