– 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.
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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, India to identify strategies for establishing a pilot
environmental compliance assistance center (ECAC) based on priority needs.
As part of this program, representatives from Philippines 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 for stakeholders 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
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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 to promote and support implementation including upgrading
the center.
Location:
Burdwan & Coochbehar Meeting Room, Oberoi Hotel, West Bengal
Attendees:
60 participants 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:
Laguna Lake Development Authority of the Philippines, Pollution Control Department of
Thailand, and Printers’ National Environmental Assistance Center of the United States
Organizers:
West Bengal Department of Environment and Pollution Control Board, West Bengal
Industrial Development Corporation, World Bank, Environmental Cooperation-Asia (ECOAsia), a program of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and
the Asian Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Network (AECEN)
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