Experts discuss 3 Rs that protect environment

Mahatma Mandir on Saturday hosted a seminar on ‘Technology solution for environment upgradation’ organised by forest department and Gujarat Pollution Control Board.

The discussion focussed on technological solutions of Recycle, Reuse and Reduce of resources at various levels but most of the speakers spoke of the three Rs only at the industrial level. Few participants even complained of this bias saying that the seminar was not holistic in nature.

“It is 3:30pm and we are yet to hear anything about technological upgradation for sewage and effluent treatment,” said Babubhai Patel, chairperson of Nandesari Chemical Effluent Treatment Plant. “I came here to learn about treating effluents in a better way but nothing has been discussed so far," added Patel. Earlier, addressing the inaugural function Gujarat chief secretary AK Joti spoke of how the government has to follow norms that have been set for reducing environmental degradation. He was referring to Supreme Court’s judgment on ship-breaking at Alang and how it should follow rules set by Basel Convention, which talks of movement of hazardous wastes across borders.

As per Joti, Bangladesh and China too are signatories of the Basel Agreement but they are not following the norms. Pakistan too is setting up a ship-breaking yard in Karachi. If Alang doesn’t follow the Basel norms, India runs the risk of losing its ship-breaking business to these neighbouring countries.

Also present at the meet was Prof Soli Arceiwala, former chief of environment and health division in WHO, who spoke of Sewage Treatment and its Utilization in a cost-effective manner.