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Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies
Almost all ministries of the Government of India are involved in decision making for sustainable development. However, major participation is by the Ministries of External Affairs, Environment and Forests, Agriculture, Water Resources, Finance, Industries, Rural Development, Commerce , Non Conventional Energy Sources, Finance and the Planning Commission.
Coordination within the different bodies of the Government in India is mainly through consultative meetings and discussions. There are inter-ministerial and inter-departmental committees, Core Groups for coordination to formulate the optimum policy and legislation on issues concerning international cooperation/development assistance for Sustainable Development.
The authority for decision-making lies with the ministries of the Government of India .In India the decentralization of powers and decision making has been done at the grass root level. The authority for decision making has been delegated to provincial/State level in several areas with the exception of core areas of national interest. In matters of international relations and co-operation the central government coordinates the overall decision making process.
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
Government
of India has have formulated legislation, regulations and policy instruments to
address matters concerning cooperation for Sustainable Development at
sub-regional, regional and International level.
There are legislation regulations and policy instruments framed to
fulfill obligation under the agreements signed under the International
Conferences, MEAs, etc. They are:-
INDIAN
ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATIONS
Selected Policy initiatives taken by
the Ministry of Environment and Forests towards sustainable development
AUTHORITIES UNDER ENVIRONMENT
PROTECTION ACT, 1986
A National Environmental Appellate Authority has been constituted to hear
appeals with respect to rejection of proposals from the environmental angle. The
objective is to bring in transparency in the process and accountability, and to
ensure the smooth and expeditious implementation of developmental schemes and
projects.
An Environmental Impact Assessment Authority for the National Capital
Region has been constituted to deal with environmental protection problems
arising out of projects planned in the National Capital Region (NCR). An
Aquaculture Authority has been constituted to deal with the situation created by
the Shrimp Culture industry in the coastal States and Union Territories. The
Central Ground Water Authority for regulation and control of ground water
management has initiated action regarding registrations for ground water
pollution/depletion. It has also initiated a mass awareness programme. Besides
this, different authorities have been created for dealing with specific problems
in the States of Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.
The trade policy components of the
Indian reform process undertaken since July 1991 have been motivated by a
recognition of the important role that trade can play in promoting
sustained economic growth in the context of sustainable development. The
expanded scope for specializing in areas of comparative advantage is manifest in
the improved growth performance of the economy. Furthermore, while exports have
responded to the removal of the anti-export bias of a protectionist environment,
domestic industry appears to have been stimulated by the expanded availability
of imports and capital goods, and the challenge of competing in the
international market place. The positive response of Indian industry to
deregulation is amply demonstrated by the capital goods sector. The capital
goods industry, which witnessed negative growth of 12.8% in 1991-92, registered an average
growth of about 23% during 1994-96.
In an effort to remove the
anti-export bias of existent policies, improve the efficiency of resource
allocation as well as the competitiveness of domestic markets, India has made
steady progress in eliminating quantitative restrictions, licensing, and
discretionary controls over imports since 1991. Imports of capital goods, raw
materials, and components have been de-licensed, tariffs on such imports have
been reduced substantially, and tariff categories have been streamlined and
simplified. As a result, all goods can now be freely imported and exported,
except those belonging to two negative lists.
Indian companies have made investments in several countries all over the world including the neighboring countries in the Indian sub continent.
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
The Ministry of Environment and Forests functions as a nodal agency for
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), South Asia Co-operation Environment
Programme (SACEP), and International Centre for Integrated Mountain and
Development (ICIMOD), International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural
Resources (IUCN) and various international agencies, regional bodies and
multilateral institutions. India is signatory to the following important
international treaties/ agreements in the field of environment: (i)
International Convention for the regulation of Whaling; (ii) International Plant
Protection Convention; (iii) The Antarctic Treaty; (iv) Convention on Wetlands
of international importance; (v) Convention on International trade in Endangered
Species of Wild Flora and Fauna; (vi) Protocol of 1978 relating to the
international convention for the prevention of pollution from ships; (vii)
Vienna Convention for the protection of the Ozone Layer; (viii) Convention on
Migratory Species; (ix) Basel Convention on Trans-boundary movement of hazardous
substances; (x) Framework Convention on Climate Change; (xi) Convention on
conservation of bio-diversity; (xii) Montreal Protocol on the substances that
deplete the ozone layer and; (xiii) International Convention for Combating
Desertification.
The Ministry and its agencies cooperate with various countries such as
Sweden, Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, Australia, U.K., U.S.A., Canada, Japan ,
Germany among others bilaterally and from several UN and other multilateral
agencies such as the UNDP, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, OECF (Japan) and
ODA (U.K.) for various environmental and forestry projects.
India believes that environmentally harmful processes should be stopped and that over-exploitation of non-renewable resources should be controlled. However, the specific production process to be used would depend upon the absorptive capacities and development priorities of the country concerned and hence, no global harmonized standard for production processes can be developed. The solution lies not in unilaterally banning trade, but rather in transferring technology and offering prices to developing countries for commodities, which would not then necessitate their overexploitation or jeopardize their development priorities.
India is signatory to various regional and international agreements, which provide financial assistance for development cooperation.
The
issue of technology transfer from developed to developing countries has been a
recurring theme in all multi-lateral and bilateral negotiations/ discussions and
is at the heart of the North-South divide.
At the same time, efforts to develop a mechanism to actually to carry out
such a transfer have met with only moderate success so far. Indian research and
development (R&D) efforts, unlike in the developed countries, has remained
largely in the Government domain e.g. the CSIR and University
laboratories. In India, initial steps have been taken through the
National Productivity Council established with GEF assistance and UNEP as the
implementing agency. The initiative however, has a limited scope in so far as it
only addresses a small portion of the problem.
In the Export-Import Policy of 1992-97 conscious efforts were made to dismantle various protectionist and regulatory policies and accelerate the country’s transition towards a global economy. The 8th Five Year Plan (1997-2002) seeks to consolidate the gains of previous policy and further carry forward the process of liberalization involving further deregulation, simplification of procedure and removal of QRs. Efforts have been made to mobilize resources from domestic and external sources for development, cooperation in sustainable development including environment protection.
Decision-Making: Major Groups Involvement
All the major groups identified in Agenda 21 are involved in decision making in different capacities. Participation of these groups is ensured through consultative meetings and discussions at local, state and national levels.
