While striving for industrial development and job creation, Maharashtra has been striving to reduce its carbon footprints so that there is no net impact on the environment.
Maharashtra has set its target to become a Net Zero State. Mumbai’s commitment to Net Zero by 2050 and the Mumbai Climate Action Plan 2022 are steps in this direction, which are followed by similar initiatives across the State. Net zero is a state in which the activities within a company’s value chain result in no net impact on the climate from GHG emissions. Every company’s road to decarbonization begins with a thorough value chain GHG baseline and footprint assessment.
The State contributes to 27% of the total exports in India. In view of its continuing socio–economic importance as well as its increasing climate change vulnerability, the state government has taken various steps to ensure that Maharashtra is on its way to achieve the INDC targets. In addition to implementing the national policy decisions accommodative of INDC targets, the State is well on its way to achieve Net Zero as its own carbon emission capacity.
According to a survey ‘Impact of Climate Change on various Businesses & Industries in Maharashtra‘, more than 70% of Maharashtra’s industrial sector believe that climate change is a real issue. However, this issue is acknowledged more by the industrial sector (78%) associated with large industries as compared to those in Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (68%) (MSMEs). Maharashtra has an estimated 47.78 lakh MSMEs, which constitutes about 8% of the total MSMEs in the country.
Maharashtra Industries Minister Uday Samant emphasizes that the state “has made significant efforts in managing industrial and other waste for sustainable industrial development. The state government has implemented stringent regulations, ensuring industries treat and dispose of waste in an environmentally friendly manner.” To address the delicate issue of hazardous waste, Maharashtra enforced the Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management & Transboundary Movement) Rules 2016, with Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) serving as the nodal agency for establishing Common Hazardous Waste Treatment Stabilization & Disposal Facilities (CHWTSDF). The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) also regularly conducts inspections and audits to ensure adherence to pollution norms. In addition, strong monitoring systems are in place to enforce compliance, and strict action is taken against any violations.
Now, Maharashtra is all set to have its Circular Economy Park policy. Based on the principle of reduce, reuse and recycle, circular economy parks are planned to be set up at Pune, Nagpur, Mumbai Metropolitan Region, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Nashik and Ratnagiri.
The proposed circular economy parks will support economic development and attract more investment in the state. The objective is to make the industries world-class and support the government plans for a shipbreaking unit at Ratnagiri on the Konkan coast, an
e-waste and auto parts unit near Pune, a steel scrap unit at Jalna near Aurangabad and a multipurpose multi-product unit in Nagpur, which will cater to all major industries that generate waste and will function like a hub and spoke model for the rest of the country. Each unit will be spread across at least 500 acres and a maximum of 1,000 acres.
The MIDC has land banks in all these areas. Besides, land acquisition will not be a problem even though there are some concerns about pollution issues which will be resolved before the policy is finalized. Dr. Vipin Sharma, CEO, MIDC, states that the organisation’s “commitment to sustainable development is exemplified by our approach to balancing industrial growth with environmental concerns. MIDC has spearheaded impactful initiatives aimed at fostering a harmonious coexistence between industry and the environment.”
Sharma emphasizes that by effectively treating and safely disposing of industrial effluents, hazardous waste, and sewage, MIDC is able to prevent any detrimental contamination of our valuable water resources, air quality, and soil health. Through ongoing upgrading and expansion projects across Maharashtra, MIDC continuously improves and adapts to the ever-evolving environmental challenges, solidifying the dedication to sustainable growth. This proactive approach ensures that the industrial areas remain at the forefront of sustainable development, employing the latest technologies and best practices.