0

3 INDIA ROUNDTABLE ON

SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION

RD

NEW DELHI, 11-12 FEBRUARY 2010

MEETING REPORT OF THE

1

Table of Contents INTRODUCTION

Participation ..... 2

Objectives ..... 2

Roundtable Design ..... 3

Roundtable Outcome ..... 3

Dissemination ..... 4

PROCEEDINGS – DAY 1

Speeches/Presentations by:

Hem Pande, MoEF ..... 5

Rob Donkers, EC ..... 6

S P Chandak, UNEP ..... 7

Agriculture

C M Pandey, Min of Agriculture ..... 9

Energy

Amarjeet Singh, Central Electricity Authority ..... 10

Waste

Manoranjan Hota, MoEF ..... 11

Water

Lalit Kumar, Central Water Commission ..... 13

PROCEEDINGS – DAY 2

Sustainable Agriculture

P C Kesavan, MSSRF ..... 15

G R Dharmendar, Centre for Sust. Agricl ..... 16

Sustainable Consumption

Luc Reuter, UNEP .... 17

Patrick Braunmuehle, GTZ ..... 18

Maren Weber, Univ. Of Witten ..... 19

Ashim Sanyal, Consumer VOICE ..... 20

Mala Bannerjee ..... 21

Energy

Sandeep Garg, Bureau of Energy Efficiency ..... 22

V K Sehgal, Petroleum Conservation Res. Assn ..... 23

Waste

S P Chandak, UNEP ..... 24

Amit Jain, IRG Systems ..... 26

Shyamala Menon, CEE ..... 27

Water

C M Pandit, National Water Academy ..... 27

M Gopalakrishnan, ICID ..... 29

Suresh Babu SV, ARGHYAM ..... 30

Rana Chatterjee, Central Ground Water Commission ..... 31

Concluding Remarks

S P Chandak, UNEP ..... 32

Hem Pande, MoEF ..... 32

2

3RD

INDIA ROUNDTABLE ON

SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION & PRODUCTION

NEW DELHI, 11-12 FEB 2010

Meeting Report

The 3rd

India Roundtable on Sustainable Consumption & Production was held in New Delhi on 11-12 Feb

2010. The Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF), Govt of India and the Division of Technology,

Industry & Economics, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) were the co-hosts. Society in

Action Group (SAG) were tasked with the organization and provision of logistical support. As with the

first two Roundtables, the European Union provided the funding support.

Participation:

A total of 65 participants attended the Roundtable. The break-up was:

Academics = 4

Government = 21

Industry = 6

Multilaterals/donors = 8

NGOs = 26

The Central Government was represented by 7 Ministries/Departments or bodies directly responding to

them. A complete list of participants, along with contact e-mail addresses, is annexed herewith.

Objectives:

The objectives of the 3rd

India Roundtable on SCP were to:

• re-visit the five SCP concern areas first tabled at the Mumbai Roundtable in 2006. These were:

Agriculture, Consumer Demand, Energy, Waste Management and Water.

• take stock of the existing practices, legislation, bottlenecks and obstacles

• discuss and agree on what measures are necessary to improve the country's SCP performance

• provide inputs to the MoEF delegation which will be discussing SCP at the 18th

meeting of the

U.N. Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD 18) to be held in New York in May 2010.

SCP is one of the 3 thematic issues for CSD 18, with a 10-Year Framework of Programmes to be

elaborated at the Meeting.

3

Roundtable Design:

The Roundtable commenced post lunch on 11th

Feb 2001 and concluded in the evening of the 12th

Feb.

The first day was earmarked for introductory speeches and for the different Ministries of the

Government of India to make presentations on their respective sectors. The second day was for sector-

wise presentations and discussions, with each sectoral group being requested to bear in mind the

Roundtable objectives as listed above. Background Papers were circulated as hard copies with the

conference folders. Electronic copies were e-mailed to those participants who had registered and

indicated their sectoral interest. The Background papers are annexed to this Report.

The Ministry of Environment & Forests hosted cocktails and dinner on the evening of 11th

Feb.

Roundtable Outcome:

As will be evident from the narrative of the proceedings below, there are two types of outcomes. The

first is a general set of suggestions/recommendations to the different Ministries relating to

improvements in sustainability in their respective sectors. The second comprises suggestions for

inclusion in the proposed 10-Year Framework of Programmes which will be discussed at the 18th

meeting of the U.N Council for Sustainable Development, New York, in May 2010; these were

specifically elicited following the presentations on each sector. The general recommendations may be

noted by the respective Ministries, whereas the suggestions for the 10 YFP served as inputs for the

Indian delegation to CSD 18, which was headed by the Ministry of Environment & Forests.

Dissemination:

This Meeting Report is being burnt on CDs which will be distributed to all participants upon receipt of

approval of the draft from the Ministry of Environment & Forests and UNEP. The CD contains an

abstract of all the speeches made at the Roundtable, all Power Point presentations (converted to pdf

format to prevent unauthorized editing) and a record of the sector-wise discussions.

Disclaimer:

The views and opinions contained herein are solely those of the respective authors, expressed in their

individual capacity and may not be construed to be those of the Ministry of Environment & Forests or of

any other Ministry or Department of the Government of India.

The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the

expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the United Nations Environment Programme

concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning

delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Moreover, the views expressed do not necessarily represent

the decision or the stated policy of the United Nations Environment Programme, nor does citing of trade

names or commercial processes constitute endorsement.

This is not an official Government of India, UN or EU publication.

4

PROCEEDINGS: DAY 1

(11th

Feb 2010)

Extract of Speech by Mr Hem Pande, Jt Secretary, Ministry of Environment & Forests(MoEF) Govt of India

Mr Pande welcomed all participants who had come from all parts of India and in particular, Mr S P

Chandak from UNEP, Tokyo and Mr Luc Reuter from UNEP Paris. He was particularly gratified to note

the presence of so many officials from the diferent Ministries of the Govt of India as well as the Planning

Commission. He expressed his particular thanks to the European Union for supporting the Roundtable

and to Mr Rajan Gandhi who was driving the entire SCP agenda.

Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) was a spectacle with which we viewed the process of

sustainable development. It looked at development from the perspective of how we produce goods and

services and how we consume them. This perspective permits a clearer insight into the development

process and how it impacts the environment. The MoEF is committed to the sustainable development

of India, as is evident from the National Environment Policy as well as the Action Plan on Climate

Change. Economic growth obviously came first but what was needed was the ability to balance the

economic development and environment agendas and to evolve win-win solutions.

India is conscious of the fact that its environmental footprint on a per capita basis is far lower than that

of developed countries. India was equally conscious of its size and its potential for environmental

damage. The clear aim was to ensure that the potential was not converted into reality. He stressed that

economic growth was essential for India but it needed to be balanced with environmental concerns. In

his humble opinion, he felt that Indians were rather good at achieving the balance.

The Roundtables on SCP provided an excellent forum for the Government to exchange views and

perspectives with academics, industry and civil society groups from all over India. At the first

Roundtable, 5 areas of immediate concern from the SCP perspective had been identified: Agriculture,

Consumer Demand, Energy, Waste and Water. At the second Roundtable, three of these were

discussed in greater detail and steps to move forward had been suggested. In this Roundtable, the

original five sectors would be re-examined.

On the first day, participants would listen to the views of the concerned Ministries; the next day was for

brainstorming and analysis in order to suggest ways and means by which India could achieve its twin

goals of economic growth coupled with protection of the environment.

Mr Pande announced that SCP was one of the thematic areas which would be discussed at CSD in May

when the 10 Year Framework of Programmes, as suggested in the Johannesburg Plan of

Implementation, was to be elaborated. The MoEF would be leading the Indian delegation to CSD and

the views of the participants at the Roundtable were extremely important in helping the delegation to

adopt a stance at the negotiating table.

5

He once again thanked all the participants for their presence at the Roundtable. He further thanked the

EU and UNEP for the opportunity to host the Roundtable, and Mr Rajan Gandhi of SAG for anchoring the

event.

------------------------------------------

Extract of Speech of Mr Rob Donkers, Minister Counsellor Environment, Delegation of the European

Union to India. To be read along with presentation entitled “European Perspective on SCP.pdf”

Mr Donkers expressed his pleasure at being able to participate in this 3rd

Roundtable on SCP in India –

he had attended the 2nd

Roundtable in New Delhi in December 2007 when he had just come to India.

In December of 2008, the European Union had adopted an action plan on SCP together with a

Sustainable Industry Policy. He proposed to go through the European initiatives which may contain

lessons which could be useful to India.

The Western world did not have a very sustainable lifestyle; a lot of the energy and other resources

were being wasted, and the challenge lay in converting this wasteful society into a recycling economy

with greater energy- and resource efficiency. Another challenge lay in reducing the stress that existing

methods of production placed on the environment. A third challenge lay in changing consumption

practices. This cannot be mandated; it has to be voluntary, along with some measures which could

convince people to change consumption patterns.

