(a) whether the Government has any plan to fully ban the emission of Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) gases which causes depletion of ozone layer;
(b) if so, the details thereof along with the time frame in this regard;
(c) if not, the reasons therefor;
(d) whether the ban on these gases is likely to affect the industries using these gases; and
(e) if so, the alternate steps taken/ proposed to be taken by the Government to substitute those gases?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)
(a) to (e): India is a Party to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer and the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. India has also ratified all the amendments to the Montreal Protocol. A country program has been prepared in the year 1993 and updated in the year 2006 to phase- out the Ozone Depleting Substances (ODSs) and has taken, measures which include, inter alia, notification of the Ozone Depleting Substances (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000 and its amendments under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
India has been implementing the phase-out of ODSs including Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) as per the Montreal Protocol schedule and has so far met all its commitment and comp- liance obligations to the Montreal Protocol by accessing funds from Montreal Protocol’s financial mechanism.
India has completely phased-out the production and consumption of CFCs with effect from 1st August, 2008, 17 months ahead of the Montreal Protocol phase-out schedule except the use of pharmaceutical grade CFCs in manufacturing of Metered Dose Inhalers (MDIs). The use of pharma grade CFCs in manufacturing of MDIs has also been phased out from December, 2012.