Govt exploring possibility of eco-industrial parks

The state government would soon initiate discussions with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) as to how it could develop such parks in the state, Environment secretary Arnab Roy said while speaking at the 'Green Industry Conclave', organised by the CII here on Thursday.

"Next week, we will meet representatives of UNIDO and experts of CII-Green Business Centre and explore how we can go about it. The idea of eco-industrial parks sounds good," said Roy. "The state government is committed to anything that is green, clean and sustainable. Besides CII, which has come out with this idea, we will also explore how we can create a new and sustainable model for future units," Roy said.

The state government has set a target of generating about 3000 MW through alternative sources of energy. Twenty electric buses are also going to be introduced, Roy said describing the initiative as a modest beginning. Explaining an eco-industrial park, Rene van Berkel, UNIDO Representative, said "It is a community of manufacturing and service businesses located together on a common property."

He also described the initiative as a valid approach for scaling up resource efficiency and cleaner production in industrial zones in developing countries and emerging economies. "It is one of the practical ways for transition to green industry and achieving resource efficiency," he said.