Another way of looking at the issue was to cease looking at GDP as the only measure of growth. This did

not provide any clue about the quality of the growth, and no idea of the resources - both human and

environmental - which were used to achieve the growth. The need is to find other indicators, perhaps

by “green accounting”, which could supplement GDP so that a better picture of the quality of growth

could emerge. The ultimate intention was to aim for “green growth”.

Mr Donkers described the European approach to sustainability. Its elements include Life-Cycle thinking

of products and the eco-design directive which is legislation intended to seduce producers to set

benchmarks, get better performance from products, use the optimum amount of resources and

discourage the production of bad products. Another element is the eco-labelling system which demands

the involvement of producers, consumers and retailers. Green public procurement is yet another

important element. Stakeholder involvement and tools for assessing progress were also critical

elements in the approach.

Incentives were also needed sometime – partly fiscal but also through peer pressure and through

cooperation. It should be recalled that Governments are also large consumers and although there is as

yet no statutory requirement, in due course there might be obligatory criteria for green public

procurement.

6

In terms of production, Europe promotes leaner production through measures on resource efficiency,

innovation and by setting benchmarks for certain industries. Europe also supports voluntary tools such

as EMAS (Environmental Management Auditing System) by which some industries have concluded that

re-examination of their production processes leads not merely to environmental gains, but is

economically very attractive.

Europe is also encouraging international cooperation on SCP and along with UNEP, have promoted the

Marrakech Process for discussions and cooperation at a global scale. An example was the International

Panel for Sustainable Resource Management which should hopefully produce some interesting reports

on decoupling economic growth and environmental degradation.

Here in India, Europe had put € 70 million on the table in a programme called SWITCH Asia to promote

cleaner and more efficient industry, particularly small and medium enterprises in Asia. Not only the EU

but individual Member States (e.g. Germany in Andhra Pradesh and Sweden for the pharmaceuticals

industry) were also taking the initiative. The EU had a project aimed at eco-friendly textile parks in

Rajasthan leading to the development of a toolkit for dissemination to other parts of the country.

Much work still needs to be done. We have so far been focusing on the supply side, but the demand

side needed equal consideration – how do we influence the consumer and assist in the making of an

informed choice. Finally, it was also a question of one’s mentality – why do people need a second

refrigerator or a third TV set. Well-being was not based on material goods alone.

Mr Donkers concluded by quoting from the Iroquois, a native American tribe – “In our everyday

deliberation, we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations.”

------------------------------------------

Extract of Speech of Mr S P Chandak, Dy Director, International Environment Technology Centre, United

Nations Environment Programme, Tokyo

Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) is the key to sustainable development and is vital for fast

developing countries such as India. The term “sustainable development” gained currency at the Earth

Summit in Rio in 1992 but if one read Chapter 3, Verse 10 of the Bhagavad Gita (which says that if all

work towards the sustainable development of Nature, then Nature would give back all that one

desired), it is evident that the concept of sustainability is several thousands of years old. Our forefathers

were familiar with the concepts and even we were practicing it one way or the other, without knowing

the terminology. What we needed to do was to integrate SCP into our prevailing practices.

We still view development in terms of economic development. That is what led the U N system to

organise the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in 2002, which in turn gave a

real boost to SCP as a means of achieving sustainable development. Much has happened since 2002;

UN-DESA along with UNEP launched the Marrakech Process which was a forum for review, discussion

7

and debate at the regional and national levels on programmes and strategies for sustainable

consumption and production. Seven Marrakech Task Forces – resource centres on different thematic

areas - were formed, they met in India in Feb 2009. The Task Forces had come out with as many as 38

toolkits, guidelines and methodologies for different thematic areas.

India has many critically important assets. The first of these is a very well established system of

governance – a balanced sharing of responsibilities between highly competent officials and politicians.

We have one of the world’s largest pools of scientific and technological skills, produced in-house. We

have a huge supply of labour, both skilled and unskilled. And we have bountiful Nature – land, water,

and minerals.

But India also has several drawbacks – the four ‘I’s of ignorance, intolerance, individualism and Indian

Standard Time !

In Mr Chandak’s view, there were priorities for India. The first was the question of increasing resource

efficiency and thus reducing wastage. In Japan, for example, the Government had set targets for

productivity in terms of GDP per tonne of raw material. In 2005, it was 24 million Yen per tonne of raw

material; the target for 2015 was 46 million Yen. Recycling of material would increase by 50% in 10

years. Waste generation would come down from 4.2 billion tonnes/annum to 1.8 billion tonnes.

India needs similar targets, at both the national and the local levels. Perhaps we need national

champions such as film stars or cricketers or even religious leaders who command huge audiences.

Another method would be to institute awards for SCP, on the lines of awards for productivity and energy

efficiency. And finally, we needed to engage the media. Admittedly, SCP was not sensationalist and the

media thrives on sensationalism, but an attempt should be made – possibly at a 4th

Roundtable – to

invite and engage the media.

Mr Chandak was convinced that India’s present patterns of consumption and production were not

sustainable. Refuge was often sought by saying that 70% of India was still below the poverty line but it

should not be forgotten that the balance 30% constituted a population as large as the USA.

UNEP saw three major roles for itself in this context: first, to provide technical assistance leading to

more sustainable systems of production and consumption at the national, regional or local level. The

second was to provide as much experiential knowledge as needed, through the Marrakech Task Forces,

and through the periodic review meetings. And finally to provide the opportunities for sharing of

experiences, both good and bad. There has been a lot of thinking globally over the last 8 years since

Johannesburg. What was now needed was to act locally.

------------------------------------------

8

Extract of Speech of Mr C M Pandey, Addl Commissioner Ministry of Agriculture, Govt of India (speaking

in lieu of Mr E K Majhi, Jt Secretary)

The country has gone through two agricultural revolutions – the first “Green revolution” was more to do

with exploitation and utilisation of natural resources, and the second was the “white” revolution of milk

production,. As Prof M S Swaminathan has mentioned, there is now a need for an “ever-greening”

revolution, which is possible only if we have sustainable agriculture.

At the first Roundtable on SCP in Mumbai, of the 5 priority areas agriculture was possibly at the top, and

it was inter-twined with two other priority areas – water and energy. It must be recalled that over 60%

of water is being utilised by the agricultural sector.

The Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) sees twin problems of sustainability. The first problem is that the

sown area, cultivable area and developed area is fixed; meanwhile there is continued pressure on land

for urbanisation, infrastructure development, roads, canals and the like. The second is the problem of

degradation of land, caused largely by imbalanced use of fertilisers and agricultural chemicals. Water

usage and wind play a significant contributory role in this degradation. It is currently estimated that

degraded land comprises about 120 million hectares. The challenge lies in how to control this.

The MoA has several programmes to counter these problems such as the National Rainfed Area

Development Programme and the catchment of river valley project. These two programmes are based

on hydrological units in about 60 catchment area in all the States. So far, under these programmes

which were started in the 3rd

Five Year Plan, about 20 million hectares have been treated. Despite the

fact that about 5 million hectares have been diverted from agricultural to non-agricultural use, the nett

cultivable area has remained more or less the same, thanks to these programmes.

The next question is of how to improve the productive potential of the existing cultivable land. For that,

the MoA has decided on a mission approach and has launched several missions such as the National

Food Security Mission and the National Horticultural Mission. These are missions which have fixed

targets. Most of the issues relating to sustainable agriculture, like land development, water

management, crop management, micro-irrigation and post-harvest management are also included.

States also have the flexibility to identify block-wise, district-wise and region-wise problem areas and

come up with proposals and programmes pertaining to that particular area. This is a bottom-up

approach and is matched with recent technology as recommended by the Indian Council for Agricultural

Research (ICAR).

The Ministry now intends a perspective plan for the 11th

5 Year Plan, where 32 million Ha have to be

developed. Of this, 20 million have already been covered.

The last question relates to the diversion of agricultural land for non-agricultural use, and is a difficult

one since the country’s development has to go ahead, SEZs have to be built and so on. The answer lies

in the National Farmers Policy, 2007, which emphasises that only in the case of national interest can

land be diverted from agricultural to no-agricultural use. In the event of such diversion the same or

about the same quantity of wasteland must be developed in compensation.

9

The Ministry of Agriculture jointly with the Ministry of Rural Development had also initiated a National

Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy of 2007 to prevent misuse of agricultural land. For certain

reasons, this had not come into effect but the MoA is once again coming out with a national level policy

to prevent such misuse, so that the extent of cultivable land is sustained, and the fertility of the soil is

also maintained.

------------------------------------------

Extract of Speech of Mr Amarjeet Singh, Chief Engineer, Central Electricity Authority, Ministry of Power,

Govt of India

In India, 64% of the installed capacity for power generation is based on fossil fuel; 52% is based on coal.

In terms of actual power generation, 79% is fossil fuel based. This is coupled with severe shortages

against demand. There is currently a peak shortage of 12.6% and an energy shortage of 9.8% and it is

likely that the shortage will continue.

