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Carbon Fund: A Boon for TARA EcoKiln Owners
June 14, 2006 marked the culmination of an extensive planning process, when Technology and Action for Rural Advancement (TARA) and Community Development Carbon Fund (CDCF) of the World Bank entered into a strategic partnership to promote Vertical Shaft Brick Kilns promoted as TARA EcoKiln technology by utilizing the carbon credits. A total of 400000 tonnes of carbon will be saved by 126 TARA EcoKilns by 2014. For the first time in the history of the Indian brick sector and may be the world, the brick manufacturers are going to enjoy the benefits of becoming eco-friendly. The fund was launched in Chattisgarh on 12 April, 2007 at Raipur, in Orissa at Bhubaneshwar on 25 May, 2007 and in Jharkhand, at Ranchi on 19 June, 2007, respectively. All the three launches were with the help of the industry departments, which are already promoting TARA EcoKiln in the state and takes pride in associating with promoting eco-friendly technologies in the state. Honorable Industry Ministers of the respective states were the chief guests at the function, thus reinforcing the need for cleaner brick technologies. This will encourage the following: 1. Place TARA EcoKiln in the thrust area of industrial promotion policy; 2. Fast track approvals to establish and operate TARA EcoKiln. 3. Operation of the units from the and the NH/SH because of relaxation of siting criteria of the brick making units; and 4. Secure financial investments.
In Jharkhand, Shri Sudhir Mahato, Honourable Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Industry, Environment presented the cheque to Shri Omair Ahmed for constructing toilets for the workers and also gave him a certificate for carbon savings. Other dignitaries, Shri Santosh Kumar Satapathy, Secretary Industries, Shri Dhirendra Kumar, Special Secretary Government of Jharkhand and Shri Rahul Kumar Purwar, Director Industries, Shri Charles Cormier from the World Bank were also present in the workshop. All the three states where the fund was launched have shown tremendous progress in technology adoption both by the Industry department and the brick kiln owners’ community. Orissa leads the three. ( the three states), Put together, will contribute 80% of the 126 plants committed in the project. The department and the brick association are now coming forward to adopt TARA EcoKiln and promoted in their states. Carbon Funds will definitely create a win-win situation for the all the stakeholders, e.g., entrepreneurs, bank, industry department and pollution department in putting the industry in the organized sector. It will also help in promoting a sustainable business that fulfils a bsic need and takes care of the environment while not compromising on profitability. qSubroto Roy sroy@devalt.org
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Industry departments have shown positive response in this regard. The
Honorable Chief Guests distributed the cheques of carbon benefits to
selected entrepreneurs, e.g., Shri Brijmohan Aggarwal, Honorable
Minister of Commerce and Forest, presented the cheque for the period of
January 2005 - December 2005 to Shri K L Chugani, President of Raipur
Brick Association and also a TARA EcoKiln owner. Shri Kriparam Sahoo,
Chairman Khadi and Village Industry Board, Raipur was also present in
the workshop. In Orissa, Shri Biswa Bhushan Harichnadan, Minister of
Industry, Rural Development and Law presented the cheque of carbon
savings to Shri P Seemanchalam of Muniguda. Other dignitaries at
function in the Raipur were Mr. Guarva Joshi of the World Bank, Shri
Hemant Sharma, Director of Industries and Shri L .N Patnaik of Orissa
State Pollution Control Board.