India steps up fight against cigarette firms over health warnings

New Delhi : India's health ministry has ordered government agencies to enforce a new rule for bigger health warnings on cigarette packs, stepping up a fight against the country's $10 billion cigarette industry that has shut down its factories in protest.

The health ministry's action highlights a growing conflict between the tobacco industry and the federal government which wants manufacturers to cover 85 percent of a cigarette pack's surface in health warnings, up from 20 percent.

India's biggest cigarette maker ITC Ltd, part-owned by British American Tobacco, has not implemented the government order, saying it contradicts a parliamentary committee's recommendation for warnings to cover half a cigarette pack.

K.C. Samria, a joint secretary in the health ministry, wrote to government departments on Monday to ensure strict implementation of the new rules, letters seen by Reuters showed.

"The implementation of the rules requires strong support," Samria said, adding bigger warnings would create awareness about the ill effects of tobacco use.

Smoking kills about 1 million people in India each year, according to researchers at BMJ Global Health.

The rules will also apply to imported cigarette packets, as well as those being sold at duty-free shops at Indian airports.

"DRASTIC" RULES

The tobacco industry has said the new rules are impractical and create ambiguity as the parliamentary panel's report had called for warnings to cover half the packs' surface area.

The panel's report is not binding on the government.

ITC and its rival Godfrey Phillips India Ltd, which is a partner of U.S.-based Philip Morris International, shut factories on Friday in protest.

The Tobacco Institute of India estimated the production halt costs the industry $53 million a day.

ITC has said it is currently not ready to print bigger warnings on its packs. Godfrey has said it has started preparatory work to print new warnings.

ITC said it did not have any immediate comment on Tuesday. Godfrey could not immediately be reached for a comment.

A health ministry official said the directives on health warnings were clear and it would not bow down to the industry's "pressure tactic" of shutting the factories.

"The ministry has handled industry pressure well, it is a commendable step," said Amit Yadav, director, southeast Asia region at Framework Convention Alliance for Tobacco Control, a group of more than 350 organizations.

(Reporting by Aditya Kalra; Editing by Sanjeev Miglani and Jane Merriman)

All Sections of the Society will have to Work Together for Water Conservation Says Uma Bharti India Water Week-2016 Begins

New Delhi : Union Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Sushri Uma Bharti has said that all sections of the society will have to work together for water conservation. Inaugurating India Water Week 2016 in New Delhi today. The Minister said that water conservation is very essential for the sustainable development of the country. She said that increasing demand for water for various purposes on account of growing population, industrialization and urbanization pose serious challenges of creating facilities for conservation and proper utilization of available water resources. She said, at the same time, the deterioration of the water quality – of river water as also of the ground water – are serious issues. The likely impact of climate change on water resources adds to our challenges. The Minister said “We have to address these issues on priority. Efforts are required at all levels and joint efforts are necessary to ensure that all sections of the society get benefitted from water, the precious gift of the nature to us”. Sushri Bharti said Water for All: Striving Together” is not merely the theme for this year’s India Water Week but also the need of the hour for all of us. 

Referring to inter-linking of rivers the Water Resources Minister said Government of India is fully committed for water security through implementation of Interlinking of Rivers Projects. She said ever since the Government has come to power in 2014, Interlinking of Rivers (ILR) Programme under National Perspective Plan (NPP) has been taken up on a high Priority in right earnest. Sushri Bharti said “I am confident that the work on Ken-Betwa link would commence shortly”. 

Referring to Jal Kranti Abhiyan the Minister said, “I wish to pursue water conservation as a mass movement”. She said the objectives of Jal Kranti Abhiyan are strengthening and grass root involvement of all stakeholders including Panchayati Raj Institutions and local bodies in the water security and development schemes like Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM) and to encourage the adoption/utilization of traditional knowledge in water resources conservation and its management. 

Welcoming the participation of Israel as a partner country the Minister said that she considers Israel as her “guru” who can teach the world “how to save water”. 

