The Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in association with West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB), organized the Fifth Edition of Discussion Forum on Ecological Sustainability in the Industrial Region-Durgapur/ASANSOL, on 29th March 2022 at ASANSOL Engineering College. The Chamber organized the earlier editions of the Discussion Forum successfully in Haldia, Siliguri and Durgapur.

The objective of the Discussion Forum was to bring together the stakeholders of Asansol−Durgapur Industrial Belt, Policy Makers and Industry Leaders to brainstorm and share the best practices and cutting edge technologies to take forward the industrial development of the State with adequate fortification towards vulnerability of ecology.

Stakeholders and Industry Associations like India Power Corporation Limited, Eastern Coalfields Limited, Integrated Coal Mining Ltd, Crescent Power Limited, Phillips Carbon Black Limited, ShyamSel and Power Ltd, Shyam Steel Industries Ltd, Eastern Railway, Raniganj Chamber of Commerce, Refractory Manufacturer's Association, Jamuria Chamber of Commerce and Industries and Cement Manufacturers Welfare Association of West Bengal were present to express their views of sustainable development of the city. Exide Industries limited also participated in the programme.

Mr. Gautam Ray, Chairperson, Energy and Environment Committee and Senior Vice President, The Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Executive Director (HR & Admin.) − CESC Limited & President (HR) − Power Group, RPSG delivered the formal Welcome Address. The Inaugural Session was graced by Shri Bidhan Upadhyay, Hon’ble Mayor, Asansol Municipal Corporation who presented the Inaugural address. Other dignitaries were Shri Nilotpal Dey, Secretary to GM, Eastern railway and CME/ EnHM, Eastern Railway; Mr. Mrityunjay Kumar, General Manager (Environment & Forest), Eastern Coalfields Limited; Mr. Subrata Talukdar, President & Chief Financial officer, Power Group, CESC Limited and Dr.P. P. Bhattacharya, Principal, Asansol Engineering College.

Mr. Gautam Ray, Chairperson, Energy and Environment Committee and Senior Vice President, The Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Executive Director (HR & Admin.) − CESC Limited & President (HR) − Power Group, RPSG mentioned “The Bengal Chamber takes great pleasure in coming back to Asansol after a year which has been a crucial period globally. As a responsible and responsive Chamber of Commerce, we find that it is our mandate to share with the industry the importance of green growth. During the pandemic, we have witnessed a dichotomy of industrial slow down and environmental up−gradation with better air quality and, in some cases, water quality. But safety measures for covid has also increased use of plastic and other wastes. However, the improved air quality index was also a temporary phase and we all have witnessed that with increased industrial activities and exit from lock down, the environment took back its former condition It is important that we focus on regeneration from the pandemic with considerations for environmental sustainability”.

There were two Discussion Forums focusing on Round Table for Chamber of Commerce and Stakeholder’s perspective.

The session on Round Table for Chamber of Commerce was chaired by Mr. Sankar Mukhopadhyay, Head Asia Institute− Power Management, CESC Limited and graced by Mr. Rohit Khaitan, Working President, Raniganj Chamber of Commerce; Mr. Ravi Mittal, General Secretary, Cement Manufacturers Welfare Association of West Bengal; Mr. Pradip Kumar Dokania, Secretary, Jamuria Chamber of Commerce & Industries and Mr. Ashok Chakraborty, General Secretary, Refractory Manufacturer's Association.

The Stakeholder’s Session was chaired by Mr. Partha P Chattaraj, GM− HR, India Power Corporation Limited and the speakers were Mr. Jaydeep V Patil, Unit Head, Durgapur Plant, Phillips Carbon Black Limited; Mr. Soumyendra Mohan Lahiri, Head − Manufacturing Excellence and EHS, PCBL Limited; Mr.Santanu Acharjee, Dy Manager−II, Integrated Coal Mining Ltd. and Mr. Kaushik Banerjee, Jr. Officer Gr−V, Crescent Power Limited  and  Mr.  Abhinav  Kumar,  Senior  Manager− Environment, Shyam Steel Industries Ltd.

The discussion forum was followed by vibrant interactions. The forum was attended by all the major industries of the Region.