Government of India has made public hearings
mandatory for developmental projects wherein affected person, stakeholders are
given opportunity of hearing/discussion before arriving at a decision.
Public participation is also an important step in every major decision
for social, economic and sustainable development.
Participation is encouraged by bringing in transparency in decision
making.
Major groups which
participate in international cooperation activities programmes are indigenous
groups, NGOs, Industrial Associates, Investigators, Research Institutions,
Advocates, etc. The Government
facilitate the participation of various
groups in arriving at a decision in
a more participatory manner.
India has had
modest, but increasing success in attracting
private capital flows. Furthermore, much of these private capital inflows
into India have been of the non-debt creating variety, which has helped boost
the balance of payments as well as the availability of invertible resources in
the economy. The international community is very positive about India's effort
to achieve a high rate of growth. After the advent of liberalization which
was initiated in 1991, the involvement of private sector (local and foreign) has
been encouraged.
The bulk of
India’s population is still rural and engaged in agriculture which generates
nearly one third of India’s national income. While economic reforms have been
mainly confined to the industrial sector, they have affected agriculture since
these reforms have significantly altered relative prices and protection. A fall
in agricultural prices has an undesirable effect on the welfare of the people
who depend upon agriculture. In India’s context globalization in terms of
liberalization of agricultural trade can have a profound impact on the poor.
India feels that there remains a need for an alternative agricultural trade
agenda that promotes greater food-self sufficiency and food security in the
developing countries rather than promoting global harmonization of standards in
subsidies.
The most adversely affected groups are thus small farmers and small scale industries. These groups are protected by provision food security, better prices for their products, incentives and other facilities to improve their performance to make them competitive.
Programmes and Projects
Several
activities and programmes involving multilateral financing are ongoing in India
which include
Global
Environment Facility through the World Bank, UNDP and UNEP:
India is the second largest recipient of GEF funding. The salient feature
of the GEF portfolio are: a diverse and varied portfolio comprising
projects that are environmentally, socially and financially sustainable;
projects involving a range of issues and approaches to address the questions of
innovation, experimentation, demonstration, cost effectiveness and replicability;
projects that are country-driven, based on national priorities; capacity
building, human resources and skills at the community level and into Government.
The
Country cooperation Framework- I Environment Programme through the UNDP:
Development Objective: The thrust areas reflect the national policy and
plan statements – (i) management of natural resources (ii) capacity building
for decision making (iii) management of development (iv) information, advocacy
and participation.
Montreal
protocol: The Protocol sets out a time schedule for freeze and reduction of
ODS or controlled substances. A Multilateral Fund was established by the parties
to assist developing countries meet the control measures as specified in the
Protocol. It assists the Government and the industry to design, implement,
monitor and evaluate ODS phase-out projects and programmes in the
aerosols/foam/solvent refrigeration and fire extinguishing sectors, covering
large, medium and small scale enterprises. The MOEF is the national executing
agency for the Institutional Strengthening projects for the phase-out of ODSs
under the Montreal Protocol. In Asia, India is number three in receiving funds
for CFC phase out programme, next to
China and Malaysia.
Capacity
21 Initiative: There is only one Capacity 21 project in India which is being
implemented by the Indira Gandhi Institute for Development Research (IGIDR)
through the Ministry of Environment & Forests. The main objective of the
project is to build capacity at various levels of Government, national
institutes and the community at large through NGOs by introducing concepts of
environmental economics into their resource use and planning decisions.
Specific interventions of natural resource accounting through practical
applications at policy and field levels include – Air quality, Water Quality,
Biodiversity and Common Property Resources. IGIDR have come out with
documentation on the above areas.
LIFE
programme of UNDP: The Programme of Action for Sustainable Development
Worldwide, Agenda 21, was adopted by more than 178 governments at the Earth
Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. The Local Initiative Facility for Urban
Environment (LIFE) was launched by UNDP at this Summit. The main goal of the
programme is to help city dwellers to help themselves, to find local solutions
to local problems.
SDNP:
The Sustainable Development Network Programme is a
UNDP initiative launched globally in 1990 to make relevant information on
sustainable development readily available to decision-makers responsible for
planning sustainable development strategies.
In India
there are several ongoing projects which are being implemented through various
bilateral programmes. Some of these include CIDA, IDRC, OECF/Japan, JICA, and
other bilateral cooperation programmes with countries inter -alia including
U.K., Norway, Sweden and Germany. The main thrust of these programmes is
on
The largest share is for poverty eradication , natural
resource protection and capacity building in that order. The amounts are
miniscule compared to the needs of the country.
Environment Management Capacity Building Project (World Bank) (UNCTAD Project)
India is part of SAPTA (South Asian Preferential Trade Agreement) and BIMSTEC and in these regional groupings, the question of market accessibility and trade has received due consideration.
Status
The balance continues to weigh in favor of ODA and bilateral assistance. Though there has been a slight increase in private flows.
Challenges
Some of the major
challenges for building partnership with countries which are in various stages
of economic development, are inadequate implementation of commitments, transfer
of technology, financial constraints market
access and standards.
The programme areas/issues of
Agenda 21 which require most immediate attention for bilateral/multi-lateral
cooperation are fulfillment of obligations of transfer of technology, financial
assistance, capacity building, public participation, involvement of NGOs and
private sector, R&D institutions and scientific/business community.
Some of the major challenges in building partnerships with NGOs and private sector scientific community.
- recognizing the sustainable development as mutual goal
-lack of understanding of issues for achieving sustainable development
-development of various tools/instruments and their implementation
-paucity of financial resources.
There are DGFT, Inter-Ministerial Committees, Core Groups, Bureau of Indian Standards which are responsible for various types of standards setting. The Committees/agencies coordinate which each other and also interact with international agencies for avoidance of technical barrier in the flow of trade. However, some with the consideration and information gap pose challenges.
Capacity-building, Education, Training
and Awareness-raising
The following initiatives have been taken to
promote public awareness on environmental issues in general they include
awareness about international co-operation and sustainable development
Environmental Information systems
Since environment for sustainable
development is a broad-ranging, multi-disciplinary subject, a comprehensive
information system on environment has necessarily involved effective
participation of concerned institutions/ organisations in the country that are
actively engaged in work relating to different subject areas of environment.
