Resolution taken at the symposium titled “Montreal Protocol: Industry Obligations and Response” organised by CUTS Centre for Sustainable Production and Consumption on World Environment Day, June 5, 2002 at CMA Auditorium, Calcutta:

To commemorate the occasion of World Environment Day, CUTS Centre for Sustainable Production and Consumption organised a symposium titled “Montreal Protocol: Industry Obligations and Response”. Apart from distinguished panelists like Shri D.K. Pal, Deputy Director, SISI, Shri. D.V. Lamba, President, Eastern India Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Association, Shri. S.K. Das, Vice President, Federation of Medium and Small Industries, Shri. Arnab Bagchi, Manager (Service), Godrej Appliances Ltd., Dr. Jayanta Basu, a renowned journalist as the moderator, the symposium was attended by experts like Prof. Sujay Basu, Director, School of Energy Studies, Jadavpur University, Prof. Nabinananda Sen, Dept. of Business Management, Calcutta University, Shri. Souvik Banerjee, Manager, Environment Management Centre, Indian Chamber of Commerce and Shri. Tapan Roy, Federation of Associations of Cottage & Small Industries.

The symposium culminated with the objective to contribute towards honouring our commitment in Montreal Protocol by making the environment ODS free.

In this regard, the following decisions were taken on June 5, 2002:

(1)It was decided to set up a small core committee on implementation of ODS (Regulation and Control) Rules 2000to look after, monitor and coordinate the entire process, involving the representatives of major stakeholders. Dr. Jayanata Basu requested CUTS to take the role of the convenor and everybody supported it.

(2)A core committee comprising of the following persons was formed:

(a)Dr. Dipankar Dey, Director, CUTS, Convenor

(b)Shri D.K. Pal, SISI, Govt. representative

(c)Prof. Sujay Basu, Director, School of Energy Studies, Jadavpur University

(d)Prof. Nabinananda Sen, Dept. of Business Management, Calcutta University

(e)Shri. D.V. Lamba, President, Eastern India Airconditioning & Refrigeration Association

(f)Shri. S.K. Das, Vice President, Federation of Medium and Small Industries

(g)Shri. Souvik Banerjee, Manager, EMC, Indian Chamber of Commerce

(h)Dr. Jayanta Basu, Journalist

(i)Shri. M.R. Sekhani, Prakash Refrigeration Co.

(j)Shri. Arnab Bagchi, Manager (Service), Godrej Appliances Ltd.

(3)Convenor of the committee to write letters to Director, SISI and also to Hon’ble Minister in charge, Dept. of Commerce and Industry, Govt. of West Bengal, Sri Nirupam Sen requesting them to make an appeal to the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Govt. of India to extend the last date of registration (July 19, 2002) of ODS producers, users, exporters, stockists and sellers with SISI (nodal centre for registration) by a reasonable period, say by three months. Till now, only 80 out of 803 units have registered with SISI.

(4)As per ODS (Regulation and Control) Rules 2000, only manufacturers are eligible for assistance from the multilateral fund. Ministry of Environment and Forests will be approached to extend the financial assistance to thousands of mechanics involved in the RAC sector who will be adversely affected by this rule.

(5)To put up large notices signed by the Director, SISI, at different gas selling centres with a warning about the registration deadline and the consequences of non- registration.

(6)The database of the mechanics and gas dealers to be updated. Mr. MR. Sekhani, Prakash Refrigeration Co. took the responsibility of providing the updated database within next 15 days.

(7)SISI to send letters again to the mechanics and the dealers making them aware of the deadline of registration and the penalty for defaulters.

(8)As per Eastern India Airconditioning and Refrigeration Association, out of their 100 members, 40 have already registered. They ensured that other 60 members will also register within the deadline.

(9)Core committee to sit every Friday of the week to monitor the progress of registration. Next meeting to be held at CUTS office on 14 June, 2002 at 4 pm.

(10) Workshops to be organised for practical training of the mechanics with the help of RAC

sector leaders like Godrej, Whirlpool, industry associations (like Indian Chamber of Commerce), relevant NGOs and the concerned govt. dept.

(11) Extensive promotional and awareness campaign to be planned on the harmful effects of

ODS, and the benefits of Ecofrig (Hydrocarbon based refrigerator), involving different

segments of the population from school children to adult citizen.

(CUTS, 2002.06.08)