In Focus

Ultimately, it could be a victory forthe much abused environment.With US industries and environmentalists at loggerheads for thepast one year over the now familiartug-of-war between environmentand development, it seemed unlikely that a joint consensus couldever be achieved. But a presidentialpanel consisting of adversariesfrom both camps, members ofClinton's cabinet and Labour andcivil rights groups seem to havepulled off a major coup last month.

The panel succeeded in itsachievement of a rare agreement onhow the existing system can beimproved, if not weakened, by notremoving environmental regulations as has been demanded bymany Republicans. It bestows onthe industries the freedom infuture to prevent pollution on theirown account, but on the conditionthat they learn to perform betterthan is required under the currentsystem of exacting safeguards.

This is being interpreted inpolitical circles as a shot-in-the-arm for Clinton's election campaign. The President has been trying to distance himself from theRepublicans as being a steadfastsupporter for the cause of environment. The panel report along withthe industries' support (considereduntil now to be staunch Republicanloyalists) now adds credence tohis stand.

The report has called forincreasing and not removing, alayer of environmental protection.While the current system will bemodified, it will be retained to actas a green safeguard. On the touchysubject of environmental regulations, the report states that whileindustries could benefit from flexible and cost-effective way to handleenvironmental goals, there couldbe no compromise on publichealth. The panel concluded itsreport thus: efficiency, profit andenvironmental protection are alllinked. Pollution is waste, wasteis inefficient and inefficiencyis expensive.