The Hindu Business Line : `Do not go easy on eco norms to lure investments'

Increased flow of investments to the southern States also means increased pressure on environment. Leniency in environment norms should not be the route for attracting investments, according to Dr Sharatchandra, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board.

Addressing the inaugural of the southern regional conference of State pollution control boards here today, he said, they have to look at the environment in an integrated rather than segmented way. With the South attracting investments some States were lax in enforcing environment norms.

Mr K.A. Mathew, Chairman, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, said that the regional conference, a first-of-its-kind effort, aims at bringing about increased coordination between the agencies in the South.

Industrial units close to the State borders should be able to use facilities closer to them in neighbouring States to dispose waste.

Units in Hosur, Tamil Nadu could look at using facilities in Karnataka. Similarly, units in Tada, Andhra Pradesh, could use the facilities in Tamil Nadu. This would help avoid carting waste long distances, he said.

Domestic sewage

Ms Sharwaree Gokhale, Chairperson, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, said that the approach of the board has been `lopsided' in targeting industries for pollution abatement. But domestic sewage was the largest polluter of rivers and these too need to be tackled.

Dr B. Sengupta, Member-Secretary, Central Pollution Control Board, said that air pollution control efforts in Chennai, Hyderabad and Bangalore had been initiated and the plans were appreciated. Continuous air quality monitoring stations had been set up in Hyderabad and Bangalore. Work is on to transmit real time data on to the Net, he said.

Mr A. Raja, Union Minister for Environment and Forests, said that the Ministry would support the decision taken at the conference on utilising common hazardous waste treatment storage and disposal facilities by the neighbouring States.

More Stories on : Environment | Pollution | Tamil Nadu

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page