Realizing the importance of Environmental Information, the Government of India,
in December 1982, established an Environmental Information System (ENVIS) as a
plan programme. The focus of ENVIS since inception has been on providing
environmental information to decision makers, policy planners, scientists and
engineers, research workers, etc. all over the country. A large number of nodes,
known as ENVIS Centres, have been established in the network to cover the broad
subject areas of environment. Similarly the Sustainable Development Networking
Programme (SDNP) is a UNDP/IDRC initiative launched world-wide in 1990 to make
relevant information on sustainable development readily available to
decision-makers responsible for planning sustainable development strategies.
SDNP-India is being implemented by the ENVIS a GOI programme, over a period of
three years.
Environment Education and Awareness Generation
Capacity building initiatives by the GOI in various sectors relating to the environment are an ongoing process and form an integral part of most projects and programs on sustainable development. Steps are taken to involve NGOs in organizing orientation training courses for teachers. The two centres of Excellence, namely the Centre for Environment Education, Ahmedabad and the CPR Environment Education Centre, Chennai provide the backup support to the NGOs. GOI's efforts towards Non-formal Environmental Education & Awareness include:
None of the government and civil
society actions would mean much without the media. The GOI’s Ministry of
Information & Broadcasting, through the mass communication media consisting
of radio, television, films, the press, publications, advertising and
traditional mode of dance and drama plays a significant part in helping the
people to have access to free flow of information on issues including
environmental protection.
Programmes (as mentioned
above)have been carried out to nurture technical experts and professionals in
international relations through UNCTAD.
The areas of project formulations, project management and implementation require strengthening. Technical experts, managers and administrators are coordinating their efforts to ensure co-operation is relevant and practical.
Information
http://goidirectory.nic.in/ministry.htm
Research and Technologies
India has increasingly recognized
the critical role of technology.
India has a strong base in technology and R&D institutions. As regards
Environmentally Sound Technology , India still
needs technical, financial assistance. These issues are the current priorities
in the programmes/policies being implemented in achieving sustainable
development.
Public
investment for sustainable development through fiscal incentives and concessions
has always been emphasized . Since energy-efficient technologies and
non-conventional energy technologies directly improve the protection level of
the atmosphere, several tax concessions, 100% depreciation allowance, and
investment subsidies have been made widely available.
The promotion of environmentally
sound technologies through international cooperation is mainly in the form of
FDI Joint Venture. However, ESTs as
envisaged in various MEAs are not being transferred to developing
countries on fair and favorable terms and conditions.
Public
investment for sustainable development by providing fiscal incentives and
concessions has been emphasized .
Since energy-efficient technologies and non-conventional energy technologies
directly improve the protection level of the atmosphere, several tax
concessions, 100% depreciation allowance, and investment subsidies have been
made widely available.
Financing
The goal of
Agenda 21 was in part to raise additional external funds for sustainable
development activities by increasing bilateral and multilateral Official
Development Assistance (ODA) to 0.7% of GNP from donor countries. The fact
remains that many of the developing countries are experiencing a net outflow of
resources. The average ODA in the post-Rio period 1993-95 has been lower than in
the period 1990-92, both in absolute terms and as a percentage of GNP. In fact,
ODA at an average of 0.29% of GNP in the 1993-95 period has been the lowest in
decades.
In the context of declining ODA,
we have to find adequate financing for environmental measures either from our
own budgetary resources or by generating funds from the private sector. Domestic
resources will continue to be an important source for financing sustainable
development and countries need to
develop an enabling environment to encourage the mobilization of additional
financial resources. Key elements include a sound macroeconomic framework, a
dynamic private sector, governance and participatory mechanisms. Special
attention is being given to fiscal and budgetary policies, tax collection and
transparency.
The following sources are being tapped for financial assistance and there are:
Bilateral sources other than ODA;
Cooperation
The Ministry of Environment and Forests functions as a nodal agency for
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), South Asia Co-operation Environment
Programme (SACEP), and International Centre for Integrated Mountain and
Development (ICIMOD), International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural
Resources (IUCN) and various international agencies, regional bodies and
multilateral institutions.
India is signatory to the following important international treaties/
agreements in the field of environment:
(i)
International Convention for the regulation of Whaling;
(ii)
International Plant Protection Convention;
(iii)
The Antarctic Treaty;
(iv)
Convention on Wetlands of international importance;
(v)
Convention on International trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and
Fauna;
(vi)
Protocol of 1978 relating to the international convention for the
prevention of pollution from ships;
(vii)Vienna Convention
for the protection of the Ozone Layer;
(viii)
Convention on Migratory Species;
(ix)
Basel Convention on Trans-boundary movement of hazardous substances;
(x)
Framework Convention on Climate Change;
(xi)
Convention on conservation of bio-diversity;
(xii)Montreal Protocol
on the substances that deplete the ozone layer and;
(xiii) International Convention for Combating Desertification.
The Ministry and its agencies cooperate with various countries such as
Sweden, Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, Australia, U.K., U.S.A., Canada, Japan ,
Germany among others bilaterally and from several UN and other multilateral
agencies such as the UNDP, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, OECF (Japan) and
ODA (U.K.) for various environmental and forestry projects.
Sustainable development is an important consideration in Bilateral trade agreements that India has signed.
The role can be described as active. India has been the spokesman of the G-77 and China on Climate Change and has played a major role in UNEP.
Productive, cordial and mutually beneficial.
Click here for the list of abbreviations
* * *
This information was provided by the government of India to the 9th Session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last Update: April 2001.
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Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies
No information is available
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
India is among the countries, which are in the vanguard of environmental protection. India has environmental standards for products and processes, has environmental impact assessment and has introduced environmental audit as well as an eco-labeling scheme. India believes that environmentally harmful processes should be stopped and that over-exploitation of non-renewable resources should be controlled. However, the specific production process to be used would depend upon the absorptive capacities and development priorities of the country concerned and hence, no global harmonized standard for production process can be developed. The solution lies not in unilaterally banning trade, but rather in transferring technology and offering prices to developing countries for commodities, which would not then necessitate their overexploitation or jeopardize their development priorities.
