Total Questions : 1
-
Case Study
Ms. Leena Chatterjee is serving as a Principal Secretary (Urban Development) in a State that has committed to ambitious climate-resilient infrastructure targets. A flagship metro rail extension project—partially funded by an international development agency—has reached an advanced stage.
An internal audit flags that while the project complies with existing environmental clearances, it falls short of newly issued climate-adaptation guidelines that recommend additional flood-resilience features. Incorporating these measures would significantly raise costs and delay completion by at least a year. The funding agency has informally indicated that continued financing depends on timely delivery, not retroactive compliance.
At the same time, climate scientists and civil society groups warn that ignoring the updated standards could expose future commuters to serious risks. Political executives emphasise the urgency of inaugurating the project before the next election cycle, while senior bureaucrats caution that reopening approvals could trigger litigation and administrative paralysis.
Questions.
1. What are the ethical issues involved in this case?
GS Paper 4 Case Studies
2. What options are available to Ms. Chatterjee? Evaluate the merits and demerits of each.
3. Which course of action should Ms. Chatterjee adopt to balance public interest, sustainability, and administrative responsibility? Justify your answer.
