CLEANER PRODUCTION

Introduction
The rapid growth in the industrial sector in past few decades in India has improved the production and economic prosperity and improved the standards of living in the State of Gujarat (India). A large number of small and medium scale industries are engaged in the manufacture of a variety of chemical and allied products in State of Gujarat (India) (Rathi 2002, p.583). Simultaneously, the rapid industrialisation along with urbanisation has also resulted into numerous environmental issues. The global and economic processes had been remarkably unsustainable. Production processes and consumer behaviour had been threat to environment.
Industrial growth in India is a result of the Government policies which aimed at increasing the productivity and job opportunities. Small and medium scale industries irrespective of types of product were encouraged to set up businesses for the economic growth of the respective States. Different State Government competing for the their respective economic growth had designed attractive package and incentives for industrial investment which consisted of sale tax exemptions, cash subsidies and creating industrial zones by developing infrastructures like road, water and power(Rathi 2002, p.583).
Gujarat( India) has developed into the most industrialised States which apart from its traditional textile industry, also comprises of small scale industries and a major producer of chemicals and petrochemical product as well as other products like fertilizers, pesticides, drugs and edible oil. Most of the production process involves using traditional method and outdated technology which has resulted in large quantities of untreated waste product discharged in the environment (Rathi 2002, p.583).
Purpose and Method
During the ongoing development of the industrial infrastructure, State Government of India lacked the foresight regarding the environment aspect and the environmental infrastructure. With the development of the Indian economy and the exposure to global competition it was important for the Indian industrial sectors to minimise waste and improve the deficiencies in their production methods to meet the global standards. Subsequently also due to the increase in the public awareness and the judicial intervention it was necessary for the industries to employ better waste management and minimise pollution.
Considering the immediate need for environment protection and the judicial intervention, the viable approach for the small and the medium scale industries who cannot afford to install facility for waste management individually, was to join hands to build a combined facility for treatment of the waste and waste management. The facilities include common affluent treatment plant (CEPT), pipe connection for the waste water transport, dedicated road transport, waste disposal site, incinerators and transport of the treated waste. The cost involved will be borne by the participating industry according to the load of the pollution contributed by them (Rathi 2002, p.583).
Considering the pace of the economic development taking place in State of Gujarat, the proposal aimed at creating a cooperative movement and infrastructural facilities that will be readily acceptable to small and medium scale industries and improvements in the operating practises and product design, process design and the work culture and technology. It also aimed at initiating cleaner production practices educating the entrepreneurs and the officials of the businesses by promoting and sustenance of cleaner production in the industries in Gujarat (Rathi 2002, p.584). The efforts to further integrate environmental protection with industrial development in Gujarat, international agencies like World Bank and financial institution, institutions working in field of environment, NGO’s, consultants and academicians deliberated on Gujarat vision and plans to implement and develop processes for Cleaner