Rajiv Gandhi

Environment Award

For Clean Technology

Government of India

Ministry of Environment & Forests

New Delhi

O

n the Golden Jubilee Anniversary of Shire Rajiv Gandhi's birth, the Government of India have decided to institute a National Award named after him, to encourage the adoption of clean process technologies by industries, particularly those in the highly polluting categories.

This is in special recognition of the late Prime Minister's vigorous efforts at technological upgradation, and his particularly acute environmental sensitivity.

The award will be granted in the form of a trophy to the meritorious unit which makes a significant and measurable contribution towards the development of new, or innovative modification of existing, or remarkable adoption and use of clean technologies and practices that substantially reduce, eliminate or prevent environmental pollution.

Pollution prevention aims at improving the quality of air, soil and water, at conserving natural resources and at preventing the generation of pollutants through viable and cost effective means.

The activities can include new technologies that save energy or other resources, product reformulation or substitution to use fewer polluting materials, and modified or new processes which reduce pollution.

There is a scheme of National Awards for the Prevention of Pollution in which 23 awards are given each year, one in each of the identified eighteen categories of highly polluting industries (sugar, fertilizer, cement, fermentation and distilleries, aluminium, petro-chemicals, thermal power, caustic soda, oil refinery, sulphuric acid, copper smelting, zinc smelting, iron and steel, tanneries, pulp and paper, dye and dye intermediates, pesticides, pharmaceuticals), and five in the small-scale category.

While reviewing the nominations for these awards, the Selection Committee shall identify the best among these, particularly from the angle of adoption of clean technology, for the Rajiv Gandhi Award.

The significance of the contribution, both in qualitative as well as quantitative terms, as well as measurable impact on the environment will be among the major criteria for selection.

20 August 1993

New Delhi