|
Minister of State for Environment & Forests Shri Namo Narain Meena said that India has made tremendous progress in phasing out the use of Ozone Depleting Substances (ODSs) in various sectors of industries that were using them. Presiding over a function organised to observe the Tenth International Day for Preservation of the Ozone Layer here today, Shri Meena said that the phase out of CFC production is progressing as per schedule and would be complete by 2010.
“The use of CFCs (Chloroflurocarbons) in domestic, large commercial refrigeration and mobile air-conditioners has been totally changed over to non-ODS refrigerants. The aerosol industry, one of largest user of ODSs earlier, have totally changed over to non-ODS propellants. Our foam industry no longer uses ODSs as a blowing agent. As far as Fire Extinguishers are concerned, we have totally stopped the manufacture of Halons and a few days back, another milestone was achieved with the inauguration of Halon Bank and Recovery and Reclamation Facility to conserve the existing halon only for essential use” he added.
Expressing satisfaction at the adoption of non-ODS technologies by a large number of Indian enterprises, Shri Meena said that this has made possible achievement of the first target of reduction as per the Ozone Rules and the compliance to the Montreal Protocol. “Other enterprises are progressing satisfactorily and would certainly help India to meet its future targets under the Protocol” the Minister pointed out.
Stating that India’s focus this year is on reducing the production and consumption of carbon tetrachloride which has to be brought down by 85 per cent of the base line production by the end of year 2005, Shri Meena pointed out that India thus so far is in full compliance of the Protocol obligations.
The Minister further observed that with a view to encourage switch over to non-ODSs technologies, the Government has adopted a number of fiscal and regulatory policies. The licensing system for the ODSs came into existence in June 1996. The Ministry of Environment & Forests notified the Ozone Depleting Substances (Regulation and Control) Rules on 19th July 2000 and further amended it to provide legal backing and time frame for phase out of ODSs and implementations of conversion projects without dislocating the economic structure of the industrial community.
In his key note address, Director General, Tata Energy Research Institute (TERI) Dr. R.K.Pachauri said that ozone layer and climate change are inter-linked as depletion of ozone layer affects the climate and the change in the climate influences the ozone layer. Studies have proved that decreased ozone in the stratosphere results in increase in the global temperature, he added.
On this occasion, Shri Meena presented the Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Puraskar (IGPP) to individuals and organizations for outstanding achievements for protection of the environment. A special Postal Cover was also released by him, who also released poster, brochure, sticker and ‘State of the Art’ report. Later, the Minister distributed the prizes to children who had participated in various competitions conducted for the occasion.
The UN General Assembly had proclaimed 16th September as the International Day for Preservation of the Ozone Layer, which commemorates the signing of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. The theme of this year's observance of the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer is "Save our Sky: Ozone Friendly Planet, Our Target".
|
