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Environmental management: An experiment in orientation in India
Environmental Management: An Experiment in Orientation in India N. L. RAMANATHAN Director, Department o f Environment, Government o f lndia New Delhi 110 016, India B. BOWONDER
Administrative S t a f f College o f lndia, Bella Vista Hyderabad 500 4 75, India
SUMMARY
Environmental management is a most critical input for achieving ecologically sound and balanced economic growth. It is essential that policymakers and administrators accept the significance, principles and practices o f environmental management, otherwise implementation o f projects will not include the environmental protection measures. Environmental management training programmes for decision-makers are, therefore, essential In India, The Department o f Environment has initiated workshop for top level managers for sensitizing them to environmental management concepts. The experience in organizing and conducting such programmes may be o f value to organizations in other developing countries, and is summarised in this paper. How to run workshop
an
environmental
management
GENESIS
In India, the Department of Environment (created in November 1980) has the responsibility of promoting environmental management, and it is interesting that to date, most management institutions have not taken active interest either in research or training in this area. In late 1979, the Administrative Staff College of India was approached by the then Environmental Division of the Department of Science and Technology for organizing a joint workshop on Environmental Management. The idea was accepted in principle and one workshop for Government administrators was organised in March, 1980. This experimental 0251-1088/82/0000-0000]$02.75
workshop, carded out by using guest lecturers drawn from government and academy attracted satisfactory participation by a spectrum of senior government officials. A second workshop on Environmental Management was therefore held in March 1981. The experience gained in holding these workshops, enables us to present a model for a series of such in-service orientation programmes. The objectives in the announcement for the Workshop in Environmental Management sent to government departments, administrators, industry executives and voluntary organisations were to: 1. Sensitize policy-makers about environmental consequences of development projects; 2. Discuss cost-benefit analysis methodologies that can be used in the case of environmentally sensitive projects; 3. Integrate environmental concerns in project evaluation and planning; and 4. Highlight the managerial issues involved in environmental protection. These objectives were kept simple to attempt to ensure that the main purpose of orienting policy-makers and making them aware of the issues and techniques of Environmental Management would not be lost. PARTICIPANTS Out of 58 applicants, 34 were selected from various organisations which covered a range of specialised areas (Table 1). The selected heterogeneity was meant to catalyse understanding of the interrelationships of the various areas, to promote an exchange of experiences of the participants and future team effort. The blending of the group is considered vital in the furtherance of the objectives. Further, the underlying motive was to
The Environmentalist, 2 (1982) 51-54
©Elsevier Sequoia/Printed in The Netherlands
instill the message that development transcends all spheres of human activity. It is interesting to record the variety of reasons given by the participants for attending the workshop (Table 2). It can be seen that participants differed considerably in their expectations about the objectives of the workshop. Some came to
The specialists who provided the expertise at the workshop were drawn from different organisations (Table 3). Table 4 lists the main inputs (didactive lecturer, group discussions, practical exercise, audiovisual presentation or panel discussion) of the workshop. PARTICIPANTS' REACTIONS While the participants felt that generally more case studies and illustrative examples should be included and specifically the subject of environmental legislation should be dealt with, a number of other issues and suggestions emerged:
Most management institutions have not taken active interest either in research or training in this area learn newer analytical skills while others were interested in an overview of the environmental concepts. Also the interest of several participants were directed towards only a part of the whole course. Table 1. Distribution of participants Sr. No. 1 2 3 , 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Area Represented
No.
