ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION IS NO
DEVELOPMENT SAYS LOK
SABHA SPEAKER
INDUSTRY
URGED TO GO BEYOND THE LAW TO CHECK POLLUTION
The Lok Sabha Speaker,
Shri Manohar Joshi has said "the edifice of economic growth cannot
stand for long on a weak foundation of degraded environment" and
called for a balance between the demands of economic development
and environmental concerns. He was inaugurating a Conference of
Central and State Governments, Pollution Control Boards and representatives
of industry on 'Corporate Responsibility for Environmental Protection'
here today. Stating that economic development which destroys the
environment will result in more poverty, unemployment and diseases,
Shri Joshi observed that it can not be called economic development.
The Conference will come out with a Charter incorporating the
voluntary initiatives of 17 categories of major polluting industries
to check pollution.
Shri Manohar Joshi
observed that "the mere mention of Bhopal gas leak disaster is
enough to send shivers down our spines" and urged the corporate
sector to ensure that such mishaps do not occur. The Speaker expressed
concern over the ongoing environmental degradation in the country
inspite of growing awareness about the need for environmental
protection. He further said that in the context of globalisation
the country should learn from the experience of the other countries
and avoid tampering with the environment. Shri Joshi said developmental
approach shall be based on a combination of the elements of economic
efficiency, intergenerational equity, social concerns and environmental
protection.
The Lok Sabha Speaker
referred to the Policy Statement for Abatement of Pollution of
1992 which clearly recognised the limitations of laws in dealing
with the environmental problems. He said, hence, there is an imperative
need for a comprehensive approach to integrate environmental concerns
and economic aspects in developmental planning.
The Minister of Environment
and Forests, Shri T.R.Baalu said "legislative whip alone cannot
solve problem of environmental pollution and enforcement of pollution
control under the provision of law is not enough." He further
said effective pollution control largely depends on the efforts
of industries and corporate ethics. The Minister emphasised the
need for a partnership between government and industries to achieve
the common goal of protection of environment. Shri Baalu stressed
that industrial development shall be guided by judicious consumption
of resources and adequate pollution control measures. He said
"we need to go beyond the compliance of regulatory requirements
and focus our efforts on continued improvement through adoption
of cleaner technologies and better management practices instead
of resorting to end-of-the-pipe measures."
Shri Baalu said the
Government's concern for pollution control and sustainable development
was reflected in the Budget 2003-04 in which concessions have
been announced to support clean technologies including the reduction
of customs duty on components of membrane cell technology used
in caustic soda industry from 15 per cent to 5 per cent.
The Minister of State
for Environment and Forests, Shri Dilip Singh Ju Dev said that
despite several initiatives for pollution control, challenges
still exist in respect of overall management of environment. Industries
set up before the enactment of Water and Air Acts, establishment
of small scale water polluting industries in a scattered manner
besides small scale air polluting units without the scope for
common emission control facilities are particularly posing challenges,
Shri Ju Dev observed.
Shri K.C.Misra, Secretary
in the Ministry of Environment and Forests, said that the industry
has come forward with an overwhelming response to ensure 100 per
cent compliance with the pollution control norms through the Charter.
He said there will be a regular follow up and monitoring mechanism
to ensure the implementation of the Charter. Shri V.K.Duggal,
Special Secretary in the Ministry, informed that the Charter on
Corporate Responsibility for Environmental Protection is applicable
to 2098 units in 17 categories of major polluting industries.
These include sugar industry (525 units), pharmaceuticals (397),
distilleries (232), leather (150), pesticide industry (150), cement
(126), fertilizer industry (111), dyes and dye intermediates (100),
pulp and paper (96), thermal power plants (83), petrochemicals
(51), caustic soda industry (35), oil refineries (17), iron and
steel (8), aluminium (14), copper (6) and zinc (4).
