Interview with Pune Herald

The Programme works closely with the government focal points. It develops the partnership with the local, national private sector and institutes. Our OzonAction Programme assistance is focused on strengthening national capacity to meet compliance targets of the Montreal Protocol Technical and policy guidance through he meetings; by providing the guidelines, training of policy makers and technicians and engineers, developing handbooks for the technology selections and standard setting and good practices. We interact on almost day-to-day basis with the government officers and keep contact with the National Ozone Units have helped to achieve the effective progress. The transfer of the developed country experience and developing the collaborative programmes between developed country industry and developing country industry helped in convincing that not only the disaster is looming but also the action to prevent it would in longer terms benefit the economy of the country.
India has received nearly US $ 150 million in the form grant as financial assistance to convert its production facilities of CFCs and refrigerators and other appliances. It also has received the assistance in raising awareness, training services for the customs officers to prevent illegal trading in CFCs, training for the refrigeration engineers and technicians and the policy guidance for its Ozone Cell. India has shown strong commitment in complying with the Montreal Protocol, and has kept very high profile on the subject. UNEP’s OzonAction has developed very close partnership with Tata Energy Research Institute-New Delhi, Centre for Environmental Education -Ahmedabad, IIT-New Delhi and Mumbai, National Academy for Customs, Excise and Narcotics-Delhi, National Chemical laboratory –Pune to carry out the capacity building activities to assist the Ozone cell of the Ministry of Environment and Forest.
3. We would like to know your memories, experiences and opinion of Pune
I am born in Rahimatpur in District Satara and was educated there and later in Mumbai and Powai. However, I came in close contact with Pune during my work in United Nations. OzonAction developed close association with NCL-Pune. Dr Mashelkar, who was director of NCL and now in charge of CSIR system has been was full supporter of the implementation of the Montreal Protocol. His leadership helped India to develop many recovery and recycling programmes and research in alternative refrigerants. Dr. Devotta of NCL worked with UNEP on number of joint activities to assist India as well as other developing countries.
Eagle Flasks of Pune was one of the first companies to phase out CFCs in their foam insulations. Kirloskars were also in fore front to replace the CFCs from the compressors of the refrigerators in their factory near Karad. I am pleased that I was of help to institutes and companies in and around Pune.
But much more needs to be done, as work is not yet over. Implementation of the Montreal protocol in the developing countries is only 50% complete.