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(a) whether on the World Environment Day, Government had given a call to Corporates to play a greater role in `Green Drive` in a whole range of issues from forestry to running affluent treatment plants and monitoring pollution; and
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(b) if so, the response of different sectors of industry, like pesticides, dyes and chemicals, pharmaceuticals, distilleries, cement and mines and metals, to this directive?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRI NAMO NARAIN MEENA)
(a) On the occasion of World Environment Day, Government organized a Colloquium on Corporate Responsibility for Environmental Protection in association with Confederation of Indian Industry(CII) in which the representatives of the Government, and Industry participated. The Colloquium underlined the need for more active response by the corporate sector towards environmental protection.
(b) Recognizing the merit, cost-effectiveness and long-term sustainability of voluntary compliance and self-regulation, the Government had introduced Charter on Corporate Responsibility for Environment Protection (CREP)in March 2003. The CREP covers 17 categories of highly polluting industries, and is being guided by 8 task forces in the implementation of the Charter. The interactive and consultative process sustained over this period has resulted in an acknowledged recognition of the fact on the part of industry that preventive pollution control measures are economically more viable as compared to the curative measures. There has been a mixed response from the industry. While industries like aluminium, cement and thermal power plants have adopted improved environmental practices, industries like pesticides, dyes and dye intermediates, distilleries, and pharmaceuticals have yet to give the desired response.