But turning to the per capita emissions, India is much lower than the world average. Further, it has been

worked out that even with the additions in capacity planned, in 2012 the emission intensity of the

Power sector (expressed as Kg of Co2 per KWH) will be lower than it was in 2002. This is principally due

to the adoption of new technology, specifically super-critical technology for coal plants. The sub-critical

plants are also more efficient than earlier.

Different scenarios have been worked out by the CEA for capacity additions in the 12th

and 13th

Five-Year

Plans: a Business-As-Usual model, a Moderate scenario and an Optimistic scenario. The major

difference arise in the assumptions of availability of gas, generation by solar power plants and the

retirement of old and inefficient units. However, improvements in the efficiency of even the older

plants is projected.

The Ministry also has a comprehensive Low Carbon Growth Strategy. The elements of this are:

Promotion of Hydro power projects. Statutory clearances are the major cause of hold-ups and it is vital

that clearances be received by 2012 so as to achieve the 12th

Plan projections.

Promotion of Renewable Energy. This would mean a statutory requirement for purchase of Renewable

Energy by DISCOMs, termed Renewable Purchase Obligations (RPOs), permission to trade Renewable

Energy certificates and the implementation of the Solar Mission of installing 1000 MW of solar

generating plants plus another 200 MW to be generated through roof-top solar plants.

1. Promoting new gas-based plants, as the emissions intensity of these is about half that of coal.

The supply would be would be a mix of imported and indigenous with an equalised pricing

system.

2. Specifying a mandatory minimum efficiency level for new plants

3. Retirement of old and inefficient power plants to the tune of 4000 MW. Of this, plants of 1100

MW have already been retired and the balance identified, but further progress will be

dependent on the rate of commissioning of additional capacity.

10

4. A program to enhance modernize and enhance the efficiency of existing plants, aided by low-

interest financing.

5. Achievement of targets for clean coal technology. By the end of the 12th

Plan, 50% of coal-based

plants would have super-critical technology and by the end of the 13th

Plan, all coal-based plants

will be super-critical.

6. It is well known that transmission and distribution losses in India are very high. A significant

reduction in these is needed to be able to meet energy shortages.

7. Implementation of the programmes launched by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency, such as for

energy-efficiency of buildings, demand side management , enforcement of energy-intensity

standards in specified industries, replacement of incandescent bulbs by CFLs (700,000 bulbs to

be supplied at a nominal cost of Rs.15 each), improvement in the efficiency of agricultural

pumps and widespread adoption of energy star rating of domestic and office appliances.

The CEA has suggested several actions which are needed: the creation of indigenous manufacturing

capacity for super-critical plants, financial incentives for such plants, bulk tendering for super-critical and

ultra super-critical plants and a request that the Ministry of Environment & Forests refuses clearance

for sub-critical plants from 2012.

------------------------------------------

Extract of Speech of Dr Manoranjan Hota, Scientific Director, Ministry of Environment & Forests, Govt of

India.

Waste, in a sense, was sustainable production minus consumption. The management of waste

comprised different but related activities – collection, segregation, transportation, processing, recycling

and disposal. It was a collective responsibility and its framework had to be based on the 3 Rs – reduce,

recycle and re-use. Policies had to take into account both environmental concerns as well as public

health issues. The presentation would be based on the major different types of waste:

Municipal Waste: the primary responsibility for the management of Municipal Waste lay with

municipalities. What was required was a careful analysis of the cost-effectiveness of the different

methods used in waste collection and segregation, particularly since the methodologies used in India

varied widely. Practical methodologies had to be arrived at, and perhaps a regional approach needs

consideration since land for disposal is scarce.

Eight main issues could be identified, including determination of the quantum of waste and assessment

of risks to public health and the environment. Existing waste management policies and legislation

needed to be re-examined, and compliance - including penalties for violation - needed to be monitored.

Finally, there must be provision for adequate funding and manpower.

11

The existing regulatory framework was based on the Municipal Solid Waste (Management and Handling)

Rules, 2000, which clearly laid down the tasks and responsibilities involved. Nevertheless, there were

several challenges, not least of which were the problems posed by inadequate inventorization, better

systems and technology for collection, segregation, transportation and processing of waste as well as

the creation of scientifically sound landfills. Equally important was the creation of a mind-set amongst

citizens which would permit easier segregation, collection and disposal.

Plastic Waste was a highly visible problem but it had to be appreciated that 60% of plastics were in fact

recycled; there was a thriving recycling industry which created income and employment. Plastics had

several very useful attributes. The problem was not with plastics per se, but with littering. Legislation in

the form of the Recycled Plastics Manufacturing and Usage Rules, 1999 (amended in 2003) focused on

carry-bags.

One of the major problems was the absence of a proper inventory of plastic waste. Some of the larger

cities had inventorised successfully but not so in the smaller cities. Proper inventorisation would assist

in the decision-support systems and appropriate technical manuals could be prepared for different types

of plastics for the benefit of different stakeholders.

It was stressed that the responsibilities were collective: manufacturers, end-users, recyclers, municipal

and other Government authorities all had a role to play. Educational modules on the advantages and

disadvantages of different types of plastics and their safe usage and disposal were available, but the

overall awareness and educational effort needed to be intensified.

Electrical and Electronic Waste (E-waste): was becoming an ever-increasing problem. It had become

fashionable for affluent consumers to change their mobile phones every year, or to discard their flat-

screen plasma TVs very frequently. Coupled with an intrinsically high rate of product obsolescence, E-

waste was becoming the fastest growing waste component.

The existing regulatory framework is provided by the Hazardous Waste (Management, Handling and

Trans-boundary Movement) Rules 2008, in Schedule IV. These made it mandatory for recyclers to

register with the Central Pollution Control Board, and Guidelines for environmentally sound

management of E-waste have also been published. There was, however, a need for greater specificity in

regulations governing re-use, recycling and disposal of e-waste.

The key to efficient E-waste management lay in the efficient collection of the waste. Success stories

from India and abroad in e-waste processing need to be replicated, and R & D programmes on more

efficient recovery of precious and non-ferrous metals from E-waste need to be stepped up.

Bio-medical waste was an inevitable consequence of humans falling ill and requiring hospitalisation and

this waste, if not handled properly, has a serious impact on health as well as the environment. The

governing legislation is the Bio-medical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998, amended in

2000 and 2003.

While there had been considerable progress in the safe handling and disposal of bio-medical waste,

strict implementation of the Rules and the registration and monitoring of Health Care Facilities is

needed, with penalties imposed for violations. Simultaneously, an awareness and educational

programme needs to be launched to educate the public.

12

Several possible areas of cooperation were highlighted: a coordinated approach to legislation, with

clear allocations of responsibilities, creation of infrastructure such as common storage and disposal

facilities, capacity-building of officials at different levels of Government with public-private partnerships

being explored for building infrastructure and capacity-building. The use of economic instruments

should be further explored, and a public awareness campaign for all stakeholders was considered

necessary.

------------------------------------------

Extract of Speech of Mr Lalit Kumar, Director, Central Water Commission, Ministry of Water Resources,

Govt of India.

The management of water resources in India is a cross-cutting issue, going across 11 central

Government Ministries and State Governments as well. The Ministry of Water Resources played the

lead role and was responsible for planning, implementation and monitoring. For the purposes of

planning, the Central Water Commission divides India in to 20 river basins. There were wide spatial and

temporal variations between them.

In terms of per capita availability, India was well below the “Water Stress” line, although above the

scarcity line. However, the data showed that there were great variations in per capita availability

between different river basins; average availability did not mean that all of India’s river basins were

capable of meeting the full requirements. The need for a balance between aggregate availability and

aggregate requirements meant that the issue of equity in access to water between different regions and

between different sections of society assumed great importance.

Since Independence, India has created a storage capacity of 225 Billion Cubic Metres (BCM) which is

very low, even when compared to countries such as South Africa and China.

In terms of demand for water, present demand is estimated at between 694 to 710 BCM, rising to

between 973 and 1180 BCM by 2050. These figures must be seen in the light of the fact that total

utilizable water resources are estimated at 1123 BCM. Irrigation is by far the greatest consumer of

water, and although in percentage terms irrigation requirements may fall from 78% to 68% between

now and 2050, in absolute terms the requirement will increase.

To address the complex issues of water management, the up-dated National Water Policy was adopted

in 2002. Water allocation priorities were:

• Drinking water

• Irrigation

• Hydro-power

• Ecology

• Industry (agricultural and non-agricultural)

• Navigation and other uses

13

but the Policy permitted additions and modifications based on area or region-specific considerations.

Since irrigation was the greatest user of water, the Policy aimed at obtaining optimal productivity per

unit of water by scientific water management and improved farming technology.

The other highlights included creating additional water resource facilities, financial and physical

sustainability of existing facilities, rationalisation of water charges, greater targeting of subsidies for

water to disadvantaged sections of society, re-charging of ground water, and coordinated development

of surface and ground-water resources and their usage.

