Conceptualising environmental justice in the construction of road transport infrastructure in the Global South: an Indian context

Abstract

Environmental Justice (EJ) challenges, such as disproportionate sharing of the environmental burden and sufferings of people, are experienced in the Global South. Although efforts are made to incorporate EJ in various developmental activities, it is under-emphasised in road construction in the Global South. Therefore, EJ challenges in the construction of road transport infrastructure were explored, and an integrated framework to engender EJ in such construction in the Global South was conceptualised in this study. This study was premised upon a critical literature review and discourse analyses, supported by qualitative field observations and evidence from a case study. Findings suggested that all three types of EJ (distributional, procedural and interactional) are largely undermined in road infrastructure development. The current processes, such as Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Environmental Protection Acts and Laws are limited in terms of including, and engendering, EJ in road construction. An integrated framework, comprising three important elements of road construction, such as the expansion of EIA to include the local contexts, enabling people’s participation and engagement in decision-making, implementation and co-design of solutions, and reinforcing the current environmental laws to incorporate EJ would be likely to engender and enhance EJ in road construction in the Global South.