India Promotes Voluntary Compliance in the Sponge Iron Sector |
| As the world’s largest producer of sponge iron, India generates approximately 10 mt annually. Toxic pollution discharges from the more than 250 plants, however, result in thick black smoke, contaminated water, and reduced agricultural yields, all of which have significant impacts on human health and the environment. Across India, there are protests against the industry, which is classified a “red-category” highly polluting industry by the Ministry of Environment and Forests. Key challenges for addressing pollution from the sponge iron sector include: lack of effective pollution control guidelines, limited governmental enforcement capacity, and weak compliance by sponge iron units in submitting self-monitoring reports. |
West Bengal establishes compliance assistance center based on experience from the Philippines, Thailand and U.S. |
Initiative
To address this challenge, the West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB) decided to promote voluntary industry compliance with sector standards by establishing an environmental compliance assistance center (ECAC) dedicated to sharing information on available technologies and regulatory requirements. AECEN facilitated linkages with counterpart agencies in the Philippines, Thailand and the United States that have experience establishing and operating compliance assistance centers that have resulted in pollution reductions. WBPCB coordinated a comprehensive stakeholder consultation process to leverage private sector support and define center functions, activities, and operational requirements.
Results
In September 2009, the WBPCB inaugurated the first ECAC, which includes a physical center, website, database and outreach materials. In 2010, WBPCB will draw on the World Bank India Capacity Building for Industrial Pollution Management Project to expand ECAC capabilities, including expanded office infrastructure and staffing, training, technology fairs and sector studies and other publications. In 2010, the Government of West Bengal also has immediate plans to replicate this model by establishing a second ECAC for the small scale chemicals and petrochemicals industries.