The approach route envisaged bridging the gap between availability and utilisation by supply-side

management – such as creation of surface storage capacity, renovation of old tanks and ground water

development. The gap between creation and utilisation of facilities would be bridged by appropriate

demand-side management involving improved practices in the irrigation, domestic and industrial

sectors. R & D and up-gradation of technology is also critical.

A National Water Mission has been created and this forms the core of the National Action Plan for

Climate Change. The objective of this mission is: “conservation of water, minimizing wastage and

ensuring its more equitable distribution both across and within States through integrated water

resources development and management”. Important strategies of the Mission include:

• Development of water resources information system

• Incentivizing the recycling of water including wastewater

• Providing incentives for water neutral and water positive technologies

• Issuing guidelines for different uses of water e.g. irrigation, drinking, industrial etc particularly in

context of basin wise situations

14

PROCEEDINGS: DAY 2

(12th

Feb 2010)

It had been envisaged that the participants would break into 5 groups for sectoral discussions by

experts, who would select a Rapporteur to present the findings of the respective groups to the Plenary.

However, participants universally felt that they were not merely interested in their own sectors, but in

the issue, problems and resolutions in other sectors as well. The sectors were closely related to each

other from the SCP viewpoint (e.g. the issue of water was inextricably linked to both agriculture as well

as energy). It was thus decided not to split into groups but to stay on as a cohesive plenary.

It is not possible to reproduce the entire speeches of each participant in this Report, and only the salient

features have been provided below. However, the Power Point presentations made by each speaker are

included in this Report and readers may wish to refer to these.

Sustainable Agriculture: (Excerpts from Presentations)

Prof.P C Kesavan, M.S Swaminathan Research Foundation, Chennai.

Scepticism about the Green revolution had been voiced by Prof M S Swaminathan as far back as Jan

1968, when he pointed out that loading the soil with enormous quantities of fertilizers and chemicals

and withdrawing ground-water indiscriminately was simply not sustainable. Indigenous varieties of

wheat, in particular, had been abandoned in favour of just three “high-yielding” varieties dependent on

chemical fertilizers, high levels of irrigation and chemical pesticides. The resultant problems were

degradation of the soil, degradation of ground water quality and loss of bio-diversity.

In addition, there are social problems as well. Due to our large population, the degradation and

depletion of natural resources, livelihoods in rural areas are becoming scarce and there is migration of

young men into urban areas, becoming environmental or ecological refugees. Young women are left

behind to bear the burden of poverty in what could be called the feminization of poverty.

Compounding the problems is the issue of climate change and biodiversity-rich countries such as India

are at particular risk. A 0.5° C increase in average temperature in the North India plains could lead to a

decline in wheat production of 450 kg per Ha and for an increase of 1°C, it could be 750 kg so there is

the further problem of reduction in productivity. India has a coastline of 7680 km parts of which are at

risk of being submerged. The drying up of perennial rivers leads to over-withdrawal of ground water,

causing increased salinity in aquifers.

The problems in a country like India are not cannot be solved by adopting Western remedies such as

factory farming; we have some 700 million of our population dependent on agriculture. India’s

problems are also unlike those of sub-Saharan Africa where there is a food shortage. In India, 400

million people go to bed hungry not because there is insufficient food, but that it is not reachable or

affordable.

15

In India, Prof Swaminathan has proposed the “Evergreen Revolution” which takes an integrated and

holistic approach, combining eco-technology, promoting rural eco-enterprises to generate income and

the blending of modern technology with traditional knowledge and ecological prudence of rural people.

There are several successful examples of this blend of technologies, where farmers and scientists have

been able to communicate to each other in an attempt to solve specific problems. This can also result in

non-conventional solutions to age-old problems. For instance, the post-tsunami cultivation of rice in the

Andaman Islands did not serve any purpose; instead, rearing crabs which could fetch prices ranging

from Rs.4000 to Rs.6000 for a 2.5 kg crab made much more sense. Similarly in Punjab, straw was burn

after harvest; if used for cultivation of mushrooms, this would be much more productive. Pests could

also be controlled by biological means. Minimum tilling of the land, as practiced 6 to 7 generations ago

in India, is now making a come-back in parts of Punjab. The Evergreen Revolution also envisages

integration of livestock into farm management, utilising the dung and urine of farm animals for

fertilisation.

Proper appreciation and understanding of the elements and the overall message of the Evergreen

Revolution can provide a truly sustainable model of agriculture in India.

------------------------------------------

Dr G R Dharmendar, Programme Mgr, Centre for Sustainable Agriculture, Hyderabad:

Climate change affects agriculture and agriculture affects climate change; this is a 2-way relationship.

As distinct from traditional agriculture, modern agricultural methods contribute to climate change.

Large quantities of methane and nitrous oxide are released into the atmosphere by present-day

techniques involving the extensive use of nitrogenous fertilizers, improper management of cattle

manure, bio-mass burning, rice production, mechanisation and irrigation. Agriculture is the second-

largest contributor of green-house gas (GHG) emissions; in fact in emissions of methane and nitrous

oxide which are much more potentially harmful than CO2, agriculture is the largest contributor.

Fertilizer production itself consumes 1.2% world energy and contributes to 1.2% of emissions. Chemical

fertilisers are mainly used for rice and wheat, not so much for other crops. India still imports the bulk of

its requirements with consequent concerns over food security. Further, nutrient efficiency of these

fertilizers has been steadily declining over the years with about 30-50% reaching the plant and the other

50% going into the environment. New seed technologies such as GM cotton not only require greater

fertilizer application but there are studies to show that GM cotton might constrain nitrogen availability.

Fertilizer subsidies are a huge drain on the exchequer and the irony is that these subsidies reach mainly

farmers growing paddy or wheat or commercial crops. Simultaneously, we are burning the bio-mass

residue after harvesting, a problem which is particularly severe in Punjab. Every year, we burn 38.5 lakh

tonnes of organic carbon, 59,000 tonnes of nitrogen and 34,000 tonnes of potassium.

Methods of cultivation aggravate the problems. We have now shifted from broadcasting paddy to

inundation methods, requiring large amounts of water and being anaerobic, releasing methane into the

atmosphere. This intensive irrigation then requires construction of large dams which are highly

controversial and which, instead of generating power, become nett consumers of power. Poor

16

management of livestock is another complementary problem and shifting from fodder to feed adds to

emissions.

Of equal if not greater concern is the misuse of pesticides, which are hugely polluting and whose utility

rapidly declines. Unthinking mechanisation and the introduction of GM crops also pose a threat to the

environment.

While everyone talks about sustainable agriculture, there is no commonly agreed definition. We need

to align with natural cycles. Sustainable agriculture should mean an integrated farming system (with

crops, trees, livestock etc) based on locally adapted agro-diverse cropping patterns and the use of

natural resources and processes, based on local knowledge, skills and innovation. It is a fallacy that

organic or sustainable agriculture will endanger or compromise food security. In fact, productivity and

farm income both can rise, and it has the potential to both mitigate and adapt to climate change. There

are visible examples of villages and communities which have successfully shifted to sustainable farming,

and the movement is growing.

To accelerate the trend, we need to phase out meaningless subsidies and promotion of chemical

farming and unsustainable technologies. We need to capitalize on the traditional knowledge of farmers

and extend support to sustainable farming techniques. The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act

(NREGA) may be extended to include sustainable agricultural projects., and the National Mission on

Sustainable Agriculture should take the lead.

------------------------------------------

Mr Luc Reuter, Divn of Technology, Industry & Economics, United Nations Environment Programme

The Sweden-led Marrakech Task Force on Sustainable Lifestyles, commissioned a world-wide survey of

sustainable lifestyles in 2009. Twenty countries, including India, were the subjects of the survey which

was aimed at obtaining data on the practices, views, priorities and aspirations of young people – aged

18 to 35 - in the surveyed countries.

The results were being compiled and would be available around May 2010, and this was a sort of sneak-

preview of the survey. There were about 8000 participants across 20 countries and from India, about

250 participated.

The objectives were to explore sustainability perspectives across different countries and cultures,

stimulate awareness and provide recommendations for policy-making and communications on

sustainability.

Even at the design stage, it was accepted that the results would form a generalization . There were

inherent limitations, in that the survey was to be Internet-based which meant that only those with

access to computers and the Internet could participate in the survey. Further, it was admitted that the

survey was targeting students and young adults and the grouping would probably be a reflection of the

middle and upper-income classes. But these were representatives of the “consuming classes” and thus

their selection was justifiable. Social and cultural differences between countries was of course

inevitable, but a serious attempt has been made to minimise the impact of these. The website is

www.unep/fr/gssl.