In an effort to remove the anti-export bias of existent policies, improve the efficiency of resource allocation as well as the competitiveness of domestic markets, India has made steady progress in eliminating quantitative restrictions, licensing, and discretionary controls over imports since 1991. Imports of capital goods, raw materials, and components have been de-licensed, tariffs on such imports have been reduced substantially, and tariff categories have been streamlined and simplified. As a result, all goods can now be freely imported and exported, except those belonging to two negative lists. In accordance with the provisions of WTO, a country is required to lift quantitative restrictions on imports imposed for Balance of Payments reasons when the position improves. As the position of foreign exchange reserves is comfortable, India has decided to phase out quantitative restrictions in respect of all items where such restrictions were maintained for balance of payments purposes.
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
With the objective of accelerating the pace of reforms, sustaining high export growth, and enhancing the opportunities for the domestic economy's participation in the dynamics of foreign trade, the Export-Import (EXIM) Policy 1992-97 has been reviewed and revised in several ways during the current year to further phase out quantitative and qualitative restrictions. The revisions include measures for trade promotion, as well as further simplification of procedures. The trade policy components of the Indian reform process undertaken since July 1991 have been motivated by a full recognition of the important role that trade can play in promoting sustained economic growth in the context of sustainable development. Restrictive trade barriers and practices must be curtailed, and tariffs, particularly peak tariffs, on exports of products and services from developing countries reduced so that the benefits of global economic growth are equitably distributed among all countries. Greater trading opportunities can enable developing countries to invest more in environmental protection.
Decision-Making: Major Groups Involvement
It need not be emphasized that poverty is intrinsically related to both trade and investment. In the last World Bank meeting in December 1999 at Seattle, due to lack of understanding of the need of the poverty stricken population by the planners the meeting could not progress further. At the international level linkage between trade and poverty is addressed in India's contribution to the discussions in the CTE of WTO regularly.
Programmes and Projects
The Environmental Impact Assessment programme of the Ministry of
Environment and Forests, Government of India is intended to indentify "hot
spots" in the integration of trade and environment issues.
Status
The expanded scope for specializing in areas of comparative advantage is manifest in the improved growth performance of the economy. Furthermore, while exports have responded to the removal of the anti-export bias of a protectionist environment, domestic industry appears to have been stimulated by the expanded availability of imports and capital goods, and the challenge of competing in the international market place. The positive response of Indian industry to deregulation is amply demonstrated by the capital goods sector. The capital goods industry, which witnessed a negative growth of 12.8% in 1991-92, registered an average growth of about 23% during 1994-96. The main agricultural commodities exported from India are Rice, Tobacco, Spices, Cashew, Oil meals, Fruits and Vegetables fresh and processed, marine products, tea and coffee. As regards imports, the main items are pulses, unprocessed Cashewnuts, vegetable oils and sugar.
Export, as a percentage of GDP at constant prices is less than 1% in India. Hence, local or national environmental problems in India are more associated with domestic production. Trade, as a percentage of GDP, has more or less remained constant at about 20% in India.
Challenges
The linkage between trade and poverty from the environmental point of view is addressed in a multifunctional manner in India. Environmental requirements in the markets for Indian exports could cause loss of exports. This could be unnecessary especially where there are environmental restrictions based on processes and production methods or based on the precautionary principle and where the measures are susceptible to disguised protectionism. This in turn would make less money available to national policy makers to direct towards environmental protection. Poverty, it is said, is the biggest polluter and this holds particularly true for us, as fund constraints may be one of the major handicaps in addressing environmental problems through appropriate national environmental policy. The inability of the developed world to implement provisions of Agenda 21 in letter and spirit has added to the problems.
Capacity-building, Education, Training
and Awareness-raising
No information is available
Information
Information related to trade, investment and economic growth is made
available to potential users via the Internet:
- http://www.envfor.nic.in
- http://www.nic.in/commin
Research and Technologies
No information is available
Financing
India has had modest, but increasing, success in attracting a growing part of private capital flows. Furthermore, much of these private capital inflows into India have been of the non-debt creating variety, which has helped boost the balance of payments as well as the availability of investable resources in the economy. The international community is very positive about India's effort to achieve a high rate of growth.
Cooperation
India believes that in order to make trade and environment mutually supportive, an open multilateral trading system makes possible a more efficient allocation and use of resources. This contributes to increased production and incomes, and lessens the demands on the environment. It also provides the additional resources needed for economic growth and development, and improved environmental protection. Trade measures should be applied for environmental purposes only when they address the root causes of environmental degradation so as not to result in an unjustified restriction on trade. Further, environmental standards valid for developed countries may have unwarranted social and economic cost in developing countries. India believes that global efforts at environmental protection are best addressed through Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs), which contain a package of positive measures, including among them financial and technological transfers and capacity building.
Today, the world stands at a crossroad of history. Five years after Rio, and as we approach the third millennium, it falls on the global community to create a world where there is greater justice and lesser deprivation. Any models based on uneven rewards will not be supported by those members who are not beneficiaries. Credibility and realization of the potential of all international activities can only be achieved through the full participation of all countries in their formulation, implementation, and enjoyment of benefits. India is willing to work with all countries in a constructive manner to realize common goals.
India submits a report on its trade to WTO every four years as part of its trade policy review and reports to IMF and the World Bank.
The World Trade Organization's (WTO) Committee on Trade and Environment has undertaken many of these activities. In its five years of work, it has promoted a dialogue between trade, development, and environment communities and stressed the need for transparency, avoidance of unilateral action to deal with environmental challenges outside the jurisdiction of the importing country, and avoidance of the use of trade restrictions or distortions as a means to offset the difference in costs arising from environmental distortions and protectionism. Further priority work under the Committee and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) should include elaborate studies for better understanding of the relationship between trade and environment, particularly for sustainable development in developing countries. India realizes the vital need for international cooperation - bilateral, multilateral, and regional initiatives - in implementing Agenda 21. India is committed to developing and strengthening the process of international cooperation, which would cover not only cooperation among governments and international agencies but also among other major actors such as the private sector, civil society, and voluntary organizations. The international community should develop the appropriate open, equitable, rule based, cooperative, non-discriminatory, and mutually beneficial economic environment at the international level. It should take into account the special needs of the developing countries, in line with the concept of common but differentiated responsibilities affirmed in Agenda 21. The international community should, therefore, aim to attain the target of 0.7% of GNP for the Official Development Assistance (ODA) from developed countries. There is also an urgent need for new and additional financial resources on a predictable and assured basis from the international community to developing countries. These resources should be available commensurate with the needs and priorities of developing countries and without any conditions.