Administrative Services Pollution Control Boards Forest Service Industry with Pollution Control Units Voluntary Organisations Power Generation Sector Urban Development Mining Sector Economic Services University Engineering/Consultancy
7 6 4 3 3 2 2 2 1 1 1
Table 2. Motivation of participants (based on end-of-course evaluation questionnaire) Sr. No. Expectation 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
52
Understanding the major environmental issues Knowing how environmental problems in towns can be taken care of Understand the interaction between ecology and environment Knowing how environmental degradation can be reduced Learning cost benefit analysis Learning about the latest developments in project evaluation and planning Integrating environmental concerns in planning and policy-making Knowing how environmental impact studies can be carried out for major industrial projects Learning how cost-benefit methodologies can be used in the case of industrial projects Seeking to achieve pollution control under the existing laws Studying techniques of environmental monitoring Meeting and exchanging experience with people interested in environmental protection
No. 17 3 6 21 4 3 8 14 4 8 2 25
Environmental Impact Assessment Some of the old completed projects should be thoroughly studied to understand the environmental impacts they have caused. Environmental issues should be assessed at the project preparation stage. The Planning Commission should consider environmental aspects before sanctioning large development projects. Independent agencies or organisations must be prompted to carry out environmental impact analysis. Universities should be involved in case study preparation on environmental protection, degradation and conservation. Industrial siting should be more rigorous taking care of environmental degradation that can occur from projects. Specific guidelines should be issued on how to assess impact of small industries, especially in urban areas.
Pollution Control Boards should be more broad-based with more budget allocations Pollution Control Pollution Control Boards should be more broadbased with more budget .allocations; a current Public Health Engineering bias of these Boards should be eliminated, and they should be technically strengthened and be involved in environmental education. Pollution control manuals for various types of industries should be prepared and made available. Small scale industrial estates should provide pollution abatement facilities as part of their projects. If various agencies do not agree on a standard for pollution control, international standards should be used. The Environmentalist
Toxic chemical pollution has been given inadequate attention and should be dealt with adequately. Table 3. Faculty From
No.
Administrative College of India Department of Environment Voluntary organisations engaged in environmental programme Indian Institute of Science
Forestry Forest department should be under the Department of Environment. Agro-forestry and social forestry has to be stimulated by additional investments. Forestry requires additional investment; diverting forests for other uses should be completely banned. Further deforestation must not be permitted; each case must be examined at the highest level by a committee of environmental experts to obtain clearance.
Training Table 4. Main inputs Sr. No. Theme
Type of presentation
Environmental management issues in India Technology assessment Environmental concerns and economic development
Lecture Lecture Lecture
Natural habitats Environmental impact analysis System approach to environmental management
Lecture
Environmental conflicts
Lecture Lecture
Environmental management: Indian
Lecture Lecture
experience
9 10 11 12
20 21 22 23
Urban environment Environmental degradation in India Environment and Health Silent Valley hydroelectric project: A case study Energy and envixonment interaction Industrial siting decision Economics and environmental quality Government and pollution control Social cost-benefit analysis Agroforestry Institutionalisation of environmental concerns Environmental conditions in India Economics and resources utilization Monitoring environmental change Forest policy in India
24 25
Water quality management Urban waste management
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Lecture Lecture Lecture
Lecture Lecture Lecture Lecture Lecture Lecture Lecture Lecture Slide show Lecture Lecture Panel discussion Lecture Lecture
Sessions lasted 70 minutes; 40 minutes formal lecture followed by discussion.
Research R e s e a r c h o n e n v i r o n m e n t a l p r o t e c t i o n , conserv a t i o n and m a n a g e m e n t should b e s t i m u l a t e d and a specialised R e s e a r c h I n s t i t u t e should b e set u p under the Department of Environment. R e s e a r c h o n and d e v e l o p m e n t o f p o l l u t i o n cont r o l b y biological s y s t e m s , especially for c i t y sewage, and industrial e f f l u e n t t r e a t m e n t s h o u l d be e n c o u r a g e d ; similarly biological c o n t r o l o f pests should be r e s o r t e d to. Vol. 2 No. 1 (1982)
W o r k s h o p s should include p r a c t i c a l a n d o n - t h e spot demonstration of environmental degradation and e n v i r o n m e n t a l p r o t e c t i o n m e a s u r e s . A series o f training p r o g r a m m e s is r e q u i r e d f o r a d m i n i s t r a t o r s , p o l i c y - m a k e r s and i f possible politicians.
Legal personnel and judges must be given adequate training in dealing with the types of legal cases connected with environmental conflicts.
