March 6, 2002

‘30’

    The Minister of Environment & Forests, Shri T.R. Baalu has announced that India will sign the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) on environment protection. Inaugurating the "awareness workshop on the Sound Management of POPs in India: Issues and Options" here today, Shri Baalu urged for concrete and practical plans from all concerned to help India for meeting the challenges and opportunities under the Convention. Calling the Convention a landmark in the global efforts to safeguard against environmental degradation, the Minister pointed out that it focuses on reducing and eliminating release of 12 of the most dangerous POPs. He clarified that eight of these 12 POPs are Pesticide, namely DDT, aldrine, Chlordane, endrin, heptachlor, dieldrin, mirex and toxaphene. He said that they have become villains in the agricultural world where they were designed to help, affecting not only a nation’s agricultural and its environment, but also the health of its people and consequently, development. He added that UNEP has aptly termed these hazardous substances as the ‘Dirty Dozen’.

    The Minister said that the government has taken several measures, both administrative and regulatory, to mitigate the problems posed by these pesticides ad other POPs. He said "India has already banned 8 of the 12 POPs and use of dieldrin is slated to be banned by July, 2003. DDT has been banned for agricultural use since 1989 and is only used for the sole purpose of disease vector control programme and for use as intermediate in the manufacture of dicofol. The Convention provides for use of DDT for disease vector control activities such as Malaria control until safe, affordable and effective alternatives are in place. As far as PCBs Dioxins and furans are concerned, they are not produced intentionally; however, as in other countries, Dioxins and furans are generated as a by-product of incomplete combustion in various industries. We have taken action to execute an Enabling Activities Project with UNIDO, which could form the basis for developing a full-fledged National Implementation Plan for POPs".

    Admitting that these problems cannot be solved by Government machinery alone, he said that our endeavour will be successful only when industry captains set goals to achieve a satisfactory level of environmental performance through ‘Best Available Technologies’ and Best Environment Practices’. He said, "We will be able to accomplish total success only when sustainable development becomes an article of faith for each and every citizen of the country.

    Among others, Mr. Peter Sutherland, the Canadian High Commissioner in India, Mr. Stephen Lintner, Sr. Adviser – Environment, World Bank, Dr. Thomas Convay, President Resource Futures International, Sh. Pradeep Mallick, Chairman, National Committee of Environment, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Sh. K.P. Nyati, Head, Environment Management Division, CII, spoke on the occasion. The two-day workshop is being organised by the CII and the Futures International of Canada. A galaxy of policy makers from the United Nations, India and abroad, industry representatives, academicians and other interested groups are attending.