Our work has focused on many of the issues of environmental protection starting from policy formulation to education and training, to implementation and impact monitoring. We have continuously targeted on levels of interventions in the field of environmental protection. We work on the macro level and strategic level. We put special emphasis on the cooperation with private sector and industries. We also work with the NGOs and the representatives of the civil societies.

Today India has reached an exciting threshold where its contribution to the world is recognised. The Prime Minister of India has also emphasised on the fact that the developmental issues should be given top priority. In this context environmental protection is very important. It is associated with the development issues of the society. Within Asia, India has taken up the pioneering role as far as legislation on environmental issues is concerned. It is also very encouraging that the society is responding positively to these legislations.

We in Germany know that such awareness is very important. We encourage such movements. In this context this exhibition has a very vital role to play because it is the forum to meet and enhance awareness. Address of Ms. Hayfa, Director, GTZ

"We all are aware of the importance of the environmental and water issues. One sixth of the world’s population has no access to fresh drinking water. What is even more dramatic is that there are fears of war over water in the coming years if the situation remains the same", he said. While deliberating on the issues related to water Mr. Behl said that water is an issue of extreme importance to humankind. Half the world’s population does not have access to proper sanitation facilities. It is a matter of critical concern in many countries. Water and environment are important from various other aspects such as sanitation and health, water and health, pollution and health etc.

"The purpose of this exhibition, conference and film festival is really to sensitize the entire population of this country, which is a billion strong, to the needs of good quality drinking water, to the needs of adequate water facilities for manufacture, the needs of sanitation and every aspect of pollution", said Mr. Behl. Basically we are talking in terms of creating an awareness and platform for decision makers, policy makers, government, regulators, users and citizens to understand that we need to do something with regard to improving our environment and habitat. That is the real purpose of this event that we have been organising for past three years.

This year we have 59 exhibitors, which is good in comparison to the last two events. We have representation from thirteen countries mostly from Europe and India. We also have representation from USA, and South East Asian nations such as Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and Taiwan.

We also support activities such as trade in environment, environmental journalism, technology for particular sectors as energy efficiency, climate change etc. We do this simply to promote environmental excellence and to guide the people to understand the environmental issues better. We explain to the people that it is a source of opportunity. We also publish environmental laws and legislation because these are the drivers for the action everywhere. We are looking for partners in India to extend our activities. In 1993-94 we developed the first environmental audit course in association with CII of India. That initiative was really successful.

I am extremely happy that the annual international event Environment India/Water India is growing in size every year. I am happy that a large number of EU member states are present at this show. The European companies have now realised that it is essential to be present in a more compact way rather than being present individually.

European Commission is rejuvenating its collaboration with India. They have very strong plans. These plans will initiate new programmes and strategies in India. This will lead to a very large conference later this year in November 2000, where the issues of industry and urban areas will be discussed. Many opportunities may come out from that conference. The idea is basically to brainstorm the opportunities that can arise from Europe-India cooperation."

Describing the focus areas of Winrock she told, "Our programme focuses on two core areas: one is the energy & environment and the second is the natural resources management."

"Winrock plans, implements and manages the projects and also monitor and evaluate them. It also conducts the training and capacity building programme. We offer the financial aid", said Ms. Abeyratne.

The basic agenda of Winrock in India is to commercialise the clean energy resources including renewable energy and energy efficiency. As a part of the overall mandate Wincork offers a range of services to its clients. "Winrock has implemented the programme to generate the liquid biomass fuel, most particularly the ethanol in transportation sector. Consolidating these outcomes we are currently taking a lead role in forming the Indian Ethanol Coalition", she told.

"We, in collaboration with IDBI and USAID, have been implementing the alternative baggass cogeneration project in the Indian Sugar industry. This is to promote advance technology options in the field of fossil fuels to generate power", she said.

Winrock India in association with Winrock International USA will soon launch a programme "India Renewable Energy Equity Fund" which will, over a period of ten years, grow in a US$20 million fund.

Since independence India’s urban population has grown rapidly to reach 217 million in 1991. However, water supply and sewerage systems in urban areas have not kept pace with growing requirements. At present, 20 percent of the urban households do not have access to safe drinking water in India. In addition to this, there are large distributional inequalities and the quantum of water supply is much below international norms. The situation in sewerage is even worse. The coverage of organised sewerage systems range from 75 % in Class One cities to a pathetic 35 % in Class Four cities. Typically, sewage is not properly treated before being discharged.

This shortage in water supply and sewerage services is leading to deterioration in the quality of life. Hence a dramatic improvement in the coverage, quality and quantity of these services is necessary.

A glaring example of inefficiencies in this sector is the high level of Unaccounted For Water (UAFW) in most of the cities. In Delhi, the UAFW is estimated at 40 % compared to the world norm of about 10-15 per cent.

The Government has tried to tackle the problems in this sector by attempting to increase the supply of water. Such an approach, however, requires massive investments. The Planning Commission estimates that, to make up the huge backlog in the Water Supply and Sewerage sector in the next 10, years, investments of about 15,000 crore per annum would be required. In contrast, the Eighth Plan provided for a meager Rs. 5,700 crore for this purpose.

To bridge this resource gap, the government has attempted to expand water supply through Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) agreements with the private sector for bulk water supply schemes. But the inefficiencies in water distribution has made new investment in the water sector unviable and led to the failure of most of the private secotr participation schemes.

The THREE major recommendations of the Group on Infrastructure Development seek to address these issues through the participation of the private sector. They are described as:

The water supply boards have neither the financial resources nor the managerial and technical knowledge required to make significant improvements in the water distribution system. Hence, it is necessary to take the assistance of private sector in improving the system. This will require: secure private participation through concession contracts and award projects through competitive bidding.