17

Perceptions were gathered on three focus areas: mobility, food and house-keeping. The survey

attempted to determine what was the respondent’s current lifestyle, what kind of lifestyle he or she

would like to lead and the link to sustainability. Nine short (1-minute) videos were shown to the

participants and they were asked to choose between two alternative scenarios. It also gathered socio-

economic data on the participants – age, gender, where they lived etc so that data could be linked and

interpreted properly. The questions did not ask for simple “Yes/No” responses; respondents were

often free to elaborate or qualify. The questions elicited the respondents’ priorities and value systems

as much as hard demographic data.

The second part of the survey focused on everyday life. There were 15 open-ended questions on young

adults’ state of mind, towards lifestyles, present and future, and respondents were able to make, free-

form answers, not select from a pre-determined list. The questions were simple – what is your current

life-style, do you live with your parents, do you use a cell-phone, do you participate in

neighbourhood/community activities ? The results from India were quite interesting. On the one hand,

respondents said that much could be done on sustainability on a neighbourhood basis; yet many said

that their neighbourhoods were not particularly interactive.

In India, the partners were Society in Action group (SAG), Venkatesh Trust and Pearl Academy. There

were 230 participants, 60% were male and 40% were female. The majority were between the ages of

18-23 and 65% lived with their parents, grandparents or relatives, something which is possibly India-

specific but which is becoming increasingly evident even in developed countries, since housing has

become so expensive that even young married couples are forced to stay with their parents. About half

the respondents lived in Delhi.

Poverty reduction was foremost on the minds of these young respondents, with 70% ranking it at the

top of global priorities. Their concerns for the future focused on the stresses of crowded, un-sanitary

and high-pressure urban life. Respondents generally did not feel adequately informed about

sustainability, and thus the main issue seems to be education, communication, awareness-raising and

advocacy.

The full results of the survey will be out soon, and Rajan Gandhi of SAG can be contacted in case of

need. If those present wished to communicate on the subject, please contact Fabienne Pierre at

fabienne.pierre@unep.org and in any case, the results will be posted on the UNEP website.

------------------------------------------

Mr Patrick Braunmuehle, Sr Adviser, GTZ ASEM Project "Consumer Protection and Sustainable

Consumption in India".

Consumers, on the one hand, are drivers of economic growth especially in India where the economy is

driven by domestic demand. But on the other hand, consumption causes problems of environmental

degradation and climate change. 25% of all greenhouse gas emissions are caused by households. Food

production alone is responsible for 1/3rd

of all greenhouse gas emissions. Meat production leads to the

problem of methane emission. India has approximately 1/5th

of the car population worldwide.

18

Compared to Germany, India has 15 times the population but produces only 1/10th

of the CO2 emissions.

India’s emissions are steadily rising while Germany has, to some extent, been able to decouple rising

consumption from energy usage. Consumption levels in India are still quite sustainable. The National

Geographic Institute has an index – the Greendex – where they look at the environmental impact of

consumer behaviour. India is ranked one of the highest, along with Brazil.

But things are rapidly changing with a rapidly growing consuming class and the status quo can no longer

be maintained. To that extent, the UNEP study on sustainable lifestyles is very welcome since so far

there was little date on attitudes and mentality.

In Europe, ethical consumerism is increasingly relevant. Fair Trade sales have gone up by as much as

25% in the last 6 months. 90% of German consumers are interested in ethical consumption and 2/3rds

actually buy ethical products.

In India, the activities of the GTZ ASEM project, conducted jointly with the Ministry of Consumer Affairs,

have just started and an awareness campaign under the “Jago Grahak Jago” banner is underway. Work

is underway to produce TV spots and to link eco clubs with consumer clubs at the school level. A

sustainable shopping guide is also being produced, but what is required is product-specific information,

which can be facilitated greatly by product testing. The German Institute, Stiftung Warentest, has a

huge impact in Germany and they are conducting training courses in India on how to improve outreach

and how to integrate environmental criteria into quality assessment.

Recommendations for the revival of the Ecomark have already been made and what is perhaps needed

is an implementation workshop. The following presentation by Maren Weber presents an idea of how

consumers can get product-specific environmental and quality information.

------------------------------------------

Ms Maren Weber, University of Witten/Herdecke, on deputation to GTZ ASEM:

To assess product sustainability, it is necessary to grasp the concept of sustainability and simultaneously

compare the products. In the Sustain Ability Check (SAC), we use the typical approach of listing the

environmental, social and economic dimensions along the whole life cycle of the product – from its

design, material extraction, production processes and packaging; then use, re-use maintenance and

disposal through landfills or through recycling.

Research reveals that from the environmental perspective, the most important topics currently are

climate change and energy consumption.. On the social side, the topics are health and education and on

the economic side, it is economic performance.

It is possible to conduct a sustainability check by posing carefully selected questions; for example, in

the food sector there could be 15 such questions. We then concentrate on the 5 most critical issues for

a certain product, and ascertain to what extent the information is credible – is it from the producer or

certified by an independent third party.

19

The information could be available on a Web page that a consumer can access. The consumer can

obtain information not merely on the 5 most critical issues, but also on personalised issues – for

instance, a consumer might be more concerned about price, or animal testing or energy usage. The

profile of the sustainability checker should also be provided, the contact details given and if possible, the

checker could be named. Total transparency must be provided – e.g has the information been provided

by the producer, a supplier to the producer, an NGO etc.

Inside a retail store, the consumer will not probably have access to the Internet and another alternative

is to provide the information by SMS.

Ms Weber would welcome inputs and ideas about the practicability of the suggestion in the Indian

context.

------------------------------------------

Mr Ashim Sanyal, COO, Consumer VOICE

Most Indians are not familiar with the meaning of sustainable consumption, and similarly, most do not

know what comparative testing of products and services means.

Comparative testing, in which VOICE is actively engaged, is a tool used worldwide to empower

consumers to make the optimum choice when buying goods and services. As distinct from many

Western countries, Indians rely heavily on persuasive advertising or the endorsement of shopkeepers

when selecting a particular product or brand. Comparative testing involves the testing of branded

goods and services to provide un-biased information on quality characteristics, the key word being un-

biased. VOICE is making an attempt, with the assistance of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs and GTZ,

to popularise referral to comparative testing when making a purchasing choice.

Products subjected to comparative testing are chosen on the basis of nation-wide availability. The

products are tested to established protocols so that the results are completely un-biased. VOICE does

not accept commercial advertising in its magazine, nor does it accept any donations from producers.

The objective is to help consumers make informed buying decisions from between the number of

brands available. It draws attention to unsafe goods and to unfair trade practices. There is consequent

consumer pressure on producers to improve the quality and performance of their products. There are

known cases worldwide of manufacturers going bust because of negative reports after comparative

testing, and simultaneously the better producers have benefited greatly from favourable reports.

The results of the tests are communicated not only to consumers, but also to the Government, to

Regulatory bodies such as TRAI and CERC and to standards-setting and certification bodies such as the

BIS in order to take remedial action, since VOICE cannot take such action themselves. Comparative

testing also moderates profligate spending as a consequence of advertising, and exhorts consumers to

buy only what they really need. Consumers are advised to seek out the best value for their money,

ignoring the slick and sometimes false advertising which surrounds them.

The process of testing and communication of the test results is interactive, with manufacturers being

taken into confidence at every stage so that they have the opportunity to object or correct and cannot

state that they were not consulted. The process is very elaborate and time-consuming. There are 15

20

stages in the process, and it could take anywhere between 6 to 14 months to complete the testing of a

single product.

There are only two organisations in India doing comparative testing. Credibility is vital, since it could

mean the success or failure of a product and also because Government agencies could act on the basis

of the test results. The tests are thus conducted only in NABL approved laboratories. An ombudsman is

an important and integral part of the system and Justice P N Bhagwati, retired Chief Justice of the

Supreme Court, continues to be the Ombudsman for VOICE.

VOICE is covered by insurance against libel, although it must be stated that there have been no legal suit

since 1993, when VOICE first started comparative testing. There have been challenges on each and

every test by industry , but since the process has been so transparent, it has never been necessary to go

to court.

VOICE has a long list of products it has tested and it now has the mandate to test 16 products a year,

which represents a doubling of capacity, as well as 3 services in a year. Service evaluation does not

require lab testing, and the rating is done on the basis of the consumer’s perception of quality. It is a

long and complex process, based on European methodology.

VOICE has completed the testing of 4 different sectors and the results of an evaluation of domestic

airlines will be published in April 2010.

------------------------------------------

Mrs Mala Bannerjee, President, Federation of Consumer Associations of West Bengal

Mrs Bannerjee observed several merits and demerits of the presentations made so far but wished to

draw the attention of participants to the services offered by the Government, Of the five sectors taken

up for discussion, Ms Bannerjee proffered some alternatives.

In the field of agriculture, “zero-investment” farming which required no chemicals and fertilizers, only

the country cow and cow-dung, was the route to affordable, nutritious and safe food for consumers.

In the Energy sector, the focus should be on lower energy consumption and appliances and gadgets such

as mobile phones, TVs, refrigerators must be obliged to carry statutory certifying marks such as the ISI

mark.