The Union Minister for Finance, Corporate Affairs and Information and Broadcasting Shri Arun Jaitely underlined the importance of water conservation in the agricultural development of the country. He said investment in irrigation projects show immediate results vis-a-vis investment in other sectors. Underlining the contribution of agriculture in India’s economy the Minister observed that during the past two years we had erratic monsoon which calls for more attention on water management. While noting that irrigation is a state subject, Shri Jaitely said that centre will extend all out help to states in completing their irrigation projects. 

Speaking on the occasion Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shri Prakash Javadekar said that Government has managed to release industrial pollutant flowing into river Ganga by 30 per cent. Union Agriculture Minister Shri Radha Mohan Singh said that per capita availability of water in the country has gone down drastically which requires better water managements efforts. Union Minister for Rural Development, Drinking Water and Sanitation and Panchayati Raj Chaudhary Birendra Singh said the prime concern of the Government is, therefore, not just the creation of additional water related infrastructure but also of ensuring quality, sustainability and efficiency in water supply service. The Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that his state has extended its full support to the Ken-Betwa river link project. 

The Agriculture Minister of Israel Mr. Uri Ariel thanked the Government of India for inviting his country as partner country of the event and expressed the hope that India and Israel both will benefit from each other’s experience in the field of water conservation and management. 

The Union Water Resources Minister Sushri Bharti also launched a user friendly android based mobile application “Jal Sanchayan” which comprises all components of rainwater harvesting in single platform. It allows user to know from location conditions and interactive module enable user to calculate potential rainwater to be harvested in user’s location. 

The fourth edition of India Water Week will be observed upto 08 April, 2016. The theme for this year’s India Water week is “Water for all: Striving together”. Israel is associated as the partner country for this mega event. About 1500 delegates from India and 20 other countries are attending the conclave. 

The event has been divided into Seminars (eight nos.), Brainstorming sessions (six nos,), Panel Discussions (seven nos.), Case studies (six nos.) and Side Events (five nos.). These events will take place at ITPO, Pragati Maidan. Apart from this, an Exhibition ‘Water Expo-2016’ showcasing the technologies and solutions in water resources sector has also been organised at Hall No. 9, Pragati Maidan for the benefit of delegates. 

It is a multi-disciplinary conference enriching the theme with dialogue by national and international community alongwith the exhibition. Delegates at the event will be immensely benefitted from Israeli experience in efficient management of water resources as well as other national and international experiences. Many reputed National and International Organizations, Research Institutes, Educational Institutions and NGOs from water resources, agriculture, power sectors etc. are participating in the event to share their knowledge and experience in the sector. Most important stakeholder of water, i.e. farmers from different parts of the country are also participating in this important event as a part of INPIM Programme on Participatory Irrigation Management and share their experiences. 

The multi-disciplinary dialogue will be addressing the important initiatives of the Water Resources Ministry and priority programmes like Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojna (PMKSY), Jal Kranti Abhiyan, More crop per drop, Interlinking of Rivers, etc. apart from other important topics such as (a) Water and Health – managing water quality (b) Agriculture and Irrigation (c) Water and Power – hydro and thermal (d) Industrial water efficiency (e) Water supply and sanitation for rural and urban areas (f) Environment, climate change and water resources sector. 

Partner country Israel will exclusively organise two sessions viz. (i) Role of Micro Irrigation in existing command and (ii) Israel makes in India – COE’s and commercial success stories, water management. International Commission for Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) has organized first in the series “India Irrigation Forum-2016” as a part of India Water Week-2016. 

Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Government of India has been organising India Water Week since 2012 as an international event to focus on water related issues. Three editions of India Water Week have been organised so far in 2012, 2013 and 2015. 