* * *
This information was provided by the government of India to the 5th and 8th Sessions of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last Update: February 2000.
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Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies
The responsible Government bodies dealing with aspects of sustainable consumption and production patterns include: the Agricultural Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), New Delhi; Indian Institute of Plantation Management (IIPM), Bangalore; Central Pollution Control Board, Bureau of Indian Standards and National Productivity Council, State Environment Protection Councils, and the National Consumer Council.
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
Legislation which seeks to promote sustainable consumption and production include:
Show Cause notices under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act 1986 have been issued to all defaulting units. In addition, National ambient air quality standards, including ambient noise standards, have been notified. Industries have been directed to instal necessary pollution control equipment within a stipulated time frame.
More stringent norms for vehicular emissions have been notified under the Central Motor
Vehicles Rules which came into effect in April, 1996. The supply of unleaded petrol in the
four metropolitan cities of Mumbai, Calcutta, Delhi, and Chennai was introduced in April
1, 1995 for use in four wheel vehicles fitted with catalytic converters. The use of
unleaded petrol will be gradually extended to other cities in the country.
In order to enhance energy and material efficiency, waste reduction, recycling, public
transport and quality of life, norms have been laid down by the Government of India.
Industry has adopted, on a voluntary basis, EMS (Environment Management Systems, in order
to attain more sustainable production.
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
National Strategy and policies that address the concerns of this area include:
Specific issues such strategies and policies address are the following:
The ongoing initiatives of Government to improve the environment include preventive as well as promotive measures. Fiscal incentives are provided by the government to encourage the installation of appropriate pollution abatement equipment in the form of customs waivers and soft loans. Industries are encouraged and fiscal incentives support the installation of equipment for pollution control; punitive measures including legal action are taken against defaulting units.
To achieve the goal of pollution abatement, emission and effluent standards for air, water, and noise have been notified. Regular monitoring is carried out and enforcement efforts have been intensified. A m ajority of identified units have already installed the requisite pollution control equipment According to data collected by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) on September 30, 1996, out of 1,551 units belonging to 17 categories of highly polluting industries, 1,259 units have facilities to comply with the environmental standards, 112 were closed, and 180 did not have adequate facilities.
Decision-Making: Major Groups Involvement
At the local and provincial levels, the responsible authorities are the regional offices of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs), and State Consumer Councils. The view of Major Groups and the public in general are solicited. Standards and criteria are evolved and finalised only after circulating them for public comments and views.
Programmes and Projects
Government Programmes, in partnership with industries, consumer associations and others, to promote sustainable consumption and production patterns include:
Twenty-four critically polluted areas in the country have been identified and action plans have been drawn up to improve the quality of the environment in these areas (1997). Adoption of Cleaner Production Technologies and formation of Waste Minimization Circles are being encouraged to minimize environmental pollution. Under the World Bank aided Industrial Pollution Control Project, technical and financial assistance is provided for establishing Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) in clusters of small scale industrial units. An Eco-Mark scheme has been launched to certify various products of industries which fulfil the prescribed standards of environment-friendly production, packaging, and waste disposal.
The major programmes for new and renewable sources of energy which were developed and enlarged during the Seventh Five Year Plan included National projects on bio-gas development, improved Chulhas, solar, thermal energy utilization, Solar Photo Voltaics (SPV), wind energy, and conversion of bio-mass into energy, energy plantations, and bio-mass gasifiers.
Status
The process of development is sharply raising the consumption of household energy. It is imperative to support the development of non-conventional or renewable sources of energy to sustain the development process. Sun, wind, water, and biomass are renewable, perennial, dependable, and widely available sources of energy. The generation and utilization of energy from renewable sources have tremendous potential. According to available statistical data (information provided in 1997), India accumulates 300 million tonnes of agro residues every year of which only a small quantity is used as direct fuel. The potential of bio-mass energy is placed at 17,000 MW and of solar energy at SX10l: KWHours/year. Using a conservative assessment, wind power potential in the country is around 20,000 MW and mini hydro-energy 5,000 MW.
The total wave power potential from ocean energy along India's 1600 km coastline is 40,000 MW. Patterns of consumption by the very poor, even when unsustainable in the short term, must be regarded primarily as survival consumption. Overuse of agricultural land, over-grazing of pasture land, and the depletion of forests for fuel wood are all manifestations of a survival economy. To speak of such consumption as being unsustainable, and hence requiring change, without addressing the human condition that leads to such consumption, is not only unethical but also impractical.
The efficient usage of energy, water and other materials by industries and by households, is gaining recognition, acceptance and picking up progressively. Recycling and reuse has long been an established tradition in Indian society. Deposit and refund practices have been quite widespread in the consumer industry in India. An extensive and effective collection and recycling system for wastes such as glass, tin scrap iron, brass, rubber, paper, and plastics thrives in the non-formal sector. Consumers are increasingly aware of the health effects of residual pesticides and fertilizers. Textile, leather, and other industries are switching to cleaner technologies. In addition, the use of both recharging and reuse are having significant impacts in changing unsustainable consumption and production patterns.
Challenges
Priority constraints to implementing effective programmes in this area include:
Capacity-building, Education, Training
and Awareness-raising
The Government of India has been trying to create an awareness towards moderation of
demand and the adoption of a consumption pattern which would not leave a deleterious
impact on the environment. The Government, for example, has embarked on an extensive
awareness campaign through the print and television media to stress the need to save
scarce water, energy, and petroleum resources. This is in conformity with the importance
given by Mahatma Gandhi in his thinking on nation and character building.
Programmes for policy makers, industries, and/or consumers designed to educate and raise
their awareness for more sustainable consumption and production patterns include:
Awareness campaign programmes to promote sustainable consumption patterns are carried out through Programmes of Quality Council of India/BIS/MOEF/CPCB/Consumer Protection Councils.
Information
The kinds of national information available to assist both decision-makers and industry managers to plan and implement appropriate policies and programmes in this area include:
There is a monitoring system is in place to oversee enforcement of relevant laws, regulations and standards. This is carried out by the State Pollution Control Boards (SPCB), Regional offices of SPCBs, and Regional offices of the Ministry of Environment and Forests.