On waste management, it was recognised that segregation of waste at source was the key to the

resolution of downstream problems. Yet this practice was never followed. It was essential to cultivate

this habit.

The fourth point was water. There is a need for affordable technology to convert saline water into

drinking water. Contamination of ground water has to be avoided at all costs and rain-water harvesting

needed to be strongly encouraged.

21

As far as consumer demand was concerned, the socio-economic conditions prevalent in India should

guide future decisions. Consumer education, the creation of awareness in consumers about the merits

and demerits of products and usage of those products, Government intervention wherever necessary

and comparative testing schemes such as adopted by VOICE were all necessary.

Describing her own organisation, Mrs Bannerjee termed it a network of 240 organisations in most, but

not all blocks of the State aimed at protecting consumer rights. It ran perhaps India’s only NGO

operated NABL accredited laboratory for testing of food and water

------------------------------------------

Mr Sandeep Garg, Energy Economist, Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE)

Mr Garg was highly appreciative of the Background Paper circulated at the Roundtable which, he said,

explained what exactly is sustainability in consumption. The portfolio of the BEE includes enabling

legislation, institutional arrangements at the Central and State level, putting in place a multi-sector

policy for energy efficiency, preparation of an energy efficiency Action Plan and being the key actor in

the National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency. The BEE was setting up a public sector corporation

– Energy Efficiency Services Ltd – for leading implementation . The National Productivity Council was

conducting the independent monitoring and verification of energy savings.

The intention was clearly to assist in providing 1000 KWh per capita by the end of the 11th

5-Year Plan.

We must use energy but more efficiently. To achieve this, the BEE had 5 broad parameters: an

appliance standards and labelling programme, industrial energy benchmarks, energy conservation

building codes (ECBC), monitoring energy use in high energy consumption units and creation of energy

certifiers and auditors. Establishing public-private partnerships for delivery of energy efficient systems

was a major goal and the BEE had done considerable hand-holding with architects and builders to have

more energy-efficient buildings.

The BEE was responsible for the creation of the star rating for electrical appliances, basically a

comparative energy use label. They have done a lot of benchmarking and raised the standard from the

BIS, creating new standards in the process, e.g for colour TV sets and washing machines where no

standards existed. This activity propels the shift towards greater energy efficiency, with the BIS

standard – where it exists – serving as the base from which improvements have to be made.

There is a need for greater definition of standards as well as up-grading of standards. In the context of

creating legislation for energy efficiency, Indian attitudes and compliance levels are very different from

those of the US and Europe – we ask many questions before implementing, seeking to arrive at a

balance. Taking the example of electric pumps, Mr Garg said that there was a myth that SSI

manufacturers of pumps were inefficient. This was found to be incorrect, and creating the proper

certification and labelling standards would serve to demonstrate this. There is, additionally, a need to

harmonise Indian product certification with international certification.

Displaying a list of products which the BEE were targeting, Mr Garg stated that perhaps in the next

fortnight, a label for washing machines would be announced. The label would be based not only on

energy consumption but also on water usage per cycle, a true sustainability label.

22

Other products in the pipeline included computer monitors, laptops, electronic ballasts, set-top boxes –

many of which were in stand-by mode most of the time. Just talking about energy star ratings for such

equipment had resulted in manufacturers voluntarily improving energy efficiency. Still more products

were under consideration such as mobile phone chargers, diesel generating sets, boilers, compressors,

water coolers, visi-coolers, chest coolers and passenger cars.

There were some common misconceptions about many products , for example agricultural pump-sets

where contrary to popular belief, large areas of the country (e.g. in Maharashtra) were switching over to

4 and 5 star pump-sets. There were controversial products such as CFLs where the concern was now

on mercury content; the BEE was providing inputs to the Ministry of Environment & Forests in such

cases.

On demand-side management, by comparing actual sales of 1-star rated products with those of 5-star

rated products, it could be calculated that 2127 MW had been saved from the use of more energy

efficient appliances.

In terms of policy interventions, BEE was targeting designated consumers such as industrial units which

were required to file energy consumption information on a regular basis. Despite initial resistance, BEE

had been able to influence purchasing by the DGS&D and by large Government users. For example, the

DGS&D has made it mandatory to procure only 3-star rated electrical geysers and 5-star rated ceiling

fans. State Governments procure a large number of distribution transformers – about 3 lakhs – and all

utilities are required to buy transformers of 3-star rating and above. The energy star rating and

implementation mechanism has been so successful that it has attracted imitation from countries in

Europe and Australia.

The approach of the National Enhanced Efficiency Mission – about to be launched - is to promote

development while addressing the issue of climate change and bearing in mind the four E’s – energy,

efficiency, equity and environment.

------------------------------------------

Dr V K Sehgal, Jt Director, Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA)

The PCRA had its origins in the Petroleum Conservation Action Group, set up after the oil crisis of the

1970s. The PCRA was formed in 1978 and now has a presence in all 4 Metros and the States, with 22

offices. Its personnel are mainly drawn on deputation from the oil industry PSUs. The head of its

Governing Body is the Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

The PCRA has wide-ranging activities. Field activities address the Transport, Industry, Commercial,

Agricultural and Domestic sectors. The PCRA also works on educational campaigns, training and

networking and R & D activities in the areas of bio-fuels, additives and energy-efficient products and

processes. For the transport sector, PCRA conducts driver training programmes in State Transport

undertakings to conserve fuel. In the area of educational campaigns, it attempts to create awareness

and sensitivity amongst school-going children. In the agricultural sector, it focuses on lift irrigation

pumps and participates in events such as kisan melas (farmers’ fairs) to promote energy efficient pumps.

23

It assists industry by conducting energy audits and provides advice on energy-efficient, green

commercial and domestic buildings.

In its outreach efforts, it uses a wide range of media such as TV spots, radio jingles and programmes,

print media, outdoor advertising, participation in exhibitions and through the Internet on its Website.

The PCRA has a major R & D programme (see presentation) and its strategies centre around:

� A massive National awareness campaign

� Bringing about Energy efficiency in premier organizations in the country

� Focus on Transport sector – consuming 50% of POL

� Making large industrial clusters energy efficient

� Involving a large number of institutions for promoting active research in conservation

technologies

� A major thrust on Bio-fuels promoting them as alternatives

� Networking with international conservation agencies along with national associations like CII,

TERI, FICCI etc.

The first phase of the successful PCRA awareness campaign is over and the second phase, consisting of

conventional awareness raising combined with special activities (brand ambassador, involvement of

youth and women’s groups and inclusion of energy-efficiency in textbooks, started in Jan 2010.

For energy audits, the PCRA targets high visibility and high consumption clients. The aim is to publicise

the consequent savings widely so as to have a snow-balling effect. The PCRA is actively engaged in

developing standards and labelling of fuel-efficient vehicles in India since more and more buyers are

concerned with fuel efficiency and vehicular pollution.

The PCRA networks throughout India and abroad with like-minded organisations, and has signed MOUs

with the BEE, GTZ, ECC Japan as well as with Indian Industry Chambers for information sharing and

learning.

Amongst other targets, PCRA will investigate saving over 10 MMT/annum by using gas to fire refineries,

establish a National Carbon Trading desk, leverage taxes for promoting energy efficiency in the transport

sector and help industry to become more competitive by reducing energy consumption through regular

energy audits. It was also possible to promote products which would help the domestic sector to

achieve savings in energy consumption.

------------------------------------------

Dr S P Chandak, Dy Director, International Environmental Technology Centre, DTIE, UNEP.

It is clear that the per capita increase in waste generation is linked more to increase in GDP than to

increases in population. In other words, the richer we get, the more we tend to waste and the richer the

country, the greater the per capita waste generation. But the problem is not only one of quantity of

waste, it is also one of waste composition.

24

Waste composition differs from low income to middle income to high income countries. Low income

countries could have as much as 60-70% organic waste, whereas in high income countries, this could be

as low as 33%. The disposal of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) also differs between rich and poor

countries. In Asia and Africa, over half the waste is disposed in open dumps whereas in the more

developed counties, most is disposed in sanitary landfills.

What we are seeing today is merely the tip of the iceberg. We do not see the impact on future

generations. Sustainable development means that waste management has to be tackled today if we

are to protect the interests of future generations.

In a lighter vein, Dr Chandak went through some of the perceptions on MSW: From the individual’s

point of view, the acronym applicable as NIMBY – Not In My Back Yard. From the politician’s viewpoint

is was NIMET – Not In My Elected Term. From the perspective of self-styled “activist” NGOs (not invited

to this Conference), the acronym BANANA applies – Build Absolutely Nothing Anytime Near Anybody.

From Industry’s point of view, the acronym was CATNAP – Cheapest Available Technology Narrowly

Avoiding Prosecution.