World figures deny wrongdoing as "Panama Papers" turn spotlight on tax avoidance

LONDON/PANAMA CITY : Governments across the world began investigating possible financial wrongdoing by the rich and powerful on Monday after a leak of four decades of documents from a Panamanian law firm that specialised in setting up offshore companies.
The "Panama papers" revealed financial arrangements of global politicians and public figures including friends of Russian President Vladimir Putin, relatives of the prime ministers of Britain, Iceland and Pakistan, and the president of Ukraine.
While holding money in offshore companies is not illegal, journalists who received the leaked documents said they could provide evidence of funds hidden for tax evasion, money laundering, sanctions busting, drug deals or other crimes.
The law firm, Mossack Fonseca, which says it has set up more than 240,000 offshore companies for clients around the globe, denied any wrongdoing and called itself the victim of a campaign against privacy.
The Kremlin said the documents contained "nothing concrete and nothing new" while a spokesman for British Prime Minister David Cameron said his late father's reported links to an offshore company were a "private matter".
Iceland's Prime Minister Sigmundur Gunnlaugsson could not immediately be reached for comment on the naming of his wife in connection with a secretive company in an offshore haven, which brought opposition calls for him to resign.
Pakistan denied any wrongdoing by the family of Prime Minister Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif after his daughter and son were linked to offshore companies. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko did not comment on his reported offshore links.
Australia, Austria, France, Sweden and the Netherlands were among countries which said they had begun investigating the allegations, based on more than 11.5 million documents from Mossack Fonseca.
Banks came under the spotlight for allegedly helping clients hide their funds offshore.
The documents, covering a period from 1977 until last December, were leaked to more than 100 news organisations around the world, cooperating with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), a Washington, D.C.-based network.
"I think the leak will prove to be probably the biggest blow the offshore world has ever taken because of the extent of the documents," ICIJ director Gerard Ryle said.
"MORALLY UNACCEPTABLE"
Britain's Guardian newspaper said the documents showed a network of secret offshore deals and loans worth $2 billion led to associates of Putin, including concert cellist Sergei Roldugin, a childhood friend of the president. Reuters could not confirm those details.
Putin's spokesman dismissed the reports, saying they aimed to discredit him ahead of upcoming elections.
"This Putinophobia abroad has reached such a point that it is in fact taboo to say something good about Russia, or about any actions by Russia or any Russian achievements. But it's a must to say bad things, a lot of bad things, and when there's nothing to say, it must be concocted, he said.
The British government asked for a copy of the leaked data, which could be embarrassing for Prime Minister Cameron, who has spoken out against tax evasion and tax avoidance.
His late father, Ian Cameron, a wealthy stockbroker, is mentioned in the files, alongside some members of his Conservative Party, former Conservative lawmakers and party donors, British media said.
Jennie Granger, head of enforcement and compliance at HM Revenue and Customs, said the government would examine the information "and act on it swiftly and appropriately."
Cameron's spokeswoman declined to comment on whether the leader's family had money invested in offshore funds set up by his father, saying it was a "private matter".
The opposition Labour Party's finance spokesman, John McDonnell, tweeted: "Cameron promised and has failed to end tax secrecy and crack down on ‘morally unacceptable’ offshore schemes, real action is now needed."
The Australian Tax Office said it was investigating more than 800 wealthy Mossack Fonseca clients and had linked more than 120 of them to an associate offshore service provider located in Hong Kong, which it did not name.
DATABASE "HACK"
The head of Mossack Fonseca, Ramon Fonseca, has denied any wrongdoing but said his firm had suffered a successful but "limited" hack on its database. He described the hack and leak as "an international campaign against privacy".
Fonseca, who was up until March a senior government official in Panama, told Reuters the firm had formed more than 240,000 offshore companies.
The papers also showed the use of offshore companies by Pakistini Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's family, including his daughter Mariam and son Hussain. Pakistani Information Minister Pervez Rasheed denied any wrongdoing on their part.
"Every man has the right to do what he wants with his assets, to throw them in the sea, to sell them, or to establish a trust for them. There is no crime in this in Pakistani law or in international law," Rasheed said.
Media reports also said the leaked data pointed to a link between a member of global soccer body FIFA's ethics committee and a Uruguayan soccer official who was arrested last year as part of a U.S. probe into corruption in the sport.
ANGER
The revelations drew an angry reaction from some quarters. German Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel questioned the morals of the financial world.
"The greed of the super-rich is connected to the lack of conscience in the banking and financial sector. Both damage the trust in the rule of law. We should not tolerate the fact that one section of society works hard and sticks to the rules while another section cheats society," he told Sueddeutsche Zeitung.
The British-based Tax Justice Network said too many offshore lawyers, accountants and bankers saw it as their role to shield their clients from financial regulations designed to prevent money laundering, tax evasion and corruption.
"Mossack Fonseca has been one of the giants of the offshore world for decades. They had a reputation for extreme secrecy and discretion on their clients' behalf, which needless to say was attractive to many clients engaged in tax evasion, fraud, hiding conflicts of interest, and other white collar crimes," director John Christensen said in a statement.
Panama was one of the most secretive havens in the world, but the international community had done little to force improvements there or in many other jurisdictions, including a network of British overseas territories, it said.
The Central American country has declined to sign up to global transparency rules.
EUROPEAN BANKS PROBED
Austria's financial markets regulator FMA is investigating whether lenders Raiffeisen Bank International and Hypo Landesbank Vorarlberg followed rules against money laundering after they were named in the "Panama Papers".
Raiffeisen said it had complied but could not comment on specific cases. Hypo Landesbank Vorarlberg had no comment.
Norway and Sweden were looking into allegations their banks helped clients set up offshore companies or accounts.
In Ukraine, lawmakers said parliament should investigate allegations President Petro Poroshenko moved his confectionery business, Roshen, to the British Virgin Islands in August 2014 as fighting between Ukraine and pro-Russian separatists peaked.
"It is the height of cynicism to open offshore companies at a time when hundreds of our soldiers are dying," leader of the populist Radical Party, Oleh Lyashko, said. Any investigation could lead to Poroshenko's impeachment, he added.
A senior official from the General Prosecutor's office said there was no evidence the president had committed a crime.
In Brazil, the O Estado de S.Paulo newspaper said politicians from seven parties were named as Mossack Fonseca clients. They included politicians from Brazil's largest party, the PMDB, which broke away from President Dilma Rousseff's coalition last week, but no politicians from her Workers' Party.
(Reporting by Reuters bureaux; writing by Angus MacSwan; editing by Philippa Fletcher and Peter Graff)