The setting up of a separate autonomous body called the Indian Council for Environment Research and Training Middle level administrators and managers should also be exposed to intensive environmental impact analysis courses. Considering the multidisciplinary nature of environmental management, workshops must also be directed at in-service training and orientation of mid-level and junior level managers.
Department of Environment T h e duties o f such a d e p a r t m e n t s h o u l d be: maintain a data bank on environmental matters; p r e p a r e an a n n u a l S t a t e o f E n v i r o n m e n t a l R e p o r t ; set u p a s t a t u t o r y o r g a n i s a t i o n f o r m o n i t o r i n g e n v i r o n m e n t a l changes and trends; and assist in t h e setting up o f a s e p a r a t e a u t o n o m o u s b o d y called the I n d i a n C o u n c i l f o r E n v i r o n m e n t a l Research and T r a i n i n g ( I C E R T ) , t o s t i m u l a t e r e s e a r c h and training in this field. G e n e r a l p o i n t s i n c l u d e d r e f e r e n c e to t h e n e e d f o r a m o r e careful e x a m i n a t i o n o f u r b a n ecosyst e m s and f o r u r b a n d e v e l o p m e n t a u t h o r i t i e s t o d e v e l o p this expertise. Also e n v i r o n m e n t a l legisl a t i o n m u s t be r e v i e w e d and s t r e n g t h e n e d so t h a t i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f the r e g u l a t i o n b e c o m e s s m o o t h . F u r t h e r m o r e I n d i a n d o c u m e n t a r y films o n envir o n m e n t a l c o n c e r n s and issues should b e prep a r e d and screened r e p e a t e d l y . 53
While the participants expressed personal gains by attending the workshops (though to varying degrees and interest in attending more advanced or specific training programmes on Environmental Management) there was reservation about the scope for applying the newly-gained insights in their own spheres of work. It is therefore clear that the workshops were most useful as an initial awakening of the full responsibilities which senior management carries in ensuring that future generations will have a sound environment in which to live. However greater conviction is required. GENERAL CONCLUSIONS Such interdisciplinary training and orientation programmes with built-in interaction of participants, with faculty representing areas of ecology, administrative services, management economics, sociology, forestry, environmental engineering and so on should be conducted for various target groups at appropriate levels. This will help attain a coordinated approach to environmental protection and conservation.
They find themselves trapped by long-practised and archaic administrative systems and procedures Engineering and Management training programmes should include at least one course on Environmental Management. It would appear that organisations like electricity boards, paper mills, etc., are still rather reluctant to adopt environmental control measures. Senior government administrators seem to be more receptive, than other managerial types, to environmental conservation. They are, in general, conceptually attuned to the need for environmental protection. However, they find themselves trapped by long-practised and archaic administrative systems and proce-
54
dures which they find unable to displace all of a sudden, lest they be accused of retarding the progress of development. Participants tended to view environmental issues from their own narrow angle of vision. They were reluctant to step into realms outside their own specialities. However, towards the end of the course, inhibitions dissolved to the extent that the urban development expert spoke intelligently and feelingly about forestry and the pollution expert viewed compassionately wildlife protection. It was confirmed that sharing experience is better when the group is multi-functional. The heterogeneity of the participants was a positive factor which introduced various viewpoints for discussion. This has been one of the basic strengths of the approach adopted. Undoubtedly, there is an urgent need to continue to organise similar workshops in different regions of the country in association with management development, administrative, technical and economic education centres. Voluntary agencies geared to the task of environmental protection have to be organised and encouraged in order to arouse the consciousness of the public and motivate them to participate in environmental action programmes. The Department of Environment should serve as a nodal agency for such voluntary groups and guide them in establishing worthwhile action programmes. As a result of the useful experience from the workshops, the Department of Environment has decided to organise a series of such Training Workshops in Environmental Management at the Administrative Staff College of India and other centres. Each Workshop of a general nature for a heterogeneous group of participants will alternate with more intensive area-specific workshops for target groups such as industrial managers, forest service officers, dam design and construction engineers, legal experts and rural development specialists. This programme series is set to start from early 1982.