Environment indicators are being developed under the Environment Management Capacity Building Project.
Research and Technologies
Major research and pilot projects and activities are underway in the following areas:
Clean and environmentally sound technologies are promoted and applied through the following means:
Other technology-related issues that are being addressed, in this area are
Financing
Activities in this area are financed by the national budget and through external assistance.
Cooperation
Cooperation is carried out between the Government and the World Bank, UNDP, ADB and through bilateral arrangements with a few countries in order to further activities related to promoting sustainable consumption and production patterns.
* * *
This information was provided by the Government of India to the 5th and 7th Dessions of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last Update: April 1999.
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Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies
In India, the Government has embarked on a macro economic stabilization programme since 1991. Structural reforms in the foreign trade and payments regime, the tax system, industrial policy, and the financial sector have been undertaken, all of which are likely to have implications for the environment. While the Government is attempting to raise resources internally for sustainable development, the importance of international assistance cannot be minimized.
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
In respect of investments including foreign investments, the entrepreneurs are required to obtain Statutory clearances relating to Pollution Control and Environment for setting up an industrial project. A Notification issued under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 has listed 29 projects in respect of which environmental clearance needs to be obtained from the Ministry of Environment & Forests. This lists includes industries like petro-chemical complexes, petroleum refineries, cement, thermal power plants, bulk drugs, fertilisers, dyes, paper, etc. However, if investment is less than Rs.500 million, such clearance is not necessary, unless it is for pesticides, bulk drugs and pharmaceuticals, asbestos and asbestos products, integrated paint complexes, mining projects, tourism projects of certain parameters, tarred roads in Himalayan areas, distilleries, dyes, foundries and electroplating industries. Further, any item reserved for the small-scale sector with investment of less than Rs.10 million is also exempt from obtaining environmental clearance form the Central Government under the Notification.
Powers have been delegated to the State Governments for grant of environmental clearance for certain categories of thermal power plants. Setting up industries in certain locations considered ecologically fragile (e.g. Aravalli Range, Coastal areas, Doon Valley, Dahanu etc.) are guided by separate guidelines issued by the Ministry of Environment & Forests.
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
India's Eighth Five Year Plan was drafted in the context of severe resource constraints, and a serious balance of payments situation. The sources of financing projected in the Plan differ from earlier plans in that it seeks to reduce dependence on borrowing, domestic as well as foreign, and on deficit financing, placing greater reliance on resource mobilization and economy in government expenditure. The Eighth Plan contemplates an investment of Rs.7,980 billion (US$ 266,000 million). Considerable reliance is placed on savings of the household sector.
Decision-Making: Major Groups Involvement
No information is available
Programmes and Projects
The process to identify environmentally unsustainable subsidy is ongoing and measures are being taken to phase them out. Last year, the Government of Kerala had agreed to phase out subsidies to pulp wood producers over a period of five years.
Status
Implementation of sustainable development programmes as detailed as Agenda 21, requires large amounts of investment. The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) Secretariat estimated that implementation of all activities under Agenda 21 during 1993-2000 would require additional resources of US $ 125 billion a year. This is in addition to the US $ 500 billion a year from National governments and the private sector in developing countries to put their countries on a sustainable development path. The figure was arrived at by estimating the cost of addressing sector and resource specific environment and development problems.
Challenges
At the national level, the other apparent funding mechanism is budgetary support by developing countries for environment protection programmes. However, public expenditure has its limitations. Developing countries, with their limited domestic savings rely on external finances to supplement their resources and overcome budgetary constraints. With the far from favorable trends in external financing, the ability of developing countries to undertake large-scale public expenditure in this field is doubtful. Debt servicing commitments further aggravate the situation. Besides, many developing countries are undertaking economic policy reform, especially fiscal consolidation, and are faced with even more stringent budgetary constraints. At best, only a modest reallocation of resources is feasible.
Capacity-building, Education, Training
and Awareness-raising
No information is available
Information
Information related to financing sustainable development is made available to potential users through: http://finmin.nic.in .
Research and Technologies
No information is available
Financing
India has always emphasized the importance of public investment for sustainable development by providing fiscal concessions and incentives. Since energy-efficient technologies and non-conventional energy technologies directly improve the protection level of the atmosphere, several tax concessions, 100% depreciation allowance, and investment subsidies have been made widely available. Investments under the National River Action Plan on Control of River Pollution arising from both municipal and non-municipal waste also produce a major impact on marine and ocean-based resources since they control land-based sources of marine pollution in India. However, additional resources need to be made available through external sources for implementing various programmes and activities listed in Agenda 21.
Cooperation
The goal of Agenda 21 was in part to raise additional external funds for sustainable development activities by increasing bilateral and multilateral Official Development Assistance (ODA) to 0.7% of GNP from donor countries. The fact remains that many of the developing countries are experiencing a net outflow of resources. The average ODA in the post-Rio period 1993-95 has been lower than in the period 1990-92, both in absolute terms and as a percentage of GNP. In fact, ODA at an average of 0.29% of GNP in the 1993-95 period has been the lowest in decades. The Global Environment Facility (GEF) is the only new funding mechanism made available to meet the additional needs identified in Agenda 21. The amount of about US $ 2 billion from GEF, besides the Montreal Protocol Multilateral Fund to tackle ozone depletion, is almost negligible and has fallen short of even the most conservative estimates of the requirements for implementing Agenda 21.
While outlining the estimates of financing needs, Agenda 21 fails to identify the mechanisms to ensure their delivery. Discussions at the earlier meetings of the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD), and in the Finance Working Group, have developed a very useful framework for identifying new and innovative sources of funding, including a sectoral approach to mobilizing funds from within the economy and from external sources. Several of the alternatives highlight the important links between the creation of incentives for the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption in the North and potential financing for sustainable development in the South. More research work on the formulation of such policy options needs to be undertaken to consolidate the progress achieved and to address the unresolved issues.
* * *
This information was provided by the government of India to the 5th and 8th Sessions of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last Update: February 2000.
For the 1997 Economic Survey, click here.
