CII meet moots plan to manage municipal solid waste

The need for evolving policies and practices for sustainable development vis-à-vis protection of environment were discussed at length at a Conference on “Development Vs Environment” hosted by the State chapter of the CII.

Experts at the conference aired different suggestions to ensure sustainable development without bruising the environment, including, policy initiatives, regulatory measures and sensitising people on the issue.

The recommendations included master plan for municipal solid waste management, common effluent treatment plants and more emphasis on projects such as National River Conservation Plan and National Lake Conservation Plan.

Dr Prasad Modak, Executive President of Environment Management Centre, felt that the scope of environment protection should be broadened to resource conservation, which should be the ultimate goal. He pointed out that the global trend was towards resource conservation.

Mr Mohan Cnandra Pargaien, AP Chief Conservator of Forest, was critical of certain practices of the Indian corporate world. Especially, he said the Environmental Impact Assessment concept was “just a document to be forgotten the day the (environmental) clearance is obtained”. He was for stiffer penalties for violation of environmental norms.

Some experts suggested that broadening the scope of EIA could benefit threatened species conservation, while a few others pointed out that large projects such as airports or shipyards cause wide ranging national and international environmental effects although not directly covered in the clearance scenario.

> amitmitra@thehindu.co.in

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