Published on March 11, 2014
In several parts of the world, majority of people cleave to negative views of the chemical industries. Earlier the chemical industry was neglecting the public image, however, later in response to legislation and through the inventiveness of business association the industry had adopted a far more socially liable stance.
The chemical industry would like to recognition this very real progress that it has made, however, altering the ingrained public perception is mounting conflict.
In India, Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) is noted amongst the more progressive regulatory agencies and is also one of the most important regulatory for the chemical industry as a huge lump of industry is operated in Gujarat. The GPCB last month had given few operating units to chemical industry in Gujarat.
The regulator had announced that the companies which are operating with ISO-1 4001 certification or those with certified compliant amid the codes & practices of Responsible Care (RC) will be given concessions. Nowadays, the regulators of at least one state are enthusiastic to subjectively look at the industry and based on the track record of environmental compliance, the companies will be evaluated.
For the first time in India the regulators have been toyed with innovative ideas such as reducing particulate production by piloting a market driven mechanism which is similar to the ones that subsist for carbon dioxide. At the industrial plants near Surat three year trials have been anticipated and a similar one has been envisaged for chemical oxygen demand (COD) of liquid effluents around Ahmedabad.
As per directives of the Central Pollution Control Board, the two of the largest industrial clusters in Ankleshwar and Vapi were red list with no expansions or diversification permitted, whereas the small industrial estates which are subjugated by small producers have continued to be dreary. Unless the regulators and industry work hand in hand, the condition of these small industries is dubious to change anytime. Moreover, for a vibrate and clean industry, a creative approach is required for ensuring acquiescence with laws that are need if the State has to be reinvent itself as home.
The perception about the chemical industries among public is forlornly, even though chemicals play a vital role in our day to day life and to imagine modern life without chemical would simply be impossible. With most of the accidents, inadvertent leaks & releases, poisoning of land, water & air, etc. have haunted the industry by adversely impacting its ability hoist resources and human capital. Currently to improve the perception of the industry, involving industry captains eulogizing virtues of the industry, its key role in the economy and its innovative nature, the Confederation of Indian Industry is planning to sustain public relations campaign.
