Iron and steel industry acknowledges the havoc it wreaks on the environment
For a change, representatives of India's iron and steel sector spoke out openly about the need to make the industry less polluting. Called 'Indian Iron and Steel Industry: Vision-2012', the meet was recently organised by the Federation of Indian Mining Industries in Panaji, Goa. Vision-2012 called for the adoption of cleaner technologies, particularly in steel melting shops and blast furnaces. Participants also discussed the importance of recycling and utilising the wastes generated by the industry.
Australian mining experts taking part in the meet said that the mountains of rejected iron ore actually held great potential for India. Some Australian mining companies have come up with techniques to ensure the effective utilisation of low-grade ore.
At the meet, campaigners from the Goan environmental non-governmental organisation, Goa Foundation, based in Matusa, sought to draw the attention of the participants at the meeting to the havoc caused by mining in the state. Goa is widely known for its beaches and churches, but few are aware of the fact that nearly half the iron ore exported from India comes from the state (see Down To Earth , Vol 4, No 19).
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