Environment Ministry Organising 22nd Basic Ministerial Meeting on Climate Change

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is organising the 22nd meeting of Brazil, South Africa, India and China, called the BASIC Group. The meeting is being organized in New Delhi on 6th and 7th April 2016. This is the first meeting of the BASIC Group, after the Paris Agreement was adopted in December 2015. The meeting is extremely relevant, as it will help to further consolidate the positions of the countries and secure the interests of developing countries, before the 196 UNFCCC member countries meet for the first time in May 2016 after the adoption of the Paris Agreement. It aims to discuss climate change related issues, including how to take forward the decisions adopted in the Paris Agreement. The Ministers will reflect and deliberate on various provisions of the Paris Agreement and related decisions including Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC), transparency framework for action and support, matters relating to global stocktake, progress towards achieving the 20 C goal and the Pre 2020 Actions and review issues. 

On the first day of the meeting, negotiators of all four countries will meet and prepare the groundwork for the Ministerial meeting. On April 7, the Ministerial meeting will be followed by a press conference. At the end of the two-day meeting, a Joint Statement will be issued by the Group of Ministers, highlighting the BASIC group position on the way forward for the implementation of the Paris Agreement and its decisions. 

Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Mr. Prakash Javadekar, Special Representative for Climate Change Affairs of China, Mr. XieZhenhua, Deputy Minister of the Department of Environmental Affairs of South Africa, Ms. Thomson Barbara and Ambassador José Antonio Marcondes de Carvalho, Under Secretary-General for the Environment, Energy, Science and Technology of the Ministry of External Relations of Brazil will be attending the meeting, along with other officials of their country. 

During the 21st meeting of the BASIC Group held in Beijing, China, in 2015, the Ministers had highlighted the importance of cooperation among developing countries. They had voiced their support for further strengthening common positions of developing countries in Paris through the Group of 77 and China. 

UIDAI generates a billion (100 crore) Aadhaars A Historic Moment for India

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) generated the 100^thcrore Aadhaar on April 4, 2016, touching the landmark in a span of five-and-a-half years since the first Aadhaar was issued in 2010. This comes just a few days after a historic legislation Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits, and Services) Act 2016 has been notified by the Government.

