EPA ADMINISTRATOR VISIT TO HYDERABAD PROMOTES COOPERATION

UNCLAS CHENNAI 000261

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV ENRG OVIP IN
SUBJECT: EPA ADMINISTRATOR VISIT TO HYDERABAD PROMOTES COOPERATION
ON ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT



1. The Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection
Agency Stephen L. Johnson visited Hyderabad on March 30 - 31 to
promote U.S.-India cooperation on environmental protection and
sustainable economic development. The Administrator met with
government officials, business leaders, and academics and emphasized
the importance of innovative technology and collaboration with
industry to further India and the United States' clean development
goals.


2. The Administrator met with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YSR
Reddy, along with the state's Secretary for the Environment Janaki
Kondapi. The Administrator commended the Chief Minister for his
progressive approach to environmental protection. The Chief
Minister said that the state was working hard to restore its lakes
and to address industrial pollution. Secretary Kondapi expressed
appreciation for EPA's funding, along with the World Bank, of a
comprehensive study of the sources of air pollution in Hyderabad.
She added that Andhra Pradesh would like to conduct similar studies
of two additional cities and requested EPA assistance. The
Administrator said that EPA would consider the request.


3. The Chief Minister said clean coal technology would be
especially useful to India. The Administrator agreed, explaining
that the United States and India are similar in that they both rely
on coal for a substantial portion of their electricity generation.
He said that the United States will bring fifteen new clean coal
electricity power generation units online this year that use either
Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle or Super Critical Coal
Combustion technologies. The Chief Minister said that he would be
interested in the details of these technologies.


4. The Administrator also toured the Confederation of Indian
Industries' Green Business Center (GBC). S. Raghupathy, Director of
the GBC, explained that the Center is a unique public-private
partnership, first announced during the 2000 visit of then-President
Bill Clinton. The government of Andhra Pradesh donated five acres
of land; USAID provided technical assistance; and the House of
Godrej (an Indian business conglomerate) paid the cost of
construction. The center, with 65 permanent technical staff,
provides workshops and consulting services to Indian businesses on
various aspects of environmentally sustainable business practices.
After hearing a number of proposals for areas of cooperation, the
Administrator announced an agreement between EPA and CII to share
U.S. expertise on its Climate Leaders Program for possible
implementation of an analogous program in India. The Administrator
said that 100 voluntarily participating corporate members of the
EPA's Climate Leaders Program represent 8% of the United States'
total emission of green house gases; the Climate Leaders Program has
prevented eleven million tons of carbon equivalents per year, which
is the equivalent of removing seven million automobiles from the
roads per year.


5. The Administrator visited the Administrative Staff College of
India (ASCI),India's premier training institution for senior
managers from government and the private sector. The Administrator
spoke to students and faculty of ASCI, as well as invited members of
the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board. He emphasized the
importance of collaboration with all stakeholders -- Central, State
and local governments, NGOs and industry -- in accelerating the pace
of environmental protection.


6. At the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board
the Administrator heard presentations on the challenges of providing
safe drinking water. Officials of the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water
Board said that they are presently able to provide only two hours of
running water on alternating days to their customers. The
Administrator commended them for their efforts to tackle one of
India's most difficult challenges and later toured one of
Hyderabad's primary water treatment plants.


7. EPA is collaborating with the Hyderabad Water Board, World
Health Organization (WHO),and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in
developing a Water Safety Plan in two neighborhoods in the City.
This cooperative program will optimize water treatment performance
and protect consumers from hazards in drinking water before they
occur.


8. This cable was cleared by Joan Fidler, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency.

HOPPER