Industrial Environmental Improvement Drive 2014

The Industrial Environmental Improvement Drive 2014 which was launched in Vatva Industrial Estate, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, on the World Environment Day was ceremonially concluded at the Vapi Industrial Estate on 5th July 2014. Both the participating industrial estates of Vatva and Vapi are amongst the large industrial estates of Gujarat and have had inherent problems in managing the environment over a period of time.

The drive was an attempt to initiate positive actions for environmental improvement in the industrial areas through voluntary participation of industries and other stakeholders. The month long drive witnessed several affirmative initiatives, including cleanliness drive, plantation drive, awareness drives etc. Present on the occasion were Mr. Ganpatsinh Vasava, Hon’ble Minister for Forests & Environment, Government of Gujarat, Mr. K C. Patel, Honb’le Member of Parliament, Valsad, Mr. Heiko Warnken, Counsellor / Head Economic Cooperation & Development, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, Dr. Dieter Mutz, Director, GIZ (Indo German Environment Programme), Mr. Vikrant Pande, District Collector of Valsad District, Mr. Hardik Shah, Member Secretary of the Gujarat Pollution Control Board and many other local dignitaries. Over five hundred representatives of industries and industry associations also attended.

The drive saw a lot of success in removal of waste dumps, in undertaking plantation, in activities at industry level. Overall, the initiative gave sparked hope that the industries can become agents of change in support of sustainable and equitable development. Both the large industrial estates in Vapi and Vatva have decided to continue with the drive atleast for a year to enable visible impact.

Mr. Heiko Warnken, Head Economic Cooperation & Development, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, New Delhi being felicitated on the occasion of concluding function of the Industrial Environment Improvement Drive (IEID) 2014, jointly organised by GIZ and Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) at Vapi, Gujarat