But the challenges had to be met and we have to devise ways of meeting the challenges. UNEP’s

approach was to go for Integrated Solid Waste Management Plans. These integrated the problem of

disposal with other related and causal issues – such as collection, segregation, transportation etc. Quite

often there are different agencies which handle different forms of waste, such as hazardous or bio-

medical or e-waste. UNEP advocated a strategic approach which considered waste from all sources and

viewed it from all aspects. Waste was not to be seen as a problem, but also as an opportunity. Further,

unless all stakeholders were involved in the plan, it was not possible to arrive at an optimum solution.

An integrated Solid waste Management Plan comprised policies and regulatory measures, technologies

required to implement the plan and voluntary measures needed to support it. Further, concrete data on

waste characterization and quantification of existing and future waste generation was vital to the plan.

It should be remembered that a waste management systems envisaged a life-span of 20 – 50 years. The

concerns of stakeholders also had to be built into the plan.

In any project that UNEP undertakes, it spends up to 6 months gathering the required information.

UNEP also studies the prevailing management system, however primitive it might be, looking for the

gaps that exist in the prevailing system.

UNEP believes that seeing is believing and has undertaken several demonstration projects. Its

experience in these has been that in the demonstration projects, 60-70% of the waste can be diverted

from landfills – in other words, the life of an existing landfill could be extended by 3-5 times. Guidelines

are available on the UNEP Website and are freely downloadable.

The issues in waste management can broadly be divided into 2 categories. In the first category are the

issues of the waste management chain: source segregation or its absence, treatment and disposal of

MSW (generally MSW is not treated) and the slow progress in the shift to sanitary landfills.

The second is the action category: the need for time-bound targets, a re-orientation from discharge-end

control policies to policies based on the source-end. The environment is not affected merely by what is

discharged; it is also affected by what is being used in the first place. For technology, there has to be a

25

specific need assessment of what is required and what can be developed in-house. Financing issues also

fall into this category – the need to consider special funding mechanisms or incentives for clean and

efficient technology. Finally, there are the issues of stakeholder awareness, engagement and

transparency.

------------------------------------------

Mr Amit Jain, Mg Director, IRG Systems South Asia Pvt Ltd

RG Systems was a subsidiary of the International Resources Group, USA, and provided technical

assistance in environment, energy, natural resources, water resources, and disaster relief &

reconstruction in the region. It had extensive experience in India and the region.

As far as E-waste was concerned, the first milestone came in 2003 when e-waste was flagged and a pilot

study conducted. A need was felt for inventorization and to find out what needed to be done – a road

map was created. Subsequently, studies revealed that the national inventory of e-waste was about

146,000 tonnes in 2005, rising to about 400,000 tonnes in 2010-11

Since 2004 when the magnitude of the problem was realized, India had conducted several awareness

and technical capacity-building workshops all over the country and Mr Jain was aware of several

excellent initiatives in Bangalore and Delhi.

An ELCINA (Electronic Industries Association) report threw light on consumer attitudes towards e-

waste. It found that 65% of individuals were most interested in the price they obtained from discarded

e-waste; only 2% were concerned about the environmental impact. Even for the corporate sector, 60%

looked for value considerations when disposing old computers and only 6% disposed them in an

environmentally friendly manner. As much as 11% enters the waste stream through scrap dealers.

E-waste has different characteristics from Municipal Solid Waste or Hazardous Waste and has to be

treated differently. The recycling industry is organized into paper, plastic, ferrous and non ferrous

sectors, and meets 40% to 50% of the total demand of metals, plastic and paper in the country. Yet

most of the recycling industry is in the unorganized sector which plays little attention to pollution

control. The prevailing Indian E-waste business model has emerged as a natural branch of the scrap

industry which accepts waste from many diverse sources. The scrap metal industry absorbs the new E-

waste stream to recover metals.

In the future, computers, cellular phones, refrigerators and washing machines are likely to drive the

future growth of the recycling industry in India, with recovery of plastics and metals being the major

Intent. Due to low costs, the informal sector is likely to continue playing a major role.

Major challenges include i) implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility regulations, ii)

channelization of the material, iii) integration of formal and informal sectors of the recycling industry, iv)

inexpensive and appropriate local solutions for dismantling and recycling, v) environmentally conscious

product and process design, vi) testing techniques for e-waste and vii) toxicological studies for e-waste.

------------------------------------------

26

Ms Shyamala Menon, ,Programme Director, Centre for Environment Education

About 45% of India’s land area is considered degraded; not necessarily polluted but also degraded due

to factors such as soil erosion, and this highlights the magnitude of the problem.

The small and medium sector of industry (SMEs) account for about 65% of the total industrial pollution

in the country. Tanneries and other industries using chromium-based chemicals, pesticide formulators

and indiscriminate use of pesticides all contribute to pollution. There are a range of problems

associated with the disposal of “muck” and it is often difficult to scale up from demonstration projects

to large scale adoption. Even when technology is available from overseas, the problems are not

articulated properly with the result that the wrong technology is used.

The European Union and Japan have evolved very good technologies involving bio- and phyto-

remediation. They also have very good policies and good decision support systems to complement

their technology. India needs to develop such tools adapted to the industrial sector, scale of the

industry, local climatic conditions, and cost effectiveness, in order to recommend cost effective

strategies for remediation of contaminated sites and/or to mitigate further contamination. Information,

expertise and experiences can be shared with such countries.

Several points can be raised for debate and discussion. First, the recognition that land and water

contamination are different. Secondly, the minimization of waste – if necessary by raw material

substitution - and the required incentives for this. Legislation and punitive action against defaulters is

another point for consideration and public-private partnerships could facilitate the sharing of good

experiences, but need to be properly articulated. It is also essential that a multi-stakeholder approach

be adopted.

Proper articulation should also determine the kind of technology to be imported. Considerations of

Intellectual Property Rights frequently interfere in the import of technology; establishment of at least

one demonstration project and a degree of flexibility to permit adaptation and modification is essential

for imported technology. A green rating programme for industries, such as followed in Japan, would

also be worth considering.

------------------------------------------

Mr C M Pandit, Chief Engineer, National Water Academy, Pune

Mr Pandit stated at the outset that he would be speaking as an individual, not on behalf of the Ministry

of Water Resources or the Central Water Commission.

Whenever Sustainable Development is talked about, the focus had always been on quantity – the need

to preserve natural resources for future generations. In the West, the U.K. has candidly admitted that

they are not even meeting the needs of the present, let alone future generations, and developed

countries seem to be taking the view that having consumed in a profligate manner, the developing

27

world had better not follow suit since it would end up depleting resources and causing pollution even

further.

No one now talks about the original (Brundtland Commission) definition of sustainable development –

except in India. An improvement in lifestyles with consequent depletion of some resources is essential

for a country like India, but there has to be a delicate balance maintained between growth,

preservation of natural resources and ecosystems and social concerns.

Water is a renewable resource and thus quite unlike petroleum. In Nature water is dynamic – if water

falling on the earth is unused, it will simply flow away into the oceans unlike petroleum which will stay

put. The real question, especially when may river basins are already water-stressed, is how to meet the

needs of present generations.

The main concern should be quality, not quantity. Having plenty of dirty and contaminated water will

be of no use to anybody. This accounts for the paradox of people buying bottled water when there is

plenty of water coming from the taps. The tap water is simply not usable because of poor quality.

There is increasing awareness of the long-standing problem of river water pollution. But rivers are

flushed out every once a year with the Monsoons. There are many rivers with reservoirs, such as the

Krishna, Godavari and Mahanadi and the pollution of reservoirs is a much more serious problem, since

they do not get flushed out and thus pollutants accumulate in the reservoirs. Some reservoirs may get

flushed out but certainly, there is no way of flushing out aquifers and this is the most serious of the

water pollution problems.

There were, therefore, two main suggestions:

• The primary concern for water should be quality, not quantity

• For preserving water quality, emphasis must shift from removing pollutants from waste water to

reducing the use of polluting agents in the first place. In reality this means making a paradigm

shift.

There is a common misconception that water quality in rivers can be improved by increasing the flow

but this is not correct. In a water-stressed are, dilution – with perhaps equally contaminated water –

cannot be a solution and it is now universally accepted that dilution will not have any significant impact

on water quality.

Most hotels now say they change the linen every 3 days to conserve water; yet they change the cake of

soap after a single day’s use. This soap enters a landfill and ultimately the hydrological cycle adding to

the problem of unusable water. Similarly mass awareness campaigns focus on conserving water through

various means – rarely do we find that reduced consumption of soaps, detergents, floor cleaners,

pesticides etc is advocated in order to preserve water quality.

Just as there is a carbon footprint or an ecological footprint, there should be a water contamination

footprint. This would assist in changing the focus from quantity to quality.

------------------------------------------

28

Mr M Gopalakrishnan, Secretary General, International Commission on Water and Drainage:

In relation to the Agricultural sector, water quantity does matter. The optimum scenario would be the

provision of adequate quantity of good quality water and this is particularly important in view of India’s

increasing population which will level off perhaps by 2050. Projections show an increase in water usage

between the present and 2050 in all sectors – irrigation, domestic use, industry, energy production and

others.