For information on
participating States in the Global Environment Facility, click here:
For information about
issues and projects in Asia and the Pacific from the World Bank, click here:
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Transfer of Environmentally-Sound Technology
Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies
No information is available
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
No information is available
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
The facilitating role of Government has been increasing through, for example, the identification of and support for the development of environmentally sound technologies such as chlorofluorcarbon (CFC) alternatives, clean coal technologies, energy efficient technologies, and others. In the field of environmentally sound technologies, a number of research and development projects have been identified for support. The Ninth Five Year Plan projections have stressed the initiation of measures for reducing the energy intensity in different sectors through changes in technology and industrial processes. A critical mass of R&D capacity is crucial for effective dissemination of environmentally sound technologies and their generation locally. Areas which need attention are access to information on state of art technologies, a framework for dissemination of information on the source and availability of environmentally sound technologies, development of guidelines for the transfer of technologies, and training of personnel to undertake technology assessment for the management of such technologies.
Technology upgrading requires that Indian enterprises of all types have information on relevant technologies in international markets and within the country. Many countries have well-developed systems, computerized on-line technology information and dissemination services, often backed by consultancy and financial assistance to enable small and medium enterprises to find out, test, and implement new technologies.
Indian technology policies are undergoing significant changes, and on the whole have improved greatly in recent years. They are not, however, ideal. A coherent technology strategy in India must address a number of interconnected elements in the incentive regime, and the relevant markets and institutions. Technology development generally requires the setting up of clusters of industries that can share information and skills, as in science parks or dedicated industrial estates. Some such facilities exist in India, but their efficacy and functioning need to be strengthened.
Decision-Making: Major Groups Involvement
No information is available
Programmes and Projects
In order to strengthen the technological capabilities of Indian industries, both for meeting National needs and for global competitiveness, a number of new initiatives have been launched. A Technology Development Board was established in 1996 with a mandate to facilitate development of new technologies, and the assimilation and adaptation of imported technologies by providing catalytic support to enable industries and R&D institutions to work in partnership with each other. Matching grants to R&D institutions showing commercial earnings through technology services were also introduced in 1996 and will be continued and broadened. Already, a long-term perspective called Technology Vision for India 2020 has been prepared which could form the basis of technology development programmes.
Status
In India, there is considerable technological activity in a wide spectrum of firms. What is most impressive is the number of small and medium sized enterprises that are investing in new technology-based ventures, and often striking out in world market as exporters. However, the rest of the industrial sector still needs to invest in technology upgrading. The experience of many developing and industrialized countries suggests that a rapid acceleration of industrial technology development calls for a deliberate 'strategy', in the sense that it requires the government to coordinate and guide an essentially market-driven process.
Technology development calls for both general and specific forms of human capital, and emerging technologies are highly skill intensive in both technical and managerial terms. While India is endowed at present with large amounts of high-level human capital, investments in the creation of new skills (as measured by enrolment levels in technical subjects at all levels) are low. In addition, firm investments in training are highly variable, with large segments of industry investing very little in training. The small and medium enterprise (SME) sector in particular suffers from very low levels of skill, while industrial training institutes are often unresponsive to their needs. R&D in Indian industry has been rising, but the overall level is still low and over three-quarters of the research effort originates from the public sector. The Government is undertaking an analysis of current technological trends in industry in order to formulate appropriate policies to encourage R&D.
India has a large infrastructure of technology support institutions, some of which are undergoing reform to make them more relevant to industrial needs. A number of universities, especially the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), are increasingly interacting with industry on technological matters, while others are outside this circle.
Environmentally sound technologies are essential to achieving sustained economic growth and sustainable development. They encompass a total system which includes know-how, procedures, goods, and services. Agenda 21 emphasizes the need for access to and the transfer of environmentally sound technologies to developing countries on favourable and preferential terms as mutually agreed. This would take into account the need to protect Intellectual Property Rights as well as the special needs of developing countries for the implementation of Agenda 21.The implementation of the commitments on the transfer of environmentally sound technologies and technical know-how has been disappointing.
Issues of natural resource conservation and agricultural growth cannot be effectively tackled in the absence of an appropriate technological base. In addition, technology is essential for increasing the competitiveness of the Indian economy in international markets. Indigenous development of technology is therefore of the highest importance and deliberate planned steps need to be taken to increase National technology self-sufficiency. Rapid technical progress is altering fundamentally the skills, knowledge, infrastructure, and institutions needed for the efficient production and delivery of goods and services. So broad and far-reaching are current technological developments that many see the emergence of another industrial revolution driven by a new technological "paradigm". This paradigm involves, not only new technologies and skills in the traditional sense, but also different work methods, management techniques, and organizational relations within firms. As new transport and communications technologies shrink international 'economic space', it also implies a significant reordering of comparative advantage, and trade and investment relations between countries.
Challenges
There is a need to strengthen Technology Foresight Programmes to analyze the implications of emerging technologies, domestic strengths and weaknesses, and target future technologies for local development.
Capacity-building, Education, Training
and Awareness-raising
No information is available
Information
In India, the Department of Science and Technology has played an important role in terms of institutional support for building National strengths in scientific fields, and technology assessment and forecasting. A number of technology status reports on energy efficiency, environmentally sound technologies for pollution control, and many other areas have been published.
Research and Technologies
No information is available
Financing
No information is available
Cooperation
No information is available
* * *
Biotechnology
Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies
No information is available
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
No information is available
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
No information is available
Decision-Making: Major Groups Involvement
No information is available
Programmes and Projects
In India, the Department of Biotechnology has constituted 16 Task Forces for the generation of R&D projects for the development of biotechnologies/techniques/ processes, the perfection of techniques/technologies developed, and their field evaluation and transfer to industries for commercialization. This is to benefit the country in general and the affected population in particular. These Task Forces are: aquaculture and marine biotechnology; animal biotechnology; biological control of plant pests, diseases, and weeds; biotech process engineering and industrial biotechnology; basic research in biotechnology; biotechnology based programme for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes population, and weaker sections of society; biofertilizer; crop biotechnology and plant molecular biology; environment and conservation biotechnology; food biotechnology; human genetics; medical biotechnology; microbial biotechnology; medicinal and aromatic plants biotechnology; plant tissue culture; and sericulture biotechnology.