Aadhaar coverage now is at 93 percent among people above the age of 18 (as per projected population figures of 2015).

As on date, in thirteen states and union territories (UTs) Aadhaar saturation has crossed 90 percent, while in thirteen other statues and UTs it is between 75-90 percent.

Aadhaar crossing the 100-crore mark is indeed a momentous occasion. This along with the recently notified Aadhaar Act will give a boost to the Government’s initiative of bringing a systemic change in the way services, subsidies and benefits will be directly delivered to the deserving masses.

Aadhaar Achievements

·         More than 100 crore people  have Aadhaar

·         73.96 Crores (93%) of adults in India have Aadhaar

·         22.25 Crore (67%) Children of age 5-18 Years have Aadhaar

·         2.30 Crore (20%) Children of Age 0- <5 years have Aadhaar

·         Every day more than 5-7 lakhs people get enrolled for Aadhaar.

·         Aadhaar is now the largest online digital identity platform in the world.

Aadhaar Benefits

·         DBTL (Pahal) – estimated savings of Rs 14,672 cr.

·         PDS – estimated savings of Rs 2,346 cr. across 4 states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Puducherry and Delhi

·         Scholarship – estimated savings of Rs 276 cr. across 3 states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Punjab

·         Pensions (NSAP) – estimated savings of Rs 66 cr. across 3 states of Jharkhand, Chandigarh and Puducherry

Aadhaar Usage

·         25.48 cr. Bank accounts linked with unique Aadhaars

·         Over 12.28 cr (71%)LPG connections linked with Aadhaar

·         Over 11.39 crore (45%) ration cards linked with Aadhaar

·         Over 5.90 cr. (60%) NREGA Cards linked with Aadhaar

Aadhaar Authentication

·         Over 150.6 cr. authentication transactions done by UIDAI

·         Over 8.4 cr. e-KYC transactions done at UIDAI

·         UIDAI authenticates over 40 lakh auth transactions per day

UIDAI today has a capacity of generating and dispatching over 15 lakh Aadhaars every day and has 37,304 enrolment stations spread across the country, manned by 3,76,543 certified operators.

Aadhaar applications and seeding too have seen impressive growth in the past two years. The number of transactions using Aadhaar Authentication has risen to 150.6 crore as on March 31, 2016, compared to 8.82 crore on May 31, 2014. The number of e-KYC transactions has gone up to 8.4 crore as on March 31, 2016 as against 2.7 lakh transaction on May 31, 2014.

Aadhaar Payment Bridge (APB) has been developed which enables disbursal of benefits /other payments directly to the beneficiary through his Aadhaar number without requiring his bank details. has shown considerable growth in the past two years.  Today more than 23 crore people have linked their bank accounts to their Aadhaars on the Aadhaar Payment Bridge. Total number of transactions on the APB was logged at 94.71 crore worth Rs. 28,363 crore, a handsome rise compared to the data on May 31, 2014:7.13 crore APB transactions worth Rs. 4,474 crore.

Another important achievement in the past two years is the growth seen in the Aadhaar Enabled Payment System (AEPS). AEPS is a mechanism through which a beneficiary in a remote village, without having access to a bank branch is able to withdraw or deposit money at his doorstep by giving his Aadhaar and fingerprint on a micro-ATM.  Total number of AEPS transactions has gone up to 10.76 crore as on March 31, 2016, as against 46 lakh logged on May 31, 2014.

Government of India has provided fresh impetus to the UIDAI by linking Aadhaar to various schemes and initiatives, including the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), MGNREGS, Pensions, Scholarships, DBTL, UAN (EPFO), PDS, Passports, Attendance system in government offices, etc. A comparison of the status of Aadhaar seeding as on 31^st May 2014 and March 31, 2016 in the following table clearly shows the direction and resolve of the Government to leverage Aadhaar for the benefit of people.

