Science and Technology India 2002 international exhibition and conference lived up to its promise of being a show that made good business sense and transformed good sense into business. The three-day event was organized by Exhibitions India during 10-12 April 2002, at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. This was a comprehensive event on green and cost-effective technologies in the areas of environment, water, industrial automation and instrumentation.

The conference focussed on "Clean Technologies-- towards sustainable growth" and brought together several industry experts to discuss and deliberate on issues of strategic relevance for the environment and water related sectors. Dr. Krishna Sapru, Director – Thermal Hydride Products, Energy Conversion Devices Inc., USA, showed the path into the future where hydrogen could serve as an alternate source of energy. Hydrogen is not only an environment friendly fuel, it is also available in abundance and can solve all problems of energy sufficiency. Dr. Sapru suggested that India should put into place the infrastructure for hydrogen usage as promptly as it has done for telecommunications, and take advantage of the technologies available.

Corporations have come to realize that sustainable development is good for business. "This is translating into improved production processes, reduction in waste and recycling of waste.", said Dr. Jurgen Bischoff, Director, Asian Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology (APCTT). He lauded Exhibitions India’s ‘Tremendous sense of social responsibility by focussing on the important development issues.’

The issue of pollution control was of critical relevance as entrepreneurs, policy makers and scientists spoke of the technologies developed and experimented with all over the world. One of the forms in which India is coping with the problem are the stringent regulation prompting the use of CNG as vehicle fuel. Member Secretary of the Central Pollution Control Board, Dr. B. Sengupta, drew attention to other sources of air pollution. He said that the areas where new technologies are required are de-sulphurisation of effluent gases from thermal power stations, efficient collection and transformation of the 100 million tonnes of flyash generated by these power stations every year, coal washing technology, hazardous waste management etc.

Capt. August von Born Millard of the United States – Asian Environmental Partnership (USAEP) addressed the audience on the second day of the Science & technology India 2002 conference. He said that a number of American firms were keen to bring their technology and expertise to India. The USAEP has been working towards the strengthening of relations between American and Indian enterprises dealing with environmental technologies.

The concluding day of the conference witnessed a plenary session with Mr. Rajendra Singh, General Secretary, Tarun Bharat Sangh and winner of the Magsaysay Award for Environment in the year 2001. Mr. Singh shared his experiences on the traditional water management systems in the Indian community. His efforts have rejuvenated the aquifers of the Aravali region of Rajasthan.

A special attraction for visitors at the exhibition was the US country pavilion displaying equipment and technologies from the stables of some leading American firms including Batta Environmental Associates Inc which offers a range of services in areas of environmental assessment, industrial hygiene, indoor air quality assessment, geo-environmental services, etc. Hudnut Industries Inc., a thermal engineering specialist and San-I-Pak Inc, a leader in hospital waste management systems also exhibited at the US pavilion.

Several Indian public sector units are gearing up to face the challenge of environmental degradation. Delhi Development Authority, Housing & Urban Development Corporation, Centre for Scientific & Industrial Research, Central Water Commission, Central Ground Water Board, Delhi Jal Board, Gas Authority of India Ltd., Bharat Heavy Electrical Ltd., National Thermal Power Corporation, Central Soil & Material Research Institute participated in the exhibition. A key feature of the event was the attempt to synergise business strategies and government policy with cost effective and environment friendly technological options.

The event was co-organized by the Ministry of Science and Technology (Government of India ), and the Indo- American Chambers of Commerce (IACC) and co- sponsored by the Ministry of Environment & Forests (Government of India), Central Pollution Control Board, Delhi Pollution Control Committee, United Nations- Asian & Pacific Center for Transfer of Technology (UNAPCTT), Regional Institute of Environmental Technology (RIET), Singapore; National Productivity Council and Central Board of Irrigation and Power. The event received the support of the United States – Asia Environmental Partnership (USAEP), British High Commission, Trade Partners UK; Green City Denmark A/S; Green City India Pvt. Ltd; Water Quality Association (USA), Tata Energy Institute; Air and Waste Management Association, USA; Centre for Science and Environment and the Technology Bureau for Small Enterprises.

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