Registration made compulsory for ODS users

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, JULY 15. Producers, manufacturers and others dealing in the import, export, sale or stocking up of Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) must compulsorily register themselves by July 19.

The registration has to be done at the jurisdictional offices of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) or the Small Industries Service Institute.

This information was communicated through a release from the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) issued here. The Board stated that the procedure was in keeping with the national strategy for phasing out ODS.

The MoEF, on July 19 last year, notified the ODS (Regulations and Control) Rules 2000, which stipulated that the registration must be done within one year of the notification, (by July 19, 2001). Besides, those so categorised had to "maintain records and file periodic reports for monitoring production and use of ODS."

The release went on to say that the rules prohibited the use of ODS such as CFCs (Chlorofluoro carbons), Halons, Carbon tetrachloride and Methyl Bromide in the manufacture of various products. There was also a fixed timeframe for separately discontinuing the use of such ODS.

Queried on the matter, Prof. J.Srinivasan from the Centre for Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, told The Hindu that the phase-out of ODS resulted from the Montreal Protocol (formulated in the 1980s). ``Ozone depletion was primarily created by the industrialised world. So when the Montreal Protocol was formulated, countries such as India and China were exempt. But, we now have to abide by it too because the developed world has drastically cut down on the use of ODS,'' he explained.

The most common sources of ODS were refrigerants such as Freon, but their use was now more controlled, and there were a whole lot of new chemicals. For example, the cleaning fluid in the electronics industry, destroyed the ozone layer, Prof Srinivasan added.

According to the KSPCB release, a Montreal Protocol Multilateral Fund (MPMF) had been set up to assist developing countries in their phase-out efforts. "The fund will finance the incremental costs of technology transfer, purchase of capital equipment and operational costs for switching over to non-ODS technologies."

The release, however, stressed that only entrepreneurs using ODS technology established before July 25, 1995 could avail of funds for converting to non-ODS technology.

Those who did not register before or on July 19 would not be eligible, and wuld be liable for action under Section 15 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 which stipulated punishment with imprisonment up to five years and a fine up to Rs. one lakh or both. In case of failure to register or if contravention continued, there would be an additional fine that could be extended up to Rs 5,000 for all the days on which the non- compliance continued.

For more clarifications, Mr. C.Viswanath, Director-Ozone Cell, MoEF, Government of India, Indian Habitat Centre, Core 4B, 2nd floor, Lodhi Road, New Delhi -- 110 003, could be contacted, or over phone: 464 2176, fax: 464 2175 or e-mail: ozone@del3.vsnl.net.in

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