Local authorities along with the private partner should strive for better utilisation of available water. This should be achieved by reducing wastage of water through reduction in UAFW and the

recycling of water through proper treatment. Recycling within industries should be encouraged so that more productivity can be obtained from every drop of water. In the US, on an average, water is used three to four times in industries before it is discharged.

The existing highly subsidised water tariffs do not provide any incentive for conserving water. Even these tariffs are mostly levied as fixed prices, such as the Water Tax or User Charges based on the number of outlets.

To promote the conservation of water, it is essential to introduce rational pricing and user tariffs based on metered supply.

To attract private investment and knowhow in the water sector and gain benefits from such an association, the government needs to create an appropriately structured and well-governed policy. This should be achieved through the following:

To regulate the various concession agreements, regulatory bodies should be formed at the state level for tariff fixation, setting performance standards and monitoring service standards and capital investment plans.

To make the utility sustainable the tariffs charged to the customer should be raised to full cost recovery level in a phased manner. Increase in tariffs should be linked to simultaneous improvements in service delivery. Cross subsidies should be limited to a minimum level.

The urban water utility to be given out on concession needs to have both the bulk water supply and the distribution assets along with a proper mix of domestic and industrial clients. Water assets should be bundled through the following:

Create a proper mix of domestic and industrial clients.

The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has been unable to keep up with the rapid pace of growth of the city. This has led to a shortage of water, especially in the newly developed areas.

The BWSSB has tried to tackle the problem by attempting its present capacity of 600 million letres of water a day through a 270 mld project estimated to cost Rs. 1,300 crore.

Therefore the first step towards improving the water and sanitation in Bangalore is to privatise the distribution of water and sanitation services through a concession contract. An independent regulatory authority should be formed to regulate the operation of the privatised utility and set targets for reduction in water losses and improvement in collections.

India has called for a strong protocol on liability and compensation to encourage countries to be more vigilant in the transboundary movement of hazardous wastes.

Speaking at the 5th meeting of the Conference of Parties (COP) to the Basel Convention at Basel, Switzerland on December 9, 1999 the Minister of Environment and Forests, Shri T. R. Balu stressed the need for the development of projects and formulation of financial strategies for setting up of treatment facilities in developing countries.

Emphasizing the need for a proper monitoring mechanism to ensure compliance of the Convention, the Minister said that the ban of transboundary movement of hazardous wastes destined either for final disposal or recycling and recovery operations from Annexe-VII states (Countries of European Union, OECD and Litchestien) to non-Annexe-VII states does not explicitly take into account the ability of member states to process wastes in an environmentally sound manner.

" Till date there is no consensus on the criteria to be adopted to judge if a particular process or technology for disposal or recycling could be categorised as environmentally sound", shri Balu said.

Shri Balu expressed apprehensions that the ban amendment which imposes a blanket ban on movement of recyclable wastes to non-Annexe-VII countries may come in the way of technology upgradation of recycling industry in non Annexe-VII countries. "This would not be conducive to environmentally sound management of wastes which is the primary objective of this convention", he added.

India had ratified the Basel Convention on the control of transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal in 1992.

The objective of the Basil Convention is to reduce transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and other wastes and to dispose them off in an environmentally sound manner.

In 1995, the third conference of the parties to the Basel Convention banned the transboundary movements of hazardous wastes.

Shri Balu also outlined the steps taken by India in the field of waste management, which include:

Amendment to the domestic legislation on waste management in harmony with decisions adopted in the convention.

Setting up of Hazardous Wastes Treatment, Shortage and Disposal Facility with private sector partnership.

Training and education programme for customs and port authorities for monitoring the movement of hazardous wastes.

A legislation for collection and disposal of old/used lead-acid batteries, in an environmentally sound manner.

Banning of imports of hazardous wastes containing toxic heavy metals and other wastes covered in Annexe-VIII to the Convention.

Legislation has been put in place for management of bio-medical wastes. A time bound action programme has been stipulated for collection and treatment of such wastes in an environmentally sound manner.

A draft legislation for the management of municipal solid wastes in the country.

National Policy and macro level action strategy on biodiversity Conservation framed.

Action Plan for controlling pollution from tanneries launched. Industrial zoning regulation strengthened. Air and water quality monitoring intensified. Defaulting industriesd put on notice to undertake pollution control measures within stipulated timeframe. Procedure for registration of recyclers possessing environmentally sound management capabilities established for processing non-ferrouos metallic wastes and waste oil.

Noice pollution Rules, 2000 under the Environment Protection Act formulated. Noice standards for automobiles and portable generator sets notified. Standards for fire crackers notified.

City afforestation drive for pollution control launched in Tamil Nadu.

Draft notification for phasing out ozone depleting substances prepared. International grants successfully negotiated for phasing out production of chloro-flurocarbons.

Sewage treatment plants at Gurgaon, Faridabad and Vrindavan commissioned.

Centre for Conservation Education established in Goa. Olive Ridley Turtles Conservation Programme launched in coastal states of India. Action paln for conservation of migratory birds identified.

Potential areas for mangrove afforestation identified.

Programme for the tribal people development and biodiversity conservation introduced in Manipur. Action Plan for urban pollution control drawn up for Guwahati.

Draft rules for introducing uniformity in industrial consent procedures for discharging effluents and emissions notified.

4,000 NGOs financially assisted for creating environmental awareness. Small grants programme for strengthening local organisations towards community based initiatives launced.