PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE FOR POLLUTION
CONTROL
CHARTER
ON CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY TO BE RELEASED
The Government and
the Industry are set to break new ground for pollution control
in the form of a partnership initiative by releasing the Charter
on Corporate Responsibility for Environmental Protection (CREP)
on Thursday i.e. March 13, 2003. The Charter marks a paradigm
shift from regulatory enforcement of pollution control norms to
voluntary compliance by the industry to significantly enhance
the quality of environment. The preparatory work in this regard
has been completed with the Government holding discussions with
the representatives of 17 major polluting categories of industries
in New Delhi today. Basic issues have been identified for evolving
an agreement on National Action Programmes at a conference of
representatives of the Central and State Governments, Pollution
Control Boards and the polluting industries tomorrow.
According to the
Union Environment and Forests Minister, Shri T.R.Baalu, ‘Over
the years, the regulatory measures have served useful purpose
but it is only limited when viewed in terms of overall environmental
management. While several industrial units have installed pollution
control systems, their operation and maintenance are not yet satisfactory.
There is a need for a paradigm shift from the end-of-the pipe
system to inplant process control and clean production technologies
to go beyond the regulatory effluent and emission standards’.
The Charter seeks
to considerably reduce air and water pollution with the industry
voluntarily agreeing to take up modernisation of production processes
and installation of necessary systems to reduce polluting effluents
and other solid wastes. This will be achieved through water and
energy conservation, decreased use of raw materials, better monitoring
of air and water quality, adoption of waste minimization options,
better work practices and housekeeping etc.
The Charter also
enables the industry to know the Government programmes, priorities
and concerns in respect of 17 categories of major polluting industries
and gives appropriate time for implementation of action points
identified in the sectoral discussions thus relieving the industry
from the sudden burden and enforcement pressure. The Charter imparts
the ‘dimension of conscience’ to the collective endeavour to fulfil
the environmental objectives and targets.
Shri T.R.Baalu says
"the Government is in favour of an agreed pollution control
programme with the industries to drive towards self-regulation
and voluntary compliance which are expected to bring a positive
change in the status of environment and enforcement".
The 17 major polluting
industries identified for participatory approach towards pollution
control are : cement, aluminium, thermal power plants, oil refineries,
pesticides, iron and steel, pulp and paper, copper and zinc, distilleries,
sugar, petrochemicals, dye and dye intermediates, caustic soda
(Chlore alkali), pharmaceuticals, tanneries and fertilizer industry.
An illustrative account
of sector-wise issues being considered for an agreement between
the Government and industry and for adoption in the form of a
Charter are setting up of coal washeries, recycling of ash pond
effluents by December 2004 and according of environmental clearance
for new thermal plants and expansion proposals only if the particulate
matter emission standard of 100 mg/cubic metre is ensured. Fertilizer
units will have to bring down water consumption to 8,12 and 15
cubic metres per tonne of urea produced per plant based on gas,
naptha and fuel oil respectively and installation of appropriate
systems to achieve urea dust emission norms. Iron and steel units
have to bring down fugitive emissions by 30 per cent in first
year and 100 per cent in five years. Petrochemical plants have
to adopt state-of-the-art technology for both process technology
as well as engineering practices required for control of emissions
at the stage of design itself for new plants. Sugar industry has
to achieve zero discharge of waste water by 2004. Pulp and paper
units have to install chemical recovery plants in two years time.
Stand alone distilleries
that do not have tie up with sugar plants have to ensure zero
discharge in surface and ground water to be eligible for environmental
clearance. They also have to provide bank guarantees to ensure
compliance with solid waste management norm. Dye and Dye Intermediate
plants have to adopt cleaner technologies besides upgrading incineration
systems. Cement plants are expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions
to 750 kg per tonne of cement produced by July 2004. Chlore-alkali
plants have to switch over to membrane cell technology from the
present mercury based production.
