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INDUSTRY AND ENVIRONMENT

PIL against cement factories emitting pollutants:
Appealing the J&K High Court to expedite the process of directing the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) Nagpur to study the extent of pollution caused by the cement factories the residents of Khrew, Shaar, Balhama and other areas have expressed their concern over the pollution being caused by the emission of cement plants in these areas.

The Kashmir Times, New Delhi, July 17, 2006

Sugar mill project opposed:
The Rs 600 crore sugar mill project at Gagret in Una district has run into rough weather with the state government approving the setting up of another mill in its vicinity, in violation of the norms laid down by the Centre. The managing Director of Maple India Ltd, whose project was approved in August last year by the Single Window Clearance Committee, has approached the high court against the coming up of the second unit. The other sugar mill project was approved in December, last year

The Tribune, New Delhi, July 10, 2006

ITC bets big on e-choupals:
Betting big on its rural initiative e-choupal, ITC hopes the business to generate revenues of $2.5 billion, almost equivalent to the current size of the company by 2010, as it looks to expand to newer states.

The Statesman, New Delhi, July 8, 2006

Okhla plant another step to curb Yamuna pollution:
A Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) to reduce industrial pollution was handed over to the Okhla CEPT society for operation. It is the 10th plant to become operational ever since the Supreme Court ordered in 1996 that steps be taken to treat industrial waste before it reaches the river. Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit formally handed over the 24 MLD plant at Okhla Industrial Area, Phase-I and expressed the hope that the CEPTs would help curb pollution in the Yamuna. Industries Minister Mangat Ram Singhal and senior officials of the industries department were present on the occasion. Since the court order, in all, 15 CETPs were proposed to be built at a total cost of Rs 256 crore in the Capital. Two CETPs are under construction and three have been kept in abeyance on the directive of the Environmental Pollution Control Authority (EPCA).

The Pioneer, New Delhi, June 23, 2006

Supreme Court sees red over green, sends Minister to jail
Maharashtra Minister Swarupsinh Naik tried every trick up his sleeve, from a plea of lack of education to his Scheduled Tribe ‘background’ and even an apology, to escape the Supreme Court’s wrath for violating its orders. But the court sentenced Naik, then environment minister and now in charge of transport, and Ashok Khot, then principal secretary, environment and now additional chief secretary, to one month simple imprisonment. A three-judge bench of Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal, Justice Arijit Pasayat and Justice S H Kapadia found them guilty of contempt of court for letting six sawmills operate near Tansa sanctuary despite SC orders to the contrary. First, the accused allowed six saw-mills to operate in the vicinity of the sanctuary in Thane in violation of two orders by the Supreme Court. Then, they tampered with evidence in a desperate bid to cover up their favouritism.

The Indian Express, New Delhi, May 11, 2006

Tata Steel to start work on 6-million-tonne Orissa plant
India`s largest private sector steel firm Tata Steel said it will start construction of its Orissa plant in two months as it finished acquiring land from the government. The project had run into controversy after police shot dead nine tribals in January after a protest against land acquisition for the project turned violent in Jajpur, some 100 km north of Bhubaneswar, Orissa’s capital. The acquisition of 3,000 acres land for Rs 15,000 crore project cost the company around Rs 60-70 crore and the steel major is in the process of rehabilitating the 700 displaced families — named Tata Steel Parivar.

The Indian Express, New Delhi, May 11, 2006

Dow shareholders want instant relief for Bhopal victims
Shareholders of Dow Chemical have now decided to challenge CEO Andrew Liveris and the company`s top
management at its annual meeting of stockholders. They want Dow to take new initiatives pertaining to the welfare of the survivors of the world`s worst industrial disaster. Shareholders feel that more than 21 years after the disaster, the ongoing dispute threaten Dow`s reputation and business in India. The resolution requests the company to produce a document listing the new initiatives by the management pertaining to the environmental, health and social concerns of the survivors of the gas leak at the Union Carbide plant.