These Task Forces consist of experts in the respective areas from different parts of the country. All the Task Forces have identified the needed thrust areas in the Indian context. Based on the recommendations of the Task Forces, the Department has supported research in the following areas: a) development of stress resistant plant species (crop species, forest trees, and medicinally important plant species) for higher yields with less inputs; b) transgenic crop plants for higher yields, pest management, reduction in toxin contents in some crop varieties, etc.; c) development of biological pesticides using biotechnological tools to bring down the pollution load of chemical pesticides; d) development of more efficient bio-fertilizers which will be economical to farmers compared to chemical fertilizers, and ultimately bring down pollution load of chemical fertilizers; e) development of new immunodiagnostic tools for detection of communicable diseases and certain physiological states, such as early detection of pregnancy, etc.; f) development of new/recombinant vaccines for the control of different diseases; g) development of new strains for improved production of antibiotics using/strengthening the existing infrastructure; h) development of highly efficient strains for the treatment of waste waters (domestic as well as industrial) and conversion of wastes and agro-residues into useful chemicals for industrial applications; i) development of ELISA, phase conjugate reflectivity (PCR) techniques, and DNA probes for the detection of enteric pathogens in drinking water so as to avoid epidemic outbreaks by quick corrective measures to be taken immediately after identification of the enteric pathogens; j) development of cleaner technologies using the biotechnological tools; k) development of biosensors for the detection of xenobiotics in the environment; l) conservation of endangered/threatened plant species which are at the verge of extinction and are of economically/medicinally importance using biotechnological tools, specifically for the development of protocols for ex situ conservation, which would be taken up by the Ministry of Environment and Forests for in situ conservation; m) establishment of gene banks in different parts of the country; n) development of high-yielding technology packages for aquaculture including feed development, breeding and seed production, and bioactive compound, health, development of spawning agents, etc.; and o) development of embryo transfer techniques, animal feed for high milching cattle and for development of vaccines and diagnostics for different diseases in the area of animal biotechnology.
The purpose of gene banks is for the preparation of an inventory of important species, preservation of genetic resources, and to optimize their uses. There is also a provision for networking of gene banks on a regional or inter-regional basis. Under this programme, banks have been established at: the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR), the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi; the Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP), Lucknow; and the Tropical Botanical Garden and Research Institute (TBGRI), Thiruvanathapuram .
In collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Forests, the Department has taken the lead responsibility for the following three activities in the context of the Convention on Biological Diversity: a) development of modalities for access to and transfer of technology to identify the institutions and develop measures for receiving such technologies and utilizing them; b) development of modalities for priority access to biotechnology results and benefits on mutually agreed terms; and c) formulation of procedures for advanced informed agreements on the safe transfer of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) beyond the National jurisdiction.
The recombinant DNA (rDNA) technology heralded new opportunities for beneficial applications in agriculture, animal and human health, industry, and environment. It has also given rise to concern over possible unknown hazards from bridging the natural species barrier and the uncertain effects of new organisms on environmental and public health. In order to have effective and safe release programmes, it is necessary to have biosafety and regulatory arrangements in biotechnology. Realizing the immediate needs for these arrangements, the Department of Biotechnology has prepared the Recombinant DNA Safety Guidelines and Regulations. These guidelines cover the areas of research involving: a) GMOs/living modified organisms (LMOs); b) genetic transformation of plants and animals; c) rDNA technology in vaccines and bioactive molecule development; and d) large scale production and deliberate/accidental release of organisms, plants, animals, and products derived from rDNA technologies.
Status
No information is available
Challenges
No information is available
Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising
No information is available
Information
No information is available
Research and Technologies
No information is available
Financing
No information is available
Cooperation
No information is available
* * *
This information was provided by the Government of India to the 5th session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last Update: 1 April 1997.
Click here for India's biotechnology
information system.
Click here to link to the Biosafety
Information Network and Advisory Service (BINAS), a service of the United Nations
Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), which monitors global developments in
regulatory issues in biotechnology.
Click here to go to the Web Site of UNEP's
International Register on Biosafety.
Click here for the International Centre
for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Biosafety WebPages
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Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies
No information is available
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
No information is available
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
In order to strengthen the technological capabilities of Indian industries, both for meeting National needs and for global competitiveness, a number of new initiatives have been launched. A Technology Development Board was established in 1996 with a mandate to facilitate development of new technologies, and the assimilation and adaptation of imported technologies by providing catalytic support to enable industries and R&D institutions to work in partnership with each other. Matching grants to R&D institutions showing commercial earnings through technology services were also introduced in 1996 and will be continued and broadened. Already, a long-term perspective called Technology Vision for India 2020 has been prepared which could form the basis of technology development programmes.
Decision-Making: Major Groups Involvement
No information is available
Programmes and Projects
Adoption of Cleaner Production Technologies and formation of Waste Minimization Circles are being encouraged to minimize environmental pollution. Under the World Bank aided Industrial Pollution Control Project, technical and financial assistance is provided for establishing Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) in clusters of small scale industrial units at, for example, Mumbai, Surat, and Chennai. An Eco-Mark scheme has been launched to certify various products of industries which fulfil the prescribed standards of environment-friendly production, packaging, and waste disposal.
Status
The expanded scope for specializing in areas of comparative advantage is manifest in the improved growth performance of the economy. Furthermore, while exports have vigorously responded to the removal of the anti-export bias of a protectionist environment, domestic industry appears to have been stimulated by the expanded availability of imports and capital goods, and the challenge of competing in the international market place. The positive response of Indian industry to deregulation is amply demonstrated by the capital goods sector. The capital goods industry which witnessed a negative growth of 12.8% in 1991-92, registered an average growth of about 23% during 1994-96.
Major industrial cities along the coastline like Mumbai, Surat, Cochin, Chennai, Visakhapatnam discharge approximately 0-7 x 109 cubic metres of waste. There are 1,551 industries located along the coastline of the country and all the major ones treat their effluents before disposal. There are innumerable small and medium scale industries which dispose untreated waste into creeks as well as sewage. Several tanneries located in Calcutta and near Chennai have been strongly recommended for closure in cases where they do not install treatment plants within the stipulated period specified by the Apex Court of the country.
Challenges
No information is available
Capacity-building, Education, Training
and Awareness-raising
No information is available
Information
No information is available
Research and Technologies
No information is available
Financing
No information is available
Cooperation
No information is available
* * *
This information was provided by the Government of India to the 5th session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last Update: 1 April 1997.
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