Address at the World Environment Day 2006, Bangalore

Clean Environment is a Societal Mission

I am indeed delighted to participate in the World Environment Day 2006 organized by Karnataka?s State Pollution Control Board. My greetings to legal luminaries, pollution control specialists, educationists, societal transformers, environmental planners and students. India is in a growth trajectory. Higher the growth in society, the magnitude of the pressure put on the environment proportionately increases. Our growth has to be sustainable and also must ensure that it does not make environment non-livable to the posterity.

On this occasion, I would like to share with you three important features that I have observed during my visit to various states in our country and abroad. The first one is municipal waste disposal and power generation, the second one the fly-ash clearing leading to an economical activity and the third one is the synergy mission for environmental upgradation.

Electricity Generation through Municipal Waste

Increased urbanization has led to a serious problem of accumulation of municipal solid waste. Efficient and environmentally clean disposal of garbage has always been a major technological challenge. While being a threat to the environment, mounting garbage is also a rich source of energy. The potential for converting this waste into useable energy, which will eliminate a major source of urban pollution, was realized by one of our innovative organizations - Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC) of Department of Science and Technology which helped in developing a completely indigenous solution for the processing of waste into a source of fuel. This fuel could, in turn, be used for generation of electricity through mini plants. Two entrepreneurs in Andhra Pradesh adopted the technology with refinement and established two independent plants in Hyderabad and Vijayawada generating over 12 megawatts of electricity which is being supplied to the State Grid. India needs thousands of mini power plants using municipal waste in small towns and urban areas. Banking sector can provide the thrust for promoting creation of such power plants in major municipalities with the collaboration of small and medium enterprises. Recently, I have come across a "plasma enhanced melter system". In this system high temperature, DC plasma arc is used to gasify the waste in a steam reforming atmosphere to convert organic material into a synthesis gas - a mixture of mostly hydrogen and carbon monoxide. This gas is used to fuel in an internal combustion engine for generating electricity. Karnataka Pollution Control Board may consider installing such systems in all cities and major municipalities of the State.

Converting the fly ash as Wealth Generator and Clean Environment

As you are aware, the use of coal for power generation results in increased quantum of fly ash production, which has reached about 100 million tonnes per year. All out efforts are needed to utilize this fly ash not only from environmental considerations, but also to avoid land usage for fly ash dumping. Though there has been a steady progress in fly ash utilization from 1990, we have a long way to go to reach the target of 100% fly ash utilization. It is reported that the agricultural increase of grains is around 15%, green vegetables 35% and root vegetables 50%, when fly ash is mixed with the soil. Toxicity tests have proved that there is no toxic element due to fly ash. But it has higher nutrients due to increased availability of iron and calcium. The fly ash can become a wealth generator by making use of it for agriculture and producing "green building" materials. Presently, the fly ash utilization is in the range of 33 million tonnes per year providing employment for over 50,000 personnel. For full utilization of the generating stock, will provide employment potential for three hundred thousand people and result in a business volume of over Rs. 4000 crore per year. Karnataka State Pollution Control Board can work with electricity generating authorities for enabling full utilization of fly ash for producing green building material and also facilitate the use of ash as manure by farmers.

Synergy Mission for Environmental Upgradation

The status of environmental cleanliness is one of the indicators of development of a nation. As a nation, we have to keep our environment clean and tidy including all our places of worship and rivers. I am delighted to learn that the Kali Bein rivulet is the place where Gurunanak Devji is said to have received enlightenment. From the discussions, I understand that Baba Balbir Singh Seechewal, a social reformer organized people's participation in stopping the massive flow of sewage into the Bein and cleaned 160 km long polluted and choked rivulet within the last four and a half years by deploying on an average 3,000 volunteer pilgrims per day. Over the years this rivulet has turned into weed choked drain. Today one can feel the flow of fresh water in this rivulet released from the Tarkina Barrage by the government about a year ago. Now, the river is clean due to the efforts of Baba Balbir Singh Seechewal in partnership with the Punjab State Government. The revival of the rivulet has recharged the water table as the hand pumps that had become dry for the past 4 decades are now pumping out water. Baba Balbir Singh Seechewal had gone to all the factory owners in the area and requested them to ensure that they do not divert dirty / effluent into Bein river. He has asked them to take it to a separate pit, helped them to treat the water and then brought into the river. This was definitely a pro-active step by a social reformer in protecting the environment.

Since societal reformers are present here, I would like to putforth a thought for discussion and evolving a method of extending the cleanliness drive in worshiping places. In major places of worship, every day at least five hundred thousand people on an average go for prayers. Normally, when we go to a religious place we pray for our happiness and prosperity. At the place of worship, shall we suggest, display of the following vows. Each devotee can take any one of them as a thanks giving for The Almighty:

- I will activate at least one water pond in my neighborhood or nearest village.

- I will plant five fruit bearing trees in my neighbourhood and nurture them.

- I will keep my house clean and also the street clean without dumping the garbage on the street.

- I will work with my neighbourhood colleagues for timely clearance of the garbage from my area.

- I will try my best not to pollute the environment.

I feel even ten percent of the devotees take a vow and practice it, it will bring a marked change in the environment and enable people to have enriched societal life.

Conclusion: Clean habitat is my goal

The Hon'ble Supreme Court has laid down "The Polluter Pays" principle. We are a developing country and certain percentage of people live below poverty line. Every citizen has a right to have a clean environment and we must ensure that the poor alone are not made to bear the brunt of environmental degradation. It is essential to uplift the citizens to the normal life with employment, habitat, healthcare and education. This will definitely have a positive impact on the environment. The civil society, NGOs and press have to take proactive action in the protection of environment through enforcement of environmental laws.

India has 38 lakh Bharat Scouts and Guides, 13 lakh NCC Cadets and large number NSS Volunteers and students. These enlightened disciplined youth can definitely be empowered to promote a clean habitat movement in their home and surroundings and participate in imparting the awareness amongst the rural and urban population leading to a clean nation. This type of societal participation will lead to healthy environment and promote better performance and productivity in various tasks taken up by the people.

My best wishes to all the participants of World Environment Day 2006 programme in their mission of promoting a clean green environment for the nation consistent with its development goals.

May God bless you.