– Workshop Overview –

Workshop on Developing Compliance Assistance Capabilities

Sharing International Lessons Learned to Promote Compliance Assistance

Oberoi Hotel

Kolkata, India

April 29, 2008

Background

India’s economic development propelled by rapid industrial growth and urbanization is causing severe environmental problems that have local, regional and global significance. To address these environmental challenges in coordination with the states, the central government has identified and targeted 17 highly polluting industries and 24 environmental problem areas. The chemical and engineering industries are at the top of the government’s list, since they are the major contributors of air, water, and waste pollution. Similarly, some of the Indian cities including New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata, are among the world’s most polluted urban centers.

Air quality data in India’s major cities indicate that ambient levels of air pollutants exceed both the World Health Organization and Indian standards, particularly for particulate matter. Of the total air pollution load nationwide, vehicular sources contribute 64 percent, thermal power plants 16 percent, industries 13 percent and domestic sector 7 percent. Environmental effects from growing fossil fuel use can only worsen as India seeks to meet its energy needs of its growing economy. It is estimated that over 96 percent of India’s total demand for commercial energy is met by fossil fuel with coal contributing 60 percent and petroleum products providing the remaining 36 percent.

India’s rivers and streams suffer from high levels of pollution from waste generated primarily from industrial processes and municipal activities. While it is estimated that 75 percent of the wastewater generated is from municipal sources, industrial waste contributes to over 50 percent of the total pollution loads. In major cities, less than five percent of the total waste is collected and less than 25 percent of this treated.

Assuming continued economic liberalization and industrial growth, the damage to environment and health could be enormous if precautionary measures are not taken. The challenge, therefore, is to maintain the quality of air, water and land and protect the environment by reconciling environmental and economic imperatives.

Environmental Compliance Challenges in India

The Government of India has established an environmental legal and institutional system to meet these environmental problems and challenges within the overall framework of India’s development agenda and international principles and norms. However, environmental compliance and enforcement (ECE) has remained weak and there is a need to strengthen the ECE system in the context of designing policies that can stimulate sustainable development and economic growth. Recent discussions have shown that a better understanding of the incentive structures facing firms and approaches that can optimize regulatory agency efforts, and expenditures can contribute significantly towards assuring greater environmental compliance.

Cooperation on Promoting Environmental Compliance in India

To promote environmental compliance, the West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB) in cooperation with the World Bank and the Asian Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Network (AECEN)are organizing a consultation workshop in Kolkatta, Indiato identify strategies for establishing a pilot environmental compliance assistance center (ECAC) based on priority needs.

As part of this program, representatives fromPhilippines and Thailand will share their experiences designing, implementing and operating compliance assistance centers. Key stakeholders will include the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation and other relevant industry association and civil society groups. This consultation workshop is intended to provide a platform for dialogue forstakeholders to identify strategies and appropriate models for creating a state environmental compliance assistance center.

To help industry meet national regulatory requirements and voluntary international standards, the West Bengal Department of Environment proposes to establish a compliance assistance center in Kolkata. The primary purpose of ECAC will be to assist industry in (a) accessing information on environmental compliance and clean production policies, programs and practices (b) introducing clean technologies demonstrating cost efficiency and environmental benefits; and (c) selecting appropriate clean technologies evaluating a range of available options that meet local needs.

Workshop Objectives

  • Exchange views on Asian experiences and various models of compliance assistance centers at national, regional, and state levels,including roles and responsibilities, type of compliance activities, funding support, personnel, and indicators to measure impact, etc;
  • Discuss current mechanisms and status of environmental compliance assistance activities in West Bengal, including public and private sector initiatives and needs;
  • Develop strategy and prepare an action plan for establishing West Bengal’s compliance assistance center, including identifying opportunities for partnership with institutions and agencies, center institutional arrangements, staffing, equipment, and funding arrangements;
  • Establish international linkages with counterpart centers in the U.S. and Asia; and
  • Establish a stakeholder working group topromote and support implementation including upgrading the center.

Location:Burdwan & Coochbehar Meeting Room, Oberoi Hotel, West Bengal

Attendees:60participants from Ministry of Environment and Forests, West Bengal Department of Environment, West Bengal Pollution Control Board, West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation, Confederation of Indian Industry, Indian Chamber of Commerce, Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Chemical Industry Association, and research and training institutes, NGOs associated with research in industrial environmental management and experts.

Speakers:LagunaLake Development Authorityof the Philippines, Pollution Control Department of Thailand, and Printers’ National Environmental AssistanceCenter of the United States

Organizers:West Bengal Department of Environment and Pollution Control Board,West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation, World Bank,Environmental Cooperation-Asia (ECO-Asia), a program of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Asian Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Network (AECEN)

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