The Pioneer, New Delhi, Many 11, 2006

Manufacturing sector posts rapid growth
Ascon survey:The Ascon survey carried out by the Associations Council of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), for April-March 2005-06 over April-March 2004-05, indicates that the manufacturing sector has reported rapid growth. Out of the 143 sectors reporting production, 36 sectors recorded an excellent growth rate of more than 20%, 36 sectors recorded a high growth rate of 10-20%, 56 sectors registered moderate growth rate of 0-10% and 15 sectors reported negative growth. A larger number of sectors were shifted to the excellent growth category from the high growth category after the Q3 results were announced.

The Financial Express,New Delhi, May 11, 2006

Maharashtra’s new industrial policy set to compete with Gujarat, Tamil Nadu
In order to regain its prominent status in attracting investments, the Maharashtra government is in the midst of formulating a comprehensive industrial policy. The government is striving to compete particularly with Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Orissa and Chhatisgarh. It proposes to lay emphasis on infrastructure development by adopting the cluster approach, providing more incentives which can match with other competing states and making the entire investment process hassle free.

The Financial Express, New Delhi, May 11, 2006

Lenders fail to assess pulp mill project risks
Investors and lenders are failing to properly assess the financial risks behind pulp mill projects around the globe, setting the stage for a possible repeat of the $14bn Asia Pulp & Paper debacle that affected financial institutions worldwide, according to a new study. The results of the study released today by researchers at the Indonesia-based Centre for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), one of the world’s leading forestry research centres, come amid a major expansion in capacity in the pulp and paper industry. Due diligence also has major environmental implications, with consequences for forests in the Amazon basin, Borneo and beyond. Many banks now operate under ostensibly strict environmental guidelines. But CIFOR found bankers and investors relied too heavily on companies’ own environmental assessments.

Financial Times (Internet), London, May 11, 2006

Hyundai plans small diesel car
In a bid to take on car market leader Maruti, India`s second largest carmaker Hyundai Motor plans to introduce a compact car, which could be powered by a 1.2 litre diesel engine. The new car will enjoy the benefit of the excise duty cut announced in this year`s Budget. "We are developing a new version of a compact car as we need more models in the category," Hyundai Motor India Ltd Managing Director H. S. Lheem said. Dispelling talks about the new car being a replacement for Santro, he said: "This will be a car in the same segment of Santro but this will not be a replacement of our flagship brand. Santro would continue to be in the market".

The Tribune, New Delhi, May 6, 2006

Quarrying of stones going on unabated in Nilphamari
Quarrying of stones has been going on unabated in Dimla upazila of the district in Bangladesh for a long time, creating grave concern among the conscious people. It is to be mentioned that huge quantities of pebbles are being extracted with the help of the heavy dredger machines violating the government rule from five unions namely Tepakharibari, Khagakharibari, Ajoyabari, Jhunagachh Chapani and Nautara under
Dimla upazila for a long period. Some dishonest stone traders, after taking the lands from the common people on lease, are quarrying stones from at least 50 to 70 feet deep from various parts of the said five unions. At this the layer of the soil underground is being spoiled. This practice may cause landslide at any time, locals said.

The Independent (Internet), Bangladesh, May 5, 2006

Orissa threatens Tata with mining lease cancellation
The Orissa government may refuse to renew Tata Steel’s existing iron ore mining lease in the state if the company fails to initiate work on the proposed 6 million tonne steel plant in the state quickly. Senior state government officials told that Orissa’s patience was running out and the state had decided to act tough with the country’s largest private sector steel company when its iron ore mining lease comes up for renewal next year. If there was any further delay, it may even decide against renewing the mining lease, they added. Sources said Orissa’s tough stand on Tata Steel was a result of the company’s slow progress in its Orissa project.

The Financial Express, New Delhi, May 6, 2006

Tata Steel to go ahead with Kalinganagar project:
Tata Steel managing director B. Muthuraman said the company would go ahead with its Kalinganagar integrated steel project and assured that construction work of the project would start only after the displaced people are properly rehabilitated and compensated. Mr Muthuraman, who met chief minister Navin Patnaik at his secretariat chamber here, hailed the recently-formulated rehabilitation and resettlement policy of the state government and stated that Tata Steel would abide by the policy. “This is one of the best R&R policy and we would abide by it,” said Mr Muthuraman. The Orissa government last month announced the much-awaited resettlement and rehabilitation (R&R) policy-2006 for industrial and irrigation projects (I&IR) in the state, providing a hefty hike in the compensation package for persons displaced by any project.

