Government will keep Eco-Mark voluntary
30/08/2007
The Indian government will hold back from making it compulsory for leather companies to comply with the environmental certification scheme Eco-Mark.
The minister of state for the environment and forests, Namo Narain Meena, said tonight that the government was already working hard to allay concerns over water pollution on the River Ganga and that making Eco-Mark certification obligatory was not necessary.
The World Wildlife Fund recently listed the River Ganga as one of the world's 'Top Ten Rivers At Risk'.
India introduced the Eco-Mark scheme in 1991 but in that time only 15 companies, including leather producers, have won licences.
