Following are the salient conclusions of the Conference:
- To manage, mitigate and forecast natural hazards like cyclones and floods, the advantages of mathematical models developed by APSRAC, Hyderabad, are widely welcomed by the delegates. There was also felt the dire need for GIS-based decision support systems besides Telemetry for disaster management.
- The innovative technology, which acts as a catalyst in enhancing the melting point of bitumen with plastic waste and thereby strengthens the road construction but also increases the road life as well, will help to improve the environment and also in creating a source of income.
- Many delegates welcomed the technical advantage – that polymer blended bitumen showed higher softening points, lower penetration points and better ductility. Unanimity was being expressed in identifying the importance of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) as a strategy to involve the top managements of the respective industrial units in voluntary implementation of Kyoto Protocol’s main objective of mitigating the Greenhouse Gases.
- The problem of over exploitation of ground water, resulting in coming up of salt water from bottom as well as from lateral directions, was discussed. Large scale rainwater harvesting on scientific lines utilizing the heavy run-off and construction of battery of recharge wells near the coast were suggested for improving the ground water regime and preventing the sea water ingress in the East Coastal aquifers. The deliberation also focused on the drawbacks of Environmental Impact Assessment process in India and the need for an independent EIA authority was felt, to be headed by a judicial officer and comprising of representation from communities, peoples’ groups, scientists, sociologists and environmentalists.
- Technologies, viz., anaerobic digestion, incineration, pyrolysis, land-fill, gas recovery, etc., were considered as worth to adopt for setting up waste-to-energy projects.
- Inertisation of municipal solid waste through aerobic decomposing technique was considered one of the best techniques in Solid Waste Management.
- Sustainable, eco-friendly and cost-effective “Green Roofing Technology” was focused on as a good solution to reduce the habitat radiation levels considerably.
The conference ended with recitation of national anthem.