The Asian Age,New Delhi, May 3, 2006

It’s often Coke with bad elements
MNC soft drinks maker Coca-Cola regularly pays off its vendors to keep quiet when substances such as tobacco pouches, dirt and fungus show up in its beverages, classified documents of the company’s marketing arm reveal. A confidential memo and correspondences between officials of Hindustan Coca-Cola Marketing Company suggests that such substances are frequently found in its products and the practice of
giving complimentary products to vendors is routine. Coca-Cola Regularly Doles Out Freebies To Vendors For Keeping Lips Sealed.

The Times of India, New Delhi, May 2, 2006

Thirsting Delhi `plays safe` as mineral water companies mint money
If anyone is to benefit from the ongoing water crisis in Delhi, it is the private players providing packaged drinking water to people in the thirsting Capital. While Delhi Jal Board provides a 20 litre container of water for Rs 20, private firms make big bucks selling the same amount of water for three times the price. Today, most offices in the Capital have water dispensers. And with contamination in water being reported everyday, many households have resorted to packaged drinking water and water dispensers leading to a manifold the hike in demand.

The Pioneer, New Delhi, May 2, 2006

Minamata marks anniversary of eco disaster
Hundreds of residents of Minamata, the Japanese city poisoned by decades of mercury dumping, turned out to mark the 50th anniversary of one of the worst-health disasters in Japanese history. About 1,000 people joined the memorial service in the small fishing town on Kyushu Island next to the bay where chemical giant Chisso Corp for years dumped mercury that contaminated fish and poisoned unsuspecting residents.

Business Line, New Delhi, May 2, 2006

Switzerland’s glaciers could run dry:
Alpine Glaciers Have Already Lost 10% Of Their Ice, Ski Resorts Could Become History. It’s cold in the snow up at 2,000 metres, even with sunshine pouring down from almost cloudless skies. Skiers schuss their way down for well-earned lunches and there’s a smile on almost every face in this wintery wonderland. Yet looking over the colossal sweep of the Aletsch glacier, a remnant of the last Ice Age snaking down through a deep valley below the peaks of the Bernese Oberland, the picture appears far different – and warmer.

The Times of India, New Delhi, April 27, 2006

FICCI launches CDM programme:
Towards achieving sustainable development in the country, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) has launched its national programme on clean development mechanism (CDM). The programme has been launched in partnership with the international development agency, NORAD of Norway. CDM ensures curtailment in rise of Green House Gas (GHG) emissions in the atmosphere, thereby helping to reduce global warming.

Business Line, New Delhi, April 27, 2006

Now a formula car from IITians:
A group of students at the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi are trying their hand at something their predecessors have never done before— making a formula car. At the institute’s I2tech open house exhibition, 10 students displayed their design in wood and thermocol. The group now wants to be take part in the prestigious Society of Automotive Engineers competition in Australia. While they want to take part in competitions for different categories like all-terrain vehicles and snowmobiles, it is the formula class that has captured their imaginations.

The Indian Express, New Delhi, April 23, 2006

New industrial policy will give sops for quota:
The UPA government has a new plan to get the industry to imple ment reservation in the private sector. The government is working on a new industrial policy that will give tax breaks or fiscal incentives to companies that agree to implement reservation. A proposal for such a policy is likely to be placed before the Cabinet in six weeks, Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Kamal Nath, indicated.

The Indian Express, New Delhi, April 23, 2006

NGOs seek action plan to end industrial pollution:
It is not enough to clamp down on polluting units, a comprehensive environment impact assessment (EIA) should also be carried out in industrial hubs like Ankleshwar, Panoli and Jhagadia in Gujarat. Several NGOs, in a memorandum to the state environment ministry, have suggested measures to ensure that no further damage is caused by such units in future. NGOs like Pariyavaran Mitra, Pariyavaran Suraksha Samiti, Safety, Health & Environment, Gir Nature Youth Club and Brackish Water Research Foundation are spearheading the move. They have also welcomed Gujarat Pollution Control Board’s (GPCB) move to serve closure notices to over 27 polluting units in Ankleshwar.