S.No.	Item	Status as on May 31, 2014	Status as on Mar 31, 2016
1.	LPG connections	2.82 crore	12.28 crore
2.	Food & Public Distribution (No. of ration Cards)	1.20 crore	11.39 crore
3.	MNREGA Job cards	Not Monitored	5.90 crore
4.	NSAP (Pension Scheme)	Not Monitored	0.95 crore
5.	Linkage with EPIC cards	-------	31.00 crore
6.	PMJDY	-------	9.32 crore
7.	Passport	-------	0.24 crore
8.	CBDT(Income TAX) Returns filed	-------	0.45 crore
9.	Jeevan Pramaan	-------	0.14 crore

Brathwaite smashes West Indies to World T20 title

West Indies' Carlos Brathwaite smashed a remarkable four successive sixes in the last over as they beat England by four wickets to win their second World Twenty20 title on Sunday.

Brathwaite's heroics alongside Marlon Samuels, who remained unbeaten on 85, saw West Indies, the 2012 champions, win with two balls to spare, sparking jubilant scenes at Eden Park.

Put in to bat, 2010 champions England rode Joe Root's 54 to post 155 for nine wickets in their 20 overs as Dwayne Bravo and Brathwaite picked up three wickets apiece for West Indies.

(Reporting by Sudipto Ganguly; Editing by Ken Ferris)

Union HRD Minister, Smt Smriti Zubin Irani to Participate in an International Conference on the Zero at UNESCO Headquarters

The High Level segment of the International Conference on the Zero, will be addressed by Smt Smriti Zubin Irani, Minister of Human Resource Development, Government of India and Ms. Irina Bokova, Director General UNESCO on 5th April 2016. 

The Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India, through the Permanent Delegation of India to UNESCO, and together with the Pierre and Marie Curie University, Paris, will host an International Conference on the Zero on 4-5 April, 2016 at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. The International Conference will share the rich and remarkable history of mathematics, through the participation of some brilliant minds, resonating with the UNESCO’s mandate to advance, transfer and share knowledge for the greater global good. 

The International Conference in Paris will open on 4th April at the Pierre and Marie Curie University, Paris, with a session by Professor Manjul Bhargava, Fields Medalist and Professor of Mathematics at Princeton University on “Gems of Ramanujan and their lasting Impact on Mathematics”. Session 2 at UNESCO on “Negative Numbers, Zero, Infinity and Beyond” will be addressed by Dr. Shailendra Mehta from Auro University, Gujarat. There will also be a Panel Discussion on the “Arabic Traditions in Mathematics”. Special Session by Professor Manjul Bhargava on “Mathematics in Indian Music” will be a high point of the Conference. 

Through the length of the event at UNESCO, there will be visual and interactive sessions, including films on Mathematics and Science, and interactive problem solving events designed for a young audience. In this category, the highlight will be “Zero: Infinity and Set Theory” conducted by Mr. Romain Attal from the Palais de La Decouverte in Paris. 

The event will formally close with the unveiling of a bronze bust by the Minister of Human Resource Development, India and the Director General, UNESCO of the ancient Indian mathematician-astronomer Aryabhata which is a gift from India to UNESCO, as its tribute to the world of Mathematics and Science. The Union Minister of Human Resource Development, Smt Smriti Zubin Irani participated in the high level segment, the Leaders’ Forum, held at UNESCO Headquarters, Paris on November 16-17, 2015 as a part of the 38th session of the UNESCO General Conference. 

During this visit, the Minister also held a meeting with the Director General of UNESCO, Ms. Irina Bokova, to discuss the full range of India's cooperation with the organization. As a follow up to the discussions held during the bilateral meeting, for the first time, both the leaders issued Joint Statement on the occasion of the National Mathematics Day, i.e. 22nd December, which is the birth anniversary of Srinivasa Ramanujan, the great Indian intellectual and mathematician. Both the leaders agreed to organize in 2016 a Conference on “Zero” at UNESCO headquarters in Paris. 

