Report by Rubiya Shaikh
Daijiworld  Media Network _ Panaji (MR)
 
Panaji, Sep 8: Former Union Minister for State for Civil Aviation and Member of Parliament, Shripad Naik gave away Greentech Environment Excellence Awards here at Cida De Goa in a special function held first day evening of the beginning of the 9th Greentech Environment Management Conference.
 
Sesa Goa bagged a Silver Award for Environment Excellence in Industrial Sector. Platinum, Gold and Silver Awards were also presented to 55 companies, PSU`S across India. These include Sesa Goa, Delhi International Airport, ACC Cement, Lafarge India Pvt. Ltd, Sanghi Industries Ltd, Ambuja Cements Ltd, Atul Indutries, Reliance Industries Ltd, Nagarjuna Fertilizers and Chemical, Indian Rayon, ITC Paper Boards, Hindalco Industries Ltd. and others.
 
In all together 56 companies have bagged Greentech Environment Excellence Awards across many categories such has Cement, Engineering, Construction, Hospitality, Chemicals, Fertilizers, Papers and others.
 
Addressing the gathering before presenting awards, Shripad Naik said , "the raging debate in all developing countries is to determine how to arrive at that fine balance between development and environment conservation".
 
Does the Development process always have to result in degradation of the environment? he questioned is the burning question that consumes all those who are concerned with the development process, Industrialists, economists, environmentalists and of course, politicians who find themselves in the highly responsible positions of decision making for a environment friendly future for posterity he asked.
 
"Despite our best efforts concerns over the past 150 years, the rapid pace of industrialization has led to a concentration of greenhouse particularly of Carbon Dioxide in our atmosphere. There is nothing to surprise about it", he added.
 
No doubt the people in the developing countries are less to blame for this unnatural phenomenon, as it is estimated that while a citizen of India is responsible for approximately 1 ton of Carbon Dioxide emissions per year, an European causes 9 tones of Carbon Dioxide emissions to escape into the atmosphere and a citizen of   United States of America is responsible for as much as 20 tones of Carbon Dioxide per year, yet we can exempt ourselves from the collective responsibility to save our planet from the far – reaching global consequences that are bound to follow, should it not possible to keep this global warming under the control in the future.
 
While concluding he stated that each one of us, can and must make an individual contribution to more efficient energy use—that will not only give rise to immediate financial benefit but will also result in benefits of climate conservation.