India
Mr. Chairperson, Excellencies, and Distinguished Delegates:
We associate ourselves with the statement made by the
Group of 77.
The deliberations in this conference reflect the global
community?s shared interest to make this planet safe for the
present and future generations. Chemicals represent a vital
element of economic development encompassing virtually the entire
spectrum of human activity. Indian chemical industry
manufactures more than 70,000 commercial products and
contributes significantly towards industrial and economic growth
accounting for 3% of our GDP. Sound management of chemicals,
therefore, is essential to achieving long term growth, including
eradication of poverty and improvement of quality of life of our
people.
Mr. Chairperson,
Solid waste generation is predominantly an industrial and
urban problem, which has exacerbated over the years due to
changing lifestyles and increasing consumerism, resulting from
rapid urbanization. Presently about 200 million tonnes of nonhazardous
waste of industrial and mining origin, 6.23 million
tonnes of hazardous waste, 57 million tonnes of municipal solid
waste (MSW), and about 350 million tonnes of other waste from
agricultural sources are generated in the country.
India has developed a robust, overarching legislative
framework for sound management of chemicals and waste. I would
like to focus my thoughts on some of the issues, which in my view
are basic to meeting the objectives of a sound management of
chemicals and waste.
The first issue is how to integrate the informal sector into the
formalized regime as in India a large number of informal sectors are
involved for collection and segregation of e-waste.
The second issue is to explore alternative utilization of
Hazardous Waste instead of traditional disposal on land and thus
maximizing their optimal use. India has about 36,000 industrial
units generating hazardous waste. Waste having high calorific
value is being co-processed in cement industries and the
experience has been encouraging. The utilization of such waste is
being attempted for other sectors like power and steel industry as
well.
The third issue relates to the positive results in India in
setting up of Treatment, Storage and Disposal Facilities (TSDF) for
Hazardous Waste in Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode. As on
date we have 25 such facilities and 8 are under construction.
The fourth issue relates to food security and public health.
Use of chemicals and pesticides is critical to food security. There is
an equally important public health dimension to the use of
chemicals. We use DDT for malaria control and are conscious of the
harmful effects of DDT. Many Countries, including India feel
compelled to continue using DDT as it has overriding utility from
public health perspective.
The fifth issue relates to listing of new chemicals within the
purview of ban and restrictions under the multilateral
environmental agreements. We need to follow a calibrated and
scientific approach and not be overzealous to quickly bring more
chemicals into the purview.
The sixth issue relates to prevention, mitigation and
management of chemical accidents. India has developed an IT
enabled Web Based Chemical Emergency Planning and Response
System comprising digitized maps and location specific data of the
maximum accident hazard units. This has improved our emergency
preparedness. To facilitate flow of chemical accidents information,
an online web based Chemical Accident Information and Reporting
System (CAIRS) has been developed.
The seventh issue is regarding the limited availability of
financial resources and the need for technical capacity building for
Chemical and Waste management for developing countries. Only
limited financial resources are available for implementation of the
obligation under the Stockholm Convention. This needs to be
supplemented.
Thank you, Mr. Chairperson.
We associate ourselves with the statement made by the
Group of 77.
The deliberations in this conference reflect the global
community?s shared interest to make this planet safe for the
present and future generations. Chemicals represent a vital
element of economic development encompassing virtually the entire
spectrum of human activity. Indian chemical industry
manufactures more than 70,000 commercial products and
contributes significantly towards industrial and economic growth
accounting for 3% of our GDP. Sound management of chemicals,
therefore, is essential to achieving long term growth, including
eradication of poverty and improvement of quality of life of our
people.
Mr. Chairperson,
Solid waste generation is predominantly an industrial and
urban problem, which has exacerbated over the years due to
changing lifestyles and increasing consumerism, resulting from
rapid urbanization. Presently about 200 million tonnes of nonhazardous
waste of industrial and mining origin, 6.23 million
tonnes of hazardous waste, 57 million tonnes of municipal solid
waste (MSW), and about 350 million tonnes of other waste from
agricultural sources are generated in the country.
India has developed a robust, overarching legislative
framework for sound management of chemicals and waste. I would
like to focus my thoughts on some of the issues, which in my view
are basic to meeting the objectives of a sound management of
chemicals and waste.
The first issue is how to integrate the informal sector into the
formalized regime as in India a large number of informal sectors are
involved for collection and segregation of e-waste.
The second issue is to explore alternative utilization of
Hazardous Waste instead of traditional disposal on land and thus
maximizing their optimal use. India has about 36,000 industrial
units generating hazardous waste. Waste having high calorific
value is being co-processed in cement industries and the
experience has been encouraging. The utilization of such waste is
being attempted for other sectors like power and steel industry as
well.
The third issue relates to the positive results in India in
setting up of Treatment, Storage and Disposal Facilities (TSDF) for
Hazardous Waste in Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode. As on
date we have 25 such facilities and 8 are under construction.
The fourth issue relates to food security and public health.
Use of chemicals and pesticides is critical to food security. There is
an equally important public health dimension to the use of
chemicals. We use DDT for malaria control and are conscious of the
harmful effects of DDT. Many Countries, including India feel
compelled to continue using DDT as it has overriding utility from
public health perspective.
The fifth issue relates to listing of new chemicals within the
purview of ban and restrictions under the multilateral
environmental agreements. We need to follow a calibrated and
scientific approach and not be overzealous to quickly bring more
chemicals into the purview.
The sixth issue relates to prevention, mitigation and
management of chemical accidents. India has developed an IT
enabled Web Based Chemical Emergency Planning and Response
System comprising digitized maps and location specific data of the
maximum accident hazard units. This has improved our emergency
preparedness. To facilitate flow of chemical accidents information,
an online web based Chemical Accident Information and Reporting
System (CAIRS) has been developed.
The seventh issue is regarding the limited availability of
financial resources and the need for technical capacity building for
Chemical and Waste management for developing countries. Only
limited financial resources are available for implementation of the
obligation under the Stockholm Convention. This needs to be
supplemented.
Thank you, Mr. Chairperson.
Stakeholders