INDIAN ENVIRONMENT MINISTRY NOTIFIES HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT RULES, 2016

“The new Hazardous Waste Rules will ensure resource recovery and disposal of hazardous waste in environmentally sound manner. The Rules are environment and industry- friendly. The provisions of the new Rules are in line with this Government’s priority for Ease of Doing Business and Make in India, but with responsible concerns for sustainable development”, Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, ShriPrakashJavadekar, said here today, while releasing the HW Rules, 2016.

For the first time, Rules have been made to distinguish between Hazardous Waste and other wastes. Other wastes include:Waste tyre, paper waste, metal scrap, used electronic items, etc. and are recognized as a resource for recycling and reuse. These resources supplement the industrial processes and reduce the load on the virgin resource of the country. 

The salient features of Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management &Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016 include the following:- 

i. The ambit of the Rules has been expanded by including ‘Other Waste’. 

ii. Waste Management hierarchy in the sequence of priority of prevention, minimization, reuse, recycling, recovery, co-processing; and safe disposal has been incorporated. 

iii. All the forms under the rules for permission, import/export, filing of annual returns, transportation, etc. have been revised significantly, indicating the stringent approach for management of such hazardous and other wastes with simultaneous simplification of procedure. 

iv. The basic necessity of infrastructure to safeguard the health and environment from waste processing industry has been prescribed as Standard Operating Procedure (SOPs), specific to waste type, which has to be complied by the stakeholders and ensured by SPCB/PCC while granting such authorisation. 

v. Procedure has been simplified to merge all the approvals as a single window clearance for setting up of hazardous waste disposal facility and import of other wastes. 

vi. Co-processing as preferential mechanism over disposal for use of waste as supplementary resource, or for recovery of energy has been provided. 

vii. The approval process for co-processing of hazardous waste to recover energy has been streamlined and put on emission norms basis rather than on trial basis. 

viii. The process of import/export of waste under the Rules has been streamlined by simplifying the document-based procedure and by revising the list of waste regulated for import/export. 

ix. The import of metal scrap, paper waste and various categories of electrical and electronic equipments for re-use purposehas been exempted from the need of obtaining Ministry’s permission. 

x. The basic necessity of infrastructure to safeguard the health and environment from waste processing industry has been prescribed as Standard Operating Procedure (SOPs) specific to waste type. 

xi. Responsibilities of State Government for environmentally sound management of hazardous and other wastes have been introduced as follows: 

 Toset up/ allot industrial space or sheds for recycling, pre-processing and other utilization of hazardous or other waste

 To register the workers involved in recycling, pre-processing and other utilization activities. 

 To form groups of workers to facilitate setting up such facilities; 

 To undertake industrial skill development activities and ensure safety and health of workers. 

xii. List of processes generating hazardous wastes has been reviewed taking into account technological evolution in the industries. 

xiii. List of Waste Constituents with Concentration Limits has been revised as per international standard and drinking water standard. 

The following items have been prohibited for import: 

a. Waste edible fats and oil of animals, or vegetable origin; 

b. Household waste; 

c. Critical Care Medical equipment; 

d. Tyres for direct re-use purpose; 

e. Solid Plastic wastes including Pet bottles; 

f. Waste electrical and electronic assemblies scrap; 

g. Other chemical wastes especially in solvent form. 

xiv. State Government is authorized to prepare integrated plan for effective implementation of these provisions, and have to submit annual report to Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. 

xv. State Pollution Control Board is mandated to prepare an annual inventory of the waste generated; waste recycled, recovered, utilised including co-processed; waste re-exported and waste disposed and submit to the Central Pollution Control Board by the 30th day of September every year. 

3. Hazardous Waste

Hazardous waste means any waste, which by reason of characteristics, such as physical, chemical, biological, reactive, toxic, flammable, explosive or corrosive, causes danger to health, or environment. It comprises the waste generated during the manufacturing processes of the commercial products such as industries involved in petroleum refining, production of pharmaceuticals, petroleum, paint, aluminium, electronic products etc. As per the information furnished by CPCB in the year 2015, the total hazardous waste generation in the country is 7.46 million metric tonnes per annum from about 44,000 industries. 

