Thursday June 6, 2002
The Times of India
Kolkata: Thousands employed in manufacturing and repairing of refrigerators, air-conditioners and related industries in the state are staring at unemployment from January 1, 2003, when unregistered users of ozone-depleting substances are barred from doing business.
With just over a month to go before the sign-up deadline expires, only 78 of the 900-odd ODS users have registered with the Small Industries Service Institute, the nodal centre for registration of ODS producers, users, exporters, stockists and sellers.
Refrigerators, ACs, fire extinguishers, polyurethane, foam, solvents and aerosol manufacturers and service firms use ODS that is to be phased out completely by 2010 in accordance with the Montreal Protocol that was ratified by India in 1992.
At a symposium organised by Consumer Unity & Trust Society, SISI and industry associations hurled accusations for the failure to sensitise users about the Ozone depleting Substances (Regulation & Control) Rules, 2000.
The ODS rules fixes phase out time frames and requires compulsory registration of every unit dealing with ODS.
“Most local units are unaware of the requirement to register themselves by July 19, 2002, ” said Eastern India Air-conditioning & Refrigeration Association president D V Lamba.