He was speaking as chief guest at the India Chlorine Conference organised by ICMA last week in Mumbai, in collaboration with Euro Chlor (a subsidiary of CEFIC) & World Chlorine Council (WCC). The meet was supported by Alkali Manufacturers' Association of India, Pesticides Association of India, PVC Resin Manufacturers Association.

The importance of the use of chlorine and its derivatives in the current day life was established and the participants agreed that the discontinuation of chlorine usage altogether was not sensible.

Suresh Prabhu said that the government recognised the importanceof chemical industry in the countrty's economic development. He specifically commented on the contribution made by Chlorine and its derivatives in public health, pharmaceuticals, pesticides sectors etc.

He said that regulatory authorities were receiving complaints regarding pollution caused by the chemical industry. While the government would encourage development of the chemical industry in the country so as to be globally competitive and would support its efforts in improving its share in international trade, it cannot be at the cost of environment, he said. In this context he appreciated the lead taken by ICMA in propagating `Responsible Care Movement' which was the industry's voluntary response.

He said that the government values the self-imposed rules of the industry and would therefore like the industry to come forward with the pollution control norms comparable to international standards as far as possible. If this was done, the regulatory authorities would accept the industry's view points andthere would not be any interference from the ministry, Prabhu said.

He also referred to the role of the small scale industry in employment generation, development of backward areas and its contribution to the export potential of the country. He said that as far as chemical manufacturing units in small scale sector were concerned, ICMA should take a lead in disseminating pollution control information to the small scale sector to enable them to improve their performance. He assured the full support of the ministry to the industry and said that he would shortly meet the heads of various financial institutions to find ways and means of assisting the setting up common effluent treatment plants and other facilities to overcome pollution and he requested the Industry's support in this endeavor.

The conference, attended by 125 delegates, was inaugurated by DCM Shriram Consolidated Ltd general manager Ajay S Shriam. DK Biswas, chairman, DD Basu and S Mahawar, senior scientists of Central Pollution Control Board,New Delhi attended the Conference. KV Raghavan, director, Indian Institute of Chemicals & Technology, Hyderabad, participated in the conference.