Thus maximizing water usage efficiency becomes a critical issue. In the National Water Mission, an

increase of 20% in water usage efficiency is envisaged. Funds will be allocated for this purpose but

efficiency improvements have to be very carefully planned to avoid wastage and negative results.

Just as in energy, there are “transmission losses” in the case of water due to seepage and evaporation,

and there is considerable scope for reducing these losses. For irrigation use, the very concept of

efficiency is dependent on the scale – whether the perspective is for a farm or a river basin or the

system as a whole. It is desirable to enhance beneficial water use and reduce non-beneficial usage. In

any event, some circumspection is needed when formulating actions.

For instance for the small farmer, it is hard to sell the concept of higher water efficiency. Water

productivity may be in increased by improving agronomic practices, not necessarily by decreasing water

use. The limiting factor for the small farmer is land, not water use and thus priorities should not be

misguided.

The concept of beneficial and non-beneficial water use is applicable to irrigation as well as to non-

agricultural use, the priority in both cases being to reduce non-beneficial use as caused for example, by

evaporation, seepage and run-off. It is desirable to identify the pathways for improved water use.

Efficient water use means the maximization of beneficial water use, minimization of non-beneficial

water use, control of water losses and increased water productivity.

For efficiency improvement at the national level, it would be better to look at a river basin as a whole.

Closed basins are critical and need prioritising, since investments there can produce results which more

than commensurate. Other ICDP studies have also indicated the need for integrating surface and

ground water uses, looking at land and water utilisation as a whole and consultation with concerned

stakeholders so as to involve them.

The conclusions are that sustainable water use has to be looked at in a holistic sense with considerations

of both quantity and quality. The basic unit for action should be the river basin. Unregulated ground

water withdrawal and usage as well as avoidable diversion of surface water lead to un-sustainability.

Efficient use of water is a major priority and in the future, re-use of water will play a dominant role.

As far as recommendations for the CSD meeting are concerned, the acquisition of appropriate and

inexpensive technologies for water supply and sanitation, treatment of sewage to produce reusable

water and mechanised irrigation could be taken up for consideration.

29

------------------------------------------

Mr Suresh Babu S V, Programme Manager, ARGHYAM, Bangalore :

ARGHYAM is a relatively new NGO working in the field of water and sanitation, particularly in rural

areas. Established in 2005, it works in 15 States throughout India, partnering with NGOs mainly but it

also works with the Governments of Kerala, Karnataka and Gujarat.

From their perspective Water and Sanitation has 6 major challenges: uncertainty of the water source

and supply, conflicting demands, rapid urbanisation, assuring equitable access, problems of waste

disposal and pollution, knowledge and capacity gaps which are increasingly becoming more important

and finally, weaknesses in governance. There are legal, social, environmental, technical, financial and

institutional pressures bearing down on these 6 challenges.

Arghyam believes in an integrated water management approach involving water sources, water supply,

water usage, sanitation and wastewater management are treated holistically. The emphasis is on

governance issues – whether social, financial or institutional – which affect the entire approach.

Without good governance, the whole system collapses.

Field experience indicates that there are several pillars of sustainability. The first is the social aspect.

Real life experience indicates that although lip service is paid to a bottom-up approach, the reality is that

top-down methods generally apply. Arghyam conducted a survey of 17,000 household in Karnataka and

obtained some amazing insights on how programmes are performing.

For instance under the Rajiv Gandhi Drinking Water Mission, field water-testing kits were to be supplied

to all gram panchayats. Their survey revealed that only 50% had actually received the kits, and 42%

never used them. Social audits are thus a key component of this pillar. Another is affordability and

equity in water use.

The technical pillar is frequently area or region-specific. The institutional pillar is often weak; there are

many disablers at work and Panchayati Raj Institutions are prevented from discharging their

responsibilities. In the financial area, Arghyam has found that many first-generation programmes are in

disuse for want of funds to support and maintain them.

Legal issue are commonplace. For example, a village in the dry Kutch area of Gujarat had done a lot of

work on ground-water re-charging only to find a factory coming up in the outskirts which was over-

drawing ground water. There is no legal remedy to this sort of instance. The environmental pillar has

till recently not focused adequately on water quality, and we are still struggling with the issue of what to

do with waste water.

Arghyam does not believe in imposing itself on communities but allows them to make their own choices

while maintaining the principles of equity, environmental safety and sustainability.

There are certain visual indicators that Arghyam subscribes to, prime amongst them being water

availability to all, irrespective of ability to pay. On issues such as distance of the water source, it is

better that communities make their own decisions based on local conditions. Water quality and

30

acceptability is also best decided by the community, rather than mandated, within overall bacterial and

chemical safety limits. Similarly water tariffs are also best decided by the community, ensuring that

everyone has access to water.

Another indicator in the sanitation area is the shift away from open defecation to the use of toilets – a

difficult task, since villagers are not used to closed toilets. In Tamil Nadu, in the first year only 30% could

be persuaded to change and it is estimated that full conversion will take 3-5 years.

Building up the capacity of gram panchayats is a key to sustainable water management. Similarly, it is

often necessary to train a local “barefoot” engineer and equip him or her with not only technical but

also social, managerial and financial skills.

In summary, there is a need for a structured approach to participatory planning and monitoring for

integrated water management.. One size does not fit all – local adaptation is necessary. Behaviour

change is critical. Local capacity building, with a focus on youth and women, is needed for ensuring

delivery. Institutionalising citizens’ surveys as a means of monitoring, ensuring transparency and

accountability is recommended.

------------------------------------------

Mr Rana Chatterjee, Chief Engineer, Central Ground Water Board

Mr Chatterjee wished to share some of the thought processes of the Central Ground Water Board.

Ground water is available, but not necessarily at the places where it is most needed. It is receding fast

but in a pattern.

In North-West India, i.e. in Punjab and Haryana, water withdrawal is high due to agricultural activity but

its re-charge is also high. In Western India – Gujarat and Rajasthan – ground water withdrawal is high

but not met with similar re-charge, leading to depletion. In Peninsular India, the prevalence of ground

water is in specific areas, not uniform throughout and overall, withdrawal is not compensated by

adequate re-charge so there is depletion. In the East, aquifers carry plenty of water and due to socio-

economic conditions, withdrawal is not very high.

Thus one solution lies in locating water-intensive industries in areas where ground-water availability is

high and transporting the produced commodity.

A high level Committee on Ownership and Management of Ground Water had been constituted. Under

the Chairmanship of Dr Kirit Parikh of the Planning Commission, it included professionals,

representatives from NGOs and farmers associations and academics. It had examined management

practices in India and abroad and looked at the issue from the demand and supply side. It came to the

conclusion that certain aquifers need to be developed. But there were certain considerations.

The first of these was the interaction between ground water and surface water. The relationship was

intricate and it had to be assured that otherwise pristine groundwater would not be contaminated by

polluted surface water.

31

The second recommendation was that ground water for irrigation was to be available for a limited

period in a day – around 8 hours – and would be metered. Thus although water withdrawal was not

priced, the energy consumed carried a price. However, water for drinking and sanitation was to be

made available 24 x 7.

The third conclusion was regulation of ground water withdrawal. However, according to the census of

2003-04, there are 19 million irrigation wells already throughout India, almost all of which are privately

owned, and there is a limit to the role that the Government can play; at best the Government can act as

facilitators for existing wells and regulate the creation of new wells.

------------------------------------------

Concluding Remarks: Mr S P Chandak, UNEP:

Three words described Mr Chandak’s opinion of the Roundtable: “I am delighted”. He was delighted at

the organisation, at the selection of such erudite speakers, the focus and most of all by the rich

discussions which followed the speeches and presentations. He only wished there had been time to

synthesize and synergise the 5 areas which were discussed.

India has very little time – because of its population, size, growth and many factors. Participants at the

Roundtable had come up with very important suggestions. It should now be the collective effort of all to

help the Government convert the recommendations into physical actions so that the Government could

go to the CSD with a 2-page list of actions recommended and actions taken.

Mr Chandak expressed grateful thanks to the MoEF, to the European Commission, to SAG and most of

all to the participants for a very lively and intellectually stimulating conference.

Concluding Remarks: Mr Hem Pande, Jt Secretary, MoEF

It was evident from the presence of so many participants even at the end of the second day that the

Roundtable had been truly stimulating and Mr Pande regretted that he had not been there throughout.

He was particularly gratified to see that there were senior representatives from all the relevant Central

Government Ministries and that the major NGOs such as Arghyam, CEE, Consumer VOICE, Development

Alternatives, and Toxics Link had been there along with international bodies such as GTZ.

He apologised that some of the speakers had been notified too late. Every effort had been taken to

deliver the invitations well in time and perhaps for the 4th

Roundtable, he would ask for a nodal officer

in each Ministry so that communications would be quicker.

He thanked the participants, the speakers and in particular the European Commission, UNEP and SAG