Extinguisher doused

India has stopped producing halon, the ozone-depleting fire-extinguishing agent used in electronic installations, aircraft, military vehicles, ships, submarines and oil platforms. Union minister of environment and forests A Raja announced on March 7, 2005, that the decision has been taken as per the Montreal Protocol, a global treaty.

"About 300...projects worth about us $240 million have been approved to phase out production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances, including halon," Raja said. But the use of recycled halon will be allowed for critical purposes like protecting nuclear power installations.