The Environmentalist
Administrative S t a f f College o f lndia, Bella Vista Hyderabad 500 4 75, India
SUMMARY
Environmental management is a most critical input for achieving ecologically sound and balanced economic growth. It is essential that policymakers and administrators accept the significance, principles and practices o f environmental management, otherwise implementation o f projects will not include the environmental protection measures. Environmental management training programmes for decision-makers are, therefore, essential In India, The Department o f Environment has initiated workshop for top level managers for sensitizing them to environmental management concepts. The experience in organizing and conducting such programmes may be o f value to organizations in other developing countries, and is summarised in this paper. How to run workshop
an
environmental
management
GENESIS
In India, the Department of Environment (created in November 1980) has the responsibility of promoting environmental management, and it is interesting that to date, most management institutions have not taken active interest either in research or training in this area. In late 1979, the Administrative Staff College of India was approached by the then Environmental Division of the Department of Science and Technology for organizing a joint workshop on Environmental Management. The idea was accepted in principle and one workshop for Government administrators was organised in March, 1980. This experimental 0251-1088/82/0000-0000]$02.75
workshop, carded out by using guest lecturers drawn from government and academy attracted satisfactory participation by a spectrum of senior government officials. A second workshop on Environmental Management was therefore held in March 1981. The experience gained in holding these workshops, enables us to present a model for a series of such in-service orientation programmes. The objectives in the announcement for the Workshop in Environmental Management sent to government departments, administrators, industry executives and voluntary organisations were to: 1. Sensitize policy-makers about environmental consequences of development projects; 2. Discuss cost-benefit analysis methodologies that can be used in the case of environmentally sensitive projects; 3. Integrate environmental concerns in project evaluation and planning; and 4. Highlight the managerial issues involved in environmental protection. These objectives were kept simple to attempt to ensure that the main purpose of orienting policy-makers and making them aware of the issues and techniques of Environmental Management would not be lost. PARTICIPANTS Out of 58 applicants, 34 were selected from various organisations which covered a range of specialised areas (Table 1). The selected heterogeneity was meant to catalyse understanding of the interrelationships of the various areas, to promote an exchange of experiences of the participants and future team effort. The blending of the group is considered vital in the furtherance of the objectives. Further, the underlying motive was to
The Environmentalist, 2 (1982) 51-54
©Elsevier Sequoia/Printed in The Netherlands
instill the message that development transcends all spheres of human activity. It is interesting to record the variety of reasons given by the participants for attending the workshop (Table 2). It can be seen that participants differed considerably in their expectations about the objectives of the workshop. Some came to
The specialists who provided the expertise at the workshop were drawn from different organisations (Table 3). Table 4 lists the main inputs (didactive lecturer, group discussions, practical exercise, audiovisual presentation or panel discussion) of the workshop. PARTICIPANTS' REACTIONS While the participants felt that generally more case studies and illustrative examples should be included and specifically the subject of environmental legislation should be dealt with, a number of other issues and suggestions emerged:
Most management institutions have not taken active interest either in research or training in this area learn newer analytical skills while others were interested in an overview of the environmental concepts. Also the interest of several participants were directed towards only a part of the whole course. Table 1. Distribution of participants Sr. No. 1 2 3 , 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Area Represented
No.
