INDIA PHASES OUT PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION
OF HALONS
21st
MEETING OF CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE ATTACHED TO ENVIRONMENT &
FORESTS MINISTRY HELD
India has made significant strides
to comply with the provisions of the Montreal Protocol. The consumption
of Chloro Fluoro Carbons (CFC) has been reduced by 2165 MTs from
the baseline consumption of 6681 MTs in 1995-1997 through implementation
of projects approved by Montreal Fund. Similarly production and
consumption of halons which is another ozone depleting substance(ODS)
have been phased out. The national phase out plan of yet another
ODS – carbon tetra chloride has been approved by the Executive
Committee of the Montreal Protocol at a cost of 52 million dollars.
These are some of the details which were given out to the members
of Parliament at the 21st meeting of the consultative
committee attached to the Ministry of Environment & Forests
here today.
The members were informed that 13
new ozone depleting chemicals have been identified but not controlled
by the Montreal Protocol. They are not amenable to control by
the Protocol unless it is amended to include them. UNEP Technology
and Economic Assessment Panel (TEAP) has been reviewing the production
and consumption pattern of these chemicals. However, Meeting of
Parties advised all Parties in respect of production and consumption
of new chemicals and its phase out as soon as possible. This attempt
has been made in order to avoid further amendment of the Protocol.
Addressing the committee members,
the Minister of Environment & Forests Shri T.R. Baalu informed
that the Externally Aided India Eco-Development Project for the
protection of bio-diversity through eco-development in seven protected
areas has been extended by the Cabinet. Under the National River
Conservation Plan and the National Lake Conservation Plan two
projects have been approved.
One of these will be located at Sangli
Town of Maharashtra at a cost of Rs.24.41 crores for construction
of Sewage Treatment Plant having capacity to treat 27 Million
Litres per day.
The second project will be located
at Kolkata at a cost of Rs.2.16 crore for construction of Effluent
Transportation System (ETS) for Common Effluent Treatment Plant.
Members cutting across party lines
appreciated the steps taken by the Government for achieving the
targets of the Montreal Protocol without compromising the country’s
national interests.
The members were informed that the
Central Pollution Control Board under the Ministry of Environment
& Forests is taking special steps to monitor noise pollution
and ambient air quality at a different locations in the country
including national capital region of Delhi and Chennai during
Diwali. The members who attended the meeting were Shri Ranganath
Misra, Shri Abrar Ahmed, Shri Raj Babbar, Shri Jagannath Mallick,
Shri Rupchand Murmu, Mrs. D.M. Vijaya Kumari, Shri Chandresh Patel,
Shri Amarsinh Vasantrao Patil.
