Delivering the eighth Acharya P C Ray Memorial Lecture organised by the Indian Chemical Manufacturers Association here on Friday, he said: "In order to put the green challenge in proper perspective, I would like to deal with the four major conventions to which India is already a signatory, emphasising the obligations. "Non-fulfillment of these obligations could seriously jeopardise the prospects of growth by the industry in future." He started with the chemical weapons conventions which lays down the rules for verification of procedures, including challenge inspections.

"This could affect the confidentiality of technology and trade and exports of chemicals from India if the industry does not gear up to fulfill the obligations adequatelyand in time," Chatterjee said.

However, he added that the cutting edge of the Indian industry is its innovation and efficient low-cost technology.

He also discussed the Montreal Convention which is concerned about saving the ozone layer covering the earth from the ultra-violet radiations of the sun.

In order to prevent further depletion of the ozone layer, the Montreal Protocol was developed under the guidance of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). It aims at phasing out production of ozone-depleting substances like refrigerants, solvents, coatings, adhesives, fire extinguishing foams, aerosols and carbon tetrachloride.

"Phasing out of these substances will start from July 1, 1999 and has to be completed by the year 2010. The industry, therefore, needs to investigate suitable substitutes and create facilities for the production of these substitutes ...," Chatterjee said.

He also referred to two more conventions which are in the discussion stage and are yet to be signed. These are thePrior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals & Pesticides in International Trade and the Immediate International Action on Persistent Organic Pollutants.

The first convention gives a nation the power to ban or severely restrict the usage of a chemical. The second has already identified 12 chemicals for a total ban on production and usage.

Ashwin C Shroff, the president of the Indian Chemical Manufacturers Association, said the chemicals industry has been adversely affected by the south-east Asian currency crisis as well as Chinese dumpings.