Administrative Services Pollution Control Boards Forest Service Industry with Pollution Control Units Voluntary Organisations Power Generation Sector Urban Development Mining Sector Economic Services University Engineering/Consultancy
7 6 4 3 3 2 2 2 1 1 1
Table 2. Motivation of participants (based on end-of-course evaluation questionnaire) Sr. No. Expectation 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
52
Understanding the major environmental issues Knowing how environmental problems in towns can be taken care of Understand the interaction between ecology and environment Knowing how environmental degradation can be reduced Learning cost benefit analysis Learning about the latest developments in project evaluation and planning Integrating environmental concerns in planning and policy-making Knowing how environmental impact studies can be carried out for major industrial projects Learning how cost-benefit methodologies can be used in the case of industrial projects Seeking to achieve pollution control under the existing laws Studying techniques of environmental monitoring Meeting and exchanging experience with people interested in environmental protection
No. 17 3 6 21 4 3 8 14 4 8 2 25
Environmental Impact Assessment Some of the old completed projects should be thoroughly studied to understand the environmental impacts they have caused. Environmental issues should be assessed at the project preparation stage. The Planning Commission should consider environmental aspects before sanctioning large development projects. Independent agencies or organisations must be prompted to carry out environmental impact analysis. Universities should be involved in case study preparation on environmental protection, degradation and conservation. Industrial siting should be more rigorous taking care of environmental degradation that can occur from projects. Specific guidelines should be issued on how to assess impact of small industries, especially in urban areas.
Pollution Control Boards should be more broad-based with more budget allocations Pollution Control Pollution Control Boards should be more broadbased with more budget .allocations; a current Public Health Engineering bias of these Boards should be eliminated, and they should be technically strengthened and be involved in environmental education. Pollution control manuals for various types of industries should be prepared and made available. Small scale industrial estates should provide pollution abatement facilities as part of their projects. If various agencies do not agree on a standard for pollution control, international standards should be used. The Environmentalist
Toxic chemical pollution has been given inadequate attention and should be dealt with adequately. Table 3. Faculty From
No.
Administrative College of India Department of Environment Voluntary organisations engaged in environmental programme Indian Institute of Science
Forestry Forest department should be under the Department of Environment. Agro-forestry and social forestry has to be stimulated by additional investments. Forestry requires additional investment; diverting forests for other uses should be completely banned. Further deforestation must not be permitted; each case must be examined at the highest level by a committee of environmental experts to obtain clearance.
Training Table 4. Main inputs Sr. No. Theme
Type of presentation
Environmental management issues in India Technology assessment Environmental concerns and economic development
Lecture Lecture Lecture
Natural habitats Environmental impact analysis System approach to environmental management
Lecture
Environmental conflicts
Lecture Lecture
Environmental management: Indian
Lecture Lecture
experience
9 10 11 12
20 21 22 23
Urban environment Environmental degradation in India Environment and Health Silent Valley hydroelectric project: A case study Energy and envixonment interaction Industrial siting decision Economics and environmental quality Government and pollution control Social cost-benefit analysis Agroforestry Institutionalisation of environmental concerns Environmental conditions in India Economics and resources utilization Monitoring environmental change Forest policy in India
24 25
Water quality management Urban waste management
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Lecture Lecture Lecture
Lecture Lecture Lecture Lecture Lecture Lecture Lecture Lecture Slide show Lecture Lecture Panel discussion Lecture Lecture
Sessions lasted 70 minutes; 40 minutes formal lecture followed by discussion.
Research R e s e a r c h o n e n v i r o n m e n t a l p r o t e c t i o n , conserv a t i o n and m a n a g e m e n t should b e s t i m u l a t e d and a specialised R e s e a r c h I n s t i t u t e should b e set u p under the Department of Environment. R e s e a r c h o n and d e v e l o p m e n t o f p o l l u t i o n cont r o l b y biological s y s t e m s , especially for c i t y sewage, and industrial e f f l u e n t t r e a t m e n t s h o u l d be e n c o u r a g e d ; similarly biological c o n t r o l o f pests should be r e s o r t e d to. Vol. 2 No. 1 (1982)
W o r k s h o p s should include p r a c t i c a l a n d o n - t h e spot demonstration of environmental degradation and e n v i r o n m e n t a l p r o t e c t i o n m e a s u r e s . A series o f training p r o g r a m m e s is r e q u i r e d f o r a d m i n i s t r a t o r s , p o l i c y - m a k e r s and i f possible politicians.
Legal personnel and judges must be given adequate training in dealing with the types of legal cases connected with environmental conflicts.
