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Regional Stakeholders Awareness Meetings on Dioxins and Furans
Source: Toxics Link, Date: , 2012
Dioxins and Furans are the known Persistent
Organic Pollutants, which are released unintentionally during the anthropogenic and also through natural
sources. The dioxins and furans were recognized as the PoPs in the Stockholm
Convention and the convention reiterated that efforts were needed to minimize
the reduction of these unintentional PoPs as far as possible. The Government of
India has also submitted the National Implementation Plan (NIP) to Stockholm
Convention and proposed a long term action plan for the reduction and
minimization of dioxins and furans. To supplement the efforts, Toxics Link has
initiated series of awareness meetings among the stakeholders, to reach into
the common masses, so that suitable actions can be initiated towards the
mitigation of dioxins and furans at the ground level.
Dioxins and Furans are the known Persistent
Organic Pollutants, which are released unintentionally during the anthropogenic and also through natural
sources. The dioxins and furans were recognized as the PoPs in the Stockholm
Convention and the convention reiterated that efforts were needed to minimize
the reduction of these unintentional PoPs as far as possible. The Government of
India has also submitted the National Implementation Plan (NIP) to Stockholm
Convention and proposed a long term action plan for the reduction and
minimization of dioxins and furans. To supplement the efforts, Toxics Link has
initiated series of awareness meetings among the stakeholders, to reach into
the common masses, so that suitable actions can be initiated towards the
mitigation of dioxins and furans at the ground level.
North
eastern Stakeholders meeting at Guwahati
The meeting was organized in association with
local NGO, Environ.
Toxics Link organized the first stakeholders
meeting on dioxins and furans for North Eastern region at Guwahati on 19
December 2012. The meeting was
inaugurated by Dr RM Dubey (Chairman Assam Pollution Control Board) who stressed
on the importance of such meetings in the region. The meeting was also
addressed by Dr Asa Juwarakar, (Chief Scientists NEERI), who is heading the
Asian regional center on PoPs gave a fare picture on dioxins and furans
situation in the country .The other
distinguished speakers, included Prof.
Mihir Deb, (Chairman of Tripura Pollution Control Board), representative from
Central Power Research Institute, regional officer of Central Pollution Control
Board, National institute of Urban Affairs, Delhi and Indian Institute of
Technology, Kharagpur and the State Pollution Control Board of the region.
All the speakers raised concerns on Dioxins
and Furans and highlighted the importance of raising awareness on the issues
among the stakeholders. At the same the Pollution Control Boards spelt out the
lack of adequate human and financial capacity of the Pollution Control Boards
to monitor and initiate suitable actions. The meeting was attended by the
regional NGOs, Municipal officials, Health officials, institutions like
Guwahati University, IIT (G).
Western and
Central region Stakeholders meeting at NEERI Nagpur
After successfully organizing the regional
meeting for North Eastern region, Toxics Link organized the second regional
stakeholders meeting for Western and central region on dioxins and furans at
National Environmental Engineering Research Institute ( NEERI), Nagpur on 12 February 2013. The meeting was inaugurated by noted scientist Padmashree Dr Sharad Kale
of Bhaba Atomic Research Center. Satish Sinha (Associate Director, Toxics Link)
in his welcome address, highlighted the importance of International Conventions
in dealing with the environmental problems at the global and national level. Dr
Asha, Chief Scientist, NEERI and the coordinator of Asian Center of Stockholm
convention highlighted how the regional center can play a key role in dealing
with the issues of PoPs .
 The technical session was initiated by Piyush
Mohapatra (Program Coordinator, Toxics Link). He highlighted the exiting gaps
on the management of dioxins and furans at different level in India and the
need for Dioxins and Furans release standard for the various industries. He
also raised the issues of Dioxins and Furans standards in the food items.
Senior scientist of NEERI, Dr Nita Thakar provided an overview of Dioxin
estimation in India and methodology adopted for the estimation of Dioxin in
India. The other speakers included Dr. Dinabandhu Gouda, Scientist Central
Pollution Control board, who briefed on the health and environmental impact of
Dioxins and Furans and need for the standard. He also stated that there is
standard requirement for Dioxin release from the hazardous waste
incineration. Mr. Gyana Misra from IL &
FS stated that the waste to energy plants set up by their company will follow the
international standard for Dioxins and Furans release and stressed that lack of
environmental standard for municipal waste incinerations is creating confusion
for setting up these plants.
 The second technical session was initiated by
Dr Sharad Kale, who spoke about issues of waste management in India on the
context of Dioxin release in India. He laid emphasis on the decentralized waste
management systems and importance of low cost non burn technologies to get rid
of the Dioxin/ Furans problem in the country. He also stressed the source
segregation of the waste need to be implemented vigorously. Dr Asa Juwarkar,( Chief Scientist of NEERI),
presented the future action plan and strategy for mitigating Dioxins and Furans
in India.
 Latter in the final session different
stakeholders like municipal officials, NGOs, students pointed the need for
creating more awareness on the issues across the country. Toxics Link is also planning
to have more similar regional workshops for the Southern and eastern region of
the country.
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