Built Sustainable Communities
Assignment 2: Essay
Introduction
The rapid growth in the industrial sector in past few decades in India has improved the production and economic prosperity and improved the standards of living in the State of Gujarat (India). A large number of small and medium scale industries are engaged in the manufacture of a variety of chemical and allied products in State of Gujarat (India) (Rathi 2002, p.583). Simultaneously, the rapid industrialisation along with urbanisation has also resulted into numerous environmental issues. The global and economic processes had been remarkably unsustainable. Production processes and consumer behaviour had been threat to environment.
Industrial growth in India is a result of the Government policies which aimed at increasing the productivity and job opportunities. Small and medium scale industries irrespective of types of product were encouraged to set up businesses for the economic growth of the respective States. Different State Government competing for the their respective economic growth had designed attractive package and incentives for industrial investment which consisted of sale tax exemptions, cash subsidies and creating industrial zones by developing infrastructures like road, water and power(Rathi 2002, p.583).
Gujarat( India) has developed into the most industrialised states which apart from its traditional textile industry, also comprises of small scale industries and a major producer of chemicals and petrochemical product as well as other products like fertilizers, pesticides, drugs and edible oil. Most of the production process involves using traditional method and outdated technology which has resulted in large quantities of untreated waste product discharged in the environment (Rathi 2002, p.583).
Purpose and Method
During the ongoing development of the industrial infrastructure, State Government of India lacked the foresight regarding the environment aspect and the environmental infrastructure. With the development of the Indian economy and the exposure to global competition it was important for the Indian industrial sectors to minimise waste and improve the deficiencies in their production methods to meet the global standards. Subsequently also due to the increase in the public awareness and the judicial intervention it was necessary for the industries to employ better waste management and minimise pollution.
Considering the immediate need for environment protection and the judicial intervention, the viable approach for the small and the medium scale industries who cannot afford to install facility for waste management individually, was to join hands to build a combined facility for treatment of the waste and waste management. The facilities include common affluent treatment plant (CEPT), pipe connection for the waste water transport, dedicated road transport, waste disposal site, incinerators and transport of the treated waste. The cost involved will be borne by the participating industry according to the load of the pollution contributed by them (Rathi 2002, p.583).
Considering the pace of the economic development taking place in State of Gujarat, the proposal aimed at creating a cooperative movement and infrastructural facilities that will be readily acceptable to small and medium scale industries and improvements in the operating practises and product design, process design and the work culture and technology. It also aimed at initiating cleaner production practices educating the entrepreneurs and the officials of the businesses by promoting and sustenance of cleaner production in the industries in Gujarat (Rathi 2002, p.584). The efforts to further integrate environmental protection with industrial development in Gujarat international agencies like World Bank and financial institution, institutions working in field of environment, NGO’s, consultants and academicians deliberated on Gujarat vision and plans to implement and develop processes for Cleaner Production(Rathi 2002, p.584).
Discussion
All businesses use resources which are used to produce different products to meet the necessities of the community, other businesses and consumers. In this process not all the resources are used completely and remain unused, unwanted or unspent. This waste when discharged in the environment causes pollution. ‘Wastes are often referred as resources in the wrong place’ (Rathi 2001, p.584). ‘Cleaner Production means the continuous application of an integrated preventive environmental strategy for processes and products to reduce risks to human health and the environment’ (Wang 1999, p. 437). Many countries have established cleaner production and energy efficiency centers to achieve the level needed for the dissemination of cleaner concepts and principles in industry and in society (Phetek and Glavic 2000, p. 20). Cleaner production is achieved by applying the know-how, by improving technology and by changing the attitudes (Clean Production Action, 2012). One of the effective ways of achieving sustainable development is to encourage industries and financial institution to direct financial flow towards cleaner production by improving old methods and implementing new production technology.
In addition to necessity of promoting and implementing cleaner production, the process can face several constraints, especially in developing countries. Small and Medium sized industries can face difficulties making cleaner production investment due to lack of effective funding options as well as cleaner production methods are less economically attractive in countries with unenforced environment regulations (UNEP, 2000). The constraints for cleaner production are further categorized by UNEP (2000) from the perspective of the industries considering adopting cleaner production as:
Financial and Economical
Introducing technology for cleaner productions involves high cost and investments. Raising funds for such an investment is very difficult due to lack of knowledge and improper evaluation of the cleaner production by the credit providers. Investments in cleaner production are not cost effective in comparison with the other opportunities.
Policy Related
There is lack on the focus for the environmental, technology, trade and industrial development policies and strategies and particularly lack maturity in the environmental policy framework.
Organisational
Many industries in developing countries do not provide any incentives for the managers to put efforts in the cleaner production. This results in lack of leadership in the projects involving cleaner production and environmental management function in the company’s operation.
Technical
Small and medium industries lack well established production practices, and maintenance schemes etc. Limited access to equipment also makes it difficult to take undertake comprehensive assessment of all production processes to identify appropriate cleaner production and tailor technical information to suite company’s need and capacity.
Successful implementation of Cleaner production
Luken and Freij (1994) mention the evidence presented in the joint study undertaken by the National Productivity Council of India and UNIDO who investigated the potential for waste minimization in three sectors: agro-based pulp and paper, pesticide formulation and textile dyeing and finishing. During investigation, one of the agro-based pulp and paper mills (30 tonnes per day) had prepared an estimate of the cost of meeting discharge standards based on end-of-pipe technology. As a result of implementing preventive measures, the mill achieved the following: * Reduced its capital investment cost for end-of-pipe equipment by 25 per cent and its annualized operating and maintenance costs by 35 per cent * Reduced the discharge of residuals 20-40 per cent * Increased annual output by 22 per cent, improved the quality of the paper produced (specks were reduced) and made a new product (secondary fuel for brick kilns from the primary clarifier) * Hired nine more employees to cope with increased production capacity * Reduced offsite secondary pollution by reducing the consumption of sodium hydroxide and of energy (less suspended particulate matter and sulphur dioxide).
To achieve these results, the mill implemented 28 preventive measures at a capital cost of US$ 100,000 and an operating cost of US$ 40,000. The total savings from these measures were US$ 400,000, giving a payback period on capital investment of less than four months.