The Times of India, Ahmedabad, April 17, 2006

Kosovo Gypsies, Living Near Inclustrial Waste, Fear Poisonings:
The United Nations mission that controls this province set up three refugee camps in the north part of the city for Roma who were displaced when ethnic Albanians took their homes across town at the end of the Kosovo war in 1999. The death toll is especially large for a local Roma community of just 570 people. All three refugee camps lie within 180 meters of three huge mounds of industrial waste, the byproduct of a lead smelting factory that operated from the 1920`s until 2000. Soon after the Roma moved in, the United Nations realized that they were living on contaminated land. Several reports by the United Nations mission and the World Health Organization dating to 2000 recommended their immediate removal. But the Roma remained. Now the mission is planning to move families from all three camps to refurbished army barracks, where it says they will be safe.

The Asian Age, New Delhi, Feb. 18, 2006

Tanneries told to install treatment plants:
Taking note of the press reports that the discharge of poisonous effluent of factories had caused death of a large number of fish, Sindh Environment Adviser Noman Saigal asked tanneries and other chemical industries to stop forthwith the discharge of poisonous effluent and install treatment plants within 15 days or be prepared to face the action under the law. He said this during his visit to Ibrahim Hyderi and other areas along the coast where huge stocks of dead fish were washed ashore. Area people told the adviser that poisonous effluents were responsible for air and marine pollution. The effluents after getting mixed up with water supplied to people also resulted in spread of several diseases, he was informed.

Dawn (Internet), Pakistan, Feb. 13, 2006

Leather exporters seek Rs 100-cr fund for effluent treatment:
The Council for Leather Exports (CLE) has urged the Finance Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, to set up in the forthcoming Budget a separate Rs 100-crore fund for assisting tanneries in effluent treatment using the reverse osmosis process. At a pre-Budget meeting with the Finance Minister, the Chairman of the CLE, Mr Rafeeque Ahmed, also made a case for exempting leather product machinery from the levy of excise duty.

Business Line, New Delhi, Feb. 12, 2006

Eco-friendly ash mound:
NTPC, Dadri, finds a way to save the environment from pollution caused by fly ash. Nuclear waste, e-waste, heavy metal waste, plastic waste-industrialisation and environmental pollution are two inseparable twins. Adding to the list is yet another form of pollutant fly ash. Fly ash is a bi-product of thermo-electric power plants. Keeping the environment safety in view, the national capital power station of the NTPC has come up with an innovative way of using fly ash commercially. NTPC at its Dadri power staton has set up a 100 per cent dry ash extraction-cum-disposal project, which has resulted in progressive development of a green belt besides far less requirement of land and water as compared to the wet ash disposal system.

Sahara Time, New Delhi, Feb 4, 2006

Bengal plastic carry bag makers in a fix:
Over 300 recycling units of plastic carry bags in West Bengal are in a fix and face uncertainty as the State Government and the Pollution Control Board have aired divergent views on a possible ban on the item. While the association had welcomed the Centre’s notification of banning carry bags having a thickness of less than 20 micron, there has been no similar notification or law enacted by the state, barring occasional declaration on a ban.

Business Line, New Delhi, Jan. 30,2006

CLRI, leather sector to float firm to improve technology:
The Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI) and the leather industry will together promote a not-for-profit company to improve the industry`s technological capabilities. According to Mr M.M. Hashim, Chairman, KH Group and a leader in the leather industry, the company, to be named CLRI India Leather Industry Foundation, will have an initial capital of Rs 50 crore. He also highlighted the pollution problems that the industry was facing, especially the small and medium tanners. This needed to be addressed, as otherwise it would be difficult to achieve the target of doubling exports to $5 billion in the next five years.

Business Line, New Delhi, Jan. 30, 2006

What a waste!:
Kolkata’s waste plastic reprocessing units have been functional for over 20 years but have never been accounted for by West Bengal Pollution Control Board. Neither has the board in all these years bothered to set a standard on emission norms for acid fumes emanating from these small-scale manufacturing units. In June 2005, a group of 80 proprietors (excluding PVC operating within Kolkata metropolitan area) approached WBPCB to avail of a probationary permission to operate their units. The board gave a consent letter on one condition: successful installation and commissioning of appropriate emission control devices, on or before March 2006.

The Statesman, Kolkata, Jan. 24, 2006

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