International Ozone Day celebrated

The country celebrated the Thirteenth International Ozone Day on September 16 with much fanfare. It is to commemorate the date of signing of Montreal Protocol on Substance that depletes the Ozone Layer. The Montreal Protocol was signed on September 16, 1987. Since then, 191 countries have signed the Montreal Protocol, which share the global concern for phasing out of Ozone depleting substances. This Protocol was the culmination of decades of research, which established that chemicals released in the atmosphere could damage Ozone layer. A depleted Ozone layer in the stratosphere allows the ultra violate rays of the sun to reach exposing mankind, flora and fauna to its harmful effects and each year between 2-3 million skin cancers are detected.

The Government of India has taken a number of policy measures, both fiscal and regulatory to encourage early adoption of new technologies by existing and new enterprises. The Ozone Depleting Substances (Regulation and Control Rules 2000 Regulating OSD production, consumption and trade have been put into place. These rules are imposed under the Environment Protection Act 1986 with effect from July 19, 2000. Three amendments have been made to make the rules more up-to-date.

India will receive the Montreal Protocol Implementers Award on September 17, 2007 at Montreal, Canada to mark the 20th Anniversary of the Protocol.

Through out the year various competitions e.g. poster design, painting viz. on Ozone Science, Skit, Model Making and Slogan Writing were organized to create awareness among people. The winners of this competition will receive their prizes tomorrow at the function to celebrate Ozone Day. Source: Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India