4. Proper Hazardous Waste Management

i. Scientific disposal of hazardous waste through collection, storage, packaging, transportation and treatment, in an environmentally sound manner minimises the adverse impact on human health and on the environment. The hazardous waste can be disposed at captive treatment facility installed by the individual waste generators or at Common Hazardous Waste Treatment, Storage and Disposal Facilities (TSDFs). There are 40 Common Hazardous Waste Treatment, Storage and Disposal Facilities (TSDFs) available in 17 States/UTs. 

ii. Hazardous waste as lead acid battery scraps, used oil, waste oil, spent catalyst etc. and other waste such as waste tyres, paper waste, metal scrap etc. are used as raw material by the industries involved in recycling of such waste and as supplementary resource for material and energy recovery. Accordingly, it is always preferable to utilise such waste through recycling, or for resource recovery to avoid disposal through landfill or incineration. There are about 1080 registered recyclers; 47 cement plants permitted for co-processing; and about 108 industries permitted for utilisation of hazardous waste. 

5. Problems of unscientific disposal of Hazardous and other waste

Unscientific disposal of hazardous and other waste through burning or incineration leads to emission of toxic fumes comprising of Dioxins & Furans, Mercury, heavy metals, causing air pollution and associated health-related problems.Disposal in water bodies, or in municipal dumps leads to toxic releases due to leaching in land and water entailing into degradation of soil and water quality.The workers employed in such unscientific practices suffer from neurological disorders, skin diseases, genetic defects, cancer etc.Hence, there is a need for systematic management of hazardous and other waste in an environmentally sound manner by way of prevention, minimisation, re-use, recycling, recovery, utilisation including co-processing and safe disposal of waste.

6. Consultation process for new Hazardous and Other Waste Rules

Draft Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules were published in July, 2015 inviting suggestions and objections. 473 suggestions/ objections were received from Government organisations, institutions and private individuals. Draft rules were shared with industry associations, Central Government ministries and State Governments. Stakeholders’ consultation meetings were organised in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru. A working group comprising technical and subject experts examined all the suggestions. Based on the recommendations of the Working Group, the Ministry has published the Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management & Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016. 

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi visiting the Masmak Fortress at Riyadh, in Saudi Arabia on April 02, 2016

Indian cigarette makers halt production over health warning rules

New Delhi : Indian cigarette makers including ITC Ltd, part-owned by British American Tobacco, suspended production on Friday over what they said was ambiguity in the government's new health warning rules for packs, a leading industry body said.

Rules that mandated 85 percent of a cigarette pack's surface to be covered in health warnings, up from 20 percent, kicked in from Friday after being delayed for a year.

But cigarette makers failed to comply, with packs with smaller warnings still being sold in the capital New Delhi.

The Tobacco Institute of India (TII) said the industry was concerned over potential violation of health warning rules by continuing production, adding that the production halt would cost the industry $53 million a day.

India was last year forced to delay implementation of stringent pack warning rules as a parliamentary panel sought time to assess how the industry would be impacted.

The health ministry later decided to implement the rules from April this year, but the panel last month issued a report saying the size of warnings should be reduced to 50 percent in the interest of the industry and tobacco farmers.

Health activists have criticized the panel for favoring the industry. The World Health Organization has called the debate on reducing the warnings size in India "worrisome".

India's $10 billion cigarette market is dominated by ITC and Godfrey Phillips India Ltd, a partner of U.S.-based Philip Morris International. ITC declined to comment. Godfrey Phillips was not immediately available for comment.

TII, which has called the new rules drastic and impractical, said the industry had written to the health ministry seeking clarification. It did not elaborate on what was ambiguous about the new rules.

A senior health ministry official, who declined to be named, said the government was committed to implementing the rules.

Smoking kills about 1 million people in India each year, BMJ Global Health estimates. The Canadian Cancer Society in 2014 ranked India 136th out of 198 countries that use pack warnings to deter smokers, lagging nations such as Thailand.

"The industry is holding the government to ransom. There is no ambiguity in the rules," said Amit Yadav, director, southeast Asia region at Framework Convention Alliance for Tobacco Control, a group of more than 350 global organizations.

(Editing by Alexander Smith and David Holmes)