INTERNATIONAL OZONE DAY OBSERVED
ON SEPTEMBER 16
Government of India
has obtained approval of more than 350 projects for conversion
of industries from Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) to non-ODS
technology and phasing out substances that deplete the Ozone Layer
and received Rs.442 crores so far.
The Ninth International
Day for the preservation of Ozone Layer was observed in Mumbai
yesterday. Union Minister of Environment & Forests Shri T.R.
Baalu presided over the function. Shri Sushil Shinde, Chief Minister,
Maharashtra was the Chief Guest. Union Minister for Petroleum
& Natural Gas, Shri Ram Naik and Deputy Chief Minister of
Maharashtra, Shri Chhagan Bhujbal were Special Guests of Honour.
The Janaki Ammal
Award for Taxonomy for the year 2003 was presented to Prof. K.S.
Manilal, Professor Emeritus, Calicut University by the Minister
of Environment & Forests Shri T.R. Baalu. The award is given
for monumental work in the field of taxonomy and includes a citation,
scroll and a cash award of Rs. One lakh.
An exhibition displaying
ozone-friendly products and non-ODS technology models was inaugurated
by the Union Minister for Environment & Forests and Chief
Minister of Maharashtra. A cycle rally for school children was
also organized to mark this occasion. Prize winning posters painted
by the school children were displayed.
Sixteenth September
every year is observed throughout the world as the International
Ozone Day. On this date in 1987 the Montreal Protocol, on substances
that deplete the Ozone layer, was signed to protect the Ozone
layer in the Stratosphere. India being a party to the Vienna Convention
and the Montreal Protocol has been sharing the global concern
for protecting the ozone layer and phase out of Ozone Depleting
Substances (ODS) programme. Since then, it has been carrying out
various activities for phasing out Ozone Depleting Substances
(ODS) like Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC), halons, carbontetrachloride
(CTC), methylchloroform, methylbromide and hydrochlorofluorocarbons
(HCFC) which are used in aerosol products, refrigeration and air-conditioning
products, foam blowing applications, fire fighting equipment,
metal-cleaning applications, soil fumigation appliances, etc.
The Government has also been active in channelising assistance
from the Multilateral Fund for Implementation of the Montreal
Protocol.
