To increase adoption of environment-friendly technologies by new industries in Andhra Pradesh, the state government is preparing to set up a Technology Cell within the Industries department to provide information and other support on clean technologies.
Industries commissioner R Karikal Valaven told Business Standard that the cell would be ready by the last week of January 2011. The department has already entered into partnerships with the Technology Development Board and the Indian School of Business for the purpose. Composed entirely of outside experts, the cell would be an 'outsourced operation,' he said.
Earlier, addressing a seminar on Industry and Environment organised by Fapcci, he said, “Till now, the practice has been to pollute now and clean up later, but that is not working. It is better to adopt cleaner technologies.” Though the government has announced incentives and subsidies for clean technology adoption, there were no takers so far, he said. This prompted the decision to set up a technology cell.
According to the government's twin-track approach, the clean technology cell would help new industries meet the environmental norms. For the existing industries, which are required to set up a common effluent treatment plant, the central government has announced several schemes, which are being used by the Tamil Nadu industries in a big way, he said.
According to BR Meena, vice chairman and managing director, AP Industrial Infrastructure Corporation, all new industrial parks, special economic zones and investment regions were being planned in coordination with the Industries department, Country and Town Planning department and AP Pollution Control Board.
To enable better environment management, he said the APIIC was encouraging location of industrial units within parks rather than being scattered in a wide area.
Pollution, a reputation risk
Describing pollution as a reputation risk for the industries, APPCB member secretary K Madhusudana Rao said on the board's push, industries in the four critically polluted spots of Patancheru, Pashamailaram, Bollaram and Visakhapatnam spent Rs 225 crore on pollution control.