The setting up of a separate autonomous body called the Indian Council for Environment Research and Training Middle level administrators and managers should also be exposed to intensive environmental impact analysis courses. Considering the multidisciplinary nature of environmental management, workshops must also be directed at in-service training and orientation of mid-level and junior level managers.
Department of Environment T h e duties o f such a d e p a r t m e n t s h o u l d be: maintain a data bank on environmental matters; p r e p a r e an a n n u a l S t a t e o f E n v i r o n m e n t a l R e p o r t ; set u p a s t a t u t o r y o r g a n i s a t i o n f o r m o n i t o r i n g e n v i r o n m e n t a l changes and trends; and assist in t h e setting up o f a s e p a r a t e a u t o n o m o u s b o d y called the I n d i a n C o u n c i l f o r E n v i r o n m e n t a l Research and T r a i n i n g ( I C E R T ) , t o s t i m u l a t e r e s e a r c h and training in this field. G e n e r a l p o i n t s i n c l u d e d r e f e r e n c e to t h e n e e d f o r a m o r e careful e x a m i n a t i o n o f u r b a n ecosyst e m s and f o r u r b a n d e v e l o p m e n t a u t h o r i t i e s t o d e v e l o p this expertise. Also e n v i r o n m e n t a l legisl a t i o n m u s t be r e v i e w e d and s t r e n g t h e n e d so t h a t i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f the r e g u l a t i o n b e c o m e s s m o o t h . F u r t h e r m o r e I n d i a n d o c u m e n t a r y films o n envir o n m e n t a l c o n c e r n s and issues should b e prep a r e d and screened r e p e a t e d l y . 53
While the participants expressed personal gains by attending the workshops (though to varying degrees and interest in attending more advanced or specific training programmes on Environmental Management) there was reservation about the scope for applying the newly-gained insights in their own spheres of work. It is therefore clear that the workshops were most useful as an initial awakening of the full responsibilities which senior management carries in ensuring that future generations will have a sound environment in which to live. However greater conviction is required. GENERAL CONCLUSIONS Such interdisciplinary training and orientation programmes with built-in interaction of participants, with faculty representing areas of ecology, administrative services, management economics, sociology, forestry, environmental engineering and so on should be conducted for various target groups at appropriate levels. This will help attain a coordinated approach to environmental protection and conservation.
They find themselves trapped by long-practised and archaic administrative systems and procedures Engineering and Management training programmes should include at least one course on Environmental Management. It would appear that organisations like electricity boards, paper mills, etc., are still rather reluctant to adopt environmental control measures. Senior government administrators seem to be more receptive, than other managerial types, to environmental conservation. They are, in general, conceptually attuned to the need for environmental protection. However, they find themselves trapped by long-practised and archaic administrative systems and proce-
54
dures which they find unable to displace all of a sudden, lest they be accused of retarding the progress of development. Participants tended to view environmental issues from their own narrow angle of vision. They were reluctant to step into realms outside their own specialities. However, towards the end of the course, inhibitions dissolved to the extent that the urban development expert spoke intelligently and feelingly about forestry and the pollution expert viewed compassionately wildlife protection. It was confirmed that sharing experience is better when the group is multi-functional. The heterogeneity of the participants was a positive factor which introduced various viewpoints for discussion. This has been one of the basic strengths of the approach adopted. Undoubtedly, there is an urgent need to continue to organise similar workshops in different regions of the country in association with management development, administrative, technical and economic education centres. Voluntary agencies geared to the task of environmental protection have to be organised and encouraged in order to arouse the consciousness of the public and motivate them to participate in environmental action programmes. The Department of Environment should serve as a nodal agency for such voluntary groups and guide them in establishing worthwhile action programmes. As a result of the useful experience from the workshops, the Department of Environment has decided to organise a series of such Training Workshops in Environmental Management at the Administrative Staff College of India and other centres. Each Workshop of a general nature for a heterogeneous group of participants will alternate with more intensive area-specific workshops for target groups such as industrial managers, forest service officers, dam design and construction engineers, legal experts and rural development specialists. This programme series is set to start from early 1982.
The Environmentalist