Conclusion
Cleaner Production is a vital strategy to achieve sustainable development. Cleaner production involves reducing environmental impacts along the entire life cycle of a product by conserving resources (raw materials, energy and water), eliminating toxic raw materials and reducing the quantity and toxicity of all emissions and wastes. Cleaner production goes beyond meeting regulatory obligations and looks for further improvements to benefit the company as well as the environment. The cleaner production movement is no doubt picking up but slowly. The visionary and proactive policies, missionary zeal and dedicated efforts at different levels are required for wider and quicker use of cleaner productions in order to reap its benefits. Combined efforts on the part of individual and organisations and enforcing proper government policies and strategies will take us to a cleaner, sustainable future.

References:

* Clean Production Action 2012, UN Clean production Programmes, Clean Production Action, viewed 18th September 2012, <http://www.cleanproduction.org/Steps.Process.UN.php>

* Phetek, J and Glavic, P 2000, ‘Improving the Sustainability and Cleaner Production Programs’, Resources, Conservation and Recycling, vol.29, pp. 19-31, Elsevier Science ltd, Scopus, viewed 12th September 2012.

* Ralph, L and Freij, A 1994, ‘Cleaner Industrial Production in Developed Countries: Market Opportunities for Developed Countries and Potential Cost Saving for Developing Countries’, United Nations Industrial Development Organisation, viewed 25th September 2012 <http://www.unido.org/fileadmin/import/userfiles/puffk/clean.pdf>

* Rathi, A 2002, ‘Promotion of Cleaner Production for Industrial Pollution Abatement in Gujarat (India)’, Journal of Cleaner Production, vol. 11, pp. 583-590, Elsevier Science ltd, Scopus, viewed 12th September 2012.

* UNEP 2000, Promoting Cleaner Production Investments in Developing Countries Issues and Possible Strategies, Viewed 24th September 2012 <http://www.financingcp.org/docs/cpdeveloping.pdf>

* Wang, J 1999, ‘China’s National Cleaner Production Strategy’, Environ Impact Assess Rev, vol. 19, pp.437-456, Elsevier Science ltd, Scopus, viewed 18th September 2012.