With reference to Joe Athialy's article "The weakest link in development lending" (April 18), we would like to clarify the following points concerning Tata Power-owned Coastal Gujarat Power Limited (CGPL) that were raised in the article. Regarding the audit of processes, the International Finance Corporation's Compliance Advisor Ombudsman recommended additional steps that could be taken towards ensuring more inclusive development. The company recognises that community engagement work should be collaborative and evolving and that the initial plans might need to be reviewed and modified to suit the current situation and needs. A detailed action plan has been developed and activated since then by the International Finance Corporation in collaboration with the company and has been shared with all stakeholders.
CGPL would also like to reiterate that the Asian Development Bank's (ADB) Compliance Review Panel is conducting an audit of its processes following a complaint made by the Machimar Adhikar Sangharsh Sangathan. This audit is the required next step on receiving any such communication, as that falls within the mandate of the compliance review function. We would like to emphasise that CGPL is extending full co-operation to ADB as it assesses its processes and is committed to working with all its stakeholders to ensure inclusive development.
Further, residents in the vicinity of the Mundra plant have worked together to positively impact the communities in terms of enhancing livelihoods, augmenting the education system, bringing health care to the doorstep, water conservation, environment protection and so on. It is disappointing to note that a few complainants - who questionably appear to make claims on behalf of all communities - are not prepared to participate in a collaborative process of dispute resolution.
The Editor, Business Standard
Nehru House, 4 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg
New Delhi 110 002
Fax: (011) 23720201
E-mail: letters@bsmail.in
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CGPL would also like to reiterate that the Asian Development Bank's (ADB) Compliance Review Panel is conducting an audit of its processes following a complaint made by the Machimar Adhikar Sangharsh Sangathan. This audit is the required next step on receiving any such communication, as that falls within the mandate of the compliance review function. We would like to emphasise that CGPL is extending full co-operation to ADB as it assesses its processes and is committed to working with all its stakeholders to ensure inclusive development.
Further, residents in the vicinity of the Mundra plant have worked together to positively impact the communities in terms of enhancing livelihoods, augmenting the education system, bringing health care to the doorstep, water conservation, environment protection and so on. It is disappointing to note that a few complainants - who questionably appear to make claims on behalf of all communities - are not prepared to participate in a collaborative process of dispute resolution.
Shalini Singh, Head, Corporate Communications, Tata Power, Mumbai
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