Interview

How has the recent drop in lithium, cobalt, and nickel prices affected the battery industry, particularly in relation to electric vehicles? 

Most large OEMs have long-term contracts in place for the supply of these materials, and won’t see an immediate impact because of the fall in prices. High prices saw the industry drive efficiency gains to keep costs under control. We might see the EV industry take a different approach to products only if raw material prices continue being low for a while, which might not be the case. 

Have you noticed any changes in demand for electric vehicles since the drop in prices of these materials? 

For an EV, the battery is the single most expensive component and the prices of raw materials which go into these batteries impact prices directly. And prices of Lithium and other materials have declined sharply in recent months and might continue to do so. However, this fall has been after a massive rally that started in the mid-2022 and saw an increase of 550% over 1.5 years. This rally had squeezed the margins of automakers who could not fully pass on the rise in cost to consumers, as it would negatively impact sales. Hence, we don’t think the recent decline in prices of raw materials would be immediately reflected in the EV prices might see a drop only if raw materials costs stabilise around current levels for some time. And since there has not been a cost reduction in EV prices, demand has not been impacted by it at the moment. 

In your opinion, how can the industry ensure that the environmental and social impacts of the mining and processing of these materials are minimised? 

Concerns have been raised about the environmental and social impacts of mining and processing these materials. While a few of these are specific to raw materials for batteries, most concerns apply to the mining and processing industries in general – better mining practices, labour rights, ensuring that mining is not destructive to the environment, and so on. These require oversight from regulatory bodies in countries to ensure standards are set and adhered to. From the industry’s part, there is the energy used by companies in mining and processing – referred to as Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions. These can be brought to zero through the use of renewable energy, moving to e-mobility, and energy efficiency measures. And we think that there is progress being made in this aspect. 

Do you have any plans to develop sustainable alternatives to these materials in your products or processes? 

We are not an OEM. However, we work on providing solutions to the energy and e-mobility industries to make their products and processes greener. Our cloud storage platform, Eco, allows utilities and power producers to store excess renewable energy and helps them bring more green energy to the power grid, thus making it greener. ScaleBat provides OEMs with insights that allow them to develop more sustainable processes for battery manufacturing. It also helps users extract maximum value out of the asset, thus prolonging its lifetime. 

How did you find the concept of water conservation in your village that led to Jakhni Model fame?

Nearly 2 decades back, there was a mass migration from the villages in Bundelkhand area. Paucity of water forced people to search habitations away from paternal villages. Indian media covered the stories of water starving Banda District in Bundelkhand. To address a solution to mass migration and attract from my fellow villagers back in own place, some like-minded people came forward to work on water conservation and make our village self-sufficient on water resource availability. And, that has made my village a role model in water conservation. Today, people who had earlier migrated, are back in their homes with good earnings and livelihood.

Would you like to share the thought behind your water conservation punchline, which was even highlighted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi?

Yes, it’s “Khet Par Med, Med Par Ped”. It is also called Med Bandi. It is because, an individual can’t make a pond. It’s also tough to excavate a pond by an individual. But an individual can create a boundary on his/her cultivable or even barren land, which can store water for some time. And, in the process, groundwater is recharged. I also think that may be 100 or 1000 years ago, our ancestors also made such efforts to conserve water. And, I am grateful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he has highlighted our water conservation method in his Mann Ki Baat Programmes. The Prime Minister had also written to Village Sarpanches across the country on the subject of Med Bandi or Water Bunding to conserve rainwater.

What were the major challenges in the process?

Obviously, when you start a bigger movement, problems are also of equal scale. People objected with a view that once ample water is available in the village, Government could stop allocating grant in the name of drought to the village. However, in due course, we successfully overcome their doubts. Today, Uttar Pradesh has identified as many as 18000 villages to replicate Jakhni Model. NITI Aayog has recognized us as excellent village. On this basis, even the Ministry of Jal Shakti has formulated programmes to create every village as water sufficient village. Above all, Jakhni concept has re-establish the traditional and proven method of water conservation.

As India is significantly advancing on technology, is there any scope to infuse technology into Jakhni model for even better results?

I don’t think there is any such scope because this method of water conservation is based on simple, traditional process. It is a zero budget water conservation technique to become water sufficient at village, district, state and national level. And, let me inform you that we have never availed any financial grants in the process of making Jakhni, a water sufficient village.

Is there any further study or research work going on this success story?

Yes, Banda University of Agriculture and technology has initiated several studies. Many PhD students are doing research on Jakhni Model. Institutions under the Ministry of Jal Shakti are also executing several studies.

Would you like to say something on being awarded with “Water Warrior” Award by the Government of India?

In year 2000, on recommendation of the then Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Sh. Ram Prakash Gupta, Former Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Sh. Suraj Bhan awarded me with State Government award. After 20 years, I was awarded by the Government of India. For this, I am thankful to the former Secretary of Ministry of Jal Shakti, Sh. U. P. Singh, Union Minister Sh. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi, and all the officials of Ministry of Jal Shakti. It is an amazing feeling that the Prime Minister of India stands with our work. The national media highlighted our achievements. Now, as I have been awarded with a national award, I also feel that my responsibility has increased and I am continuing with more vigour.

Do you want to work only in your state or also out of your state?

There are many places in Odisha and Gujarat, where water is a scarce resource. Besides, my own state, which is Uttar Pradesh, I will try to contribute my experience in Odisha, Gujarat and wherever it could be of use. 

As you have already hold the position of General Secretary in the Rewari Industrial Association, and have been actively participating in various matters for the industrial development, do you think there are implications of Delhi NCR air pollution related regulations on the industries in your area?

Absolutely. Because, Rewari District falls in the NCR, industries operating in the Industrial Model Township, Bawal also face the heat. IMT Bawal is the southernmost industrial city of Haryana, and is bordering Rajasthan. It hubs a significant number of Multi-National Companies, and many are Japanese multinationals into the manufacturing of automotive products and medicines. And both these products are on high demand for the country’s progress in today’s world. As soon as, there is a seasonal regulation on air pollution in Delhi-NCR, industrial productions get a jerk. Industries have been asked to switch from High Speed Diesel (HSD), which is comparatively less polluting to an even less polluting PNG fuel. It involves infusion of huge capital expenditure. Since last two years, industries have been badly suffering from the COVID-19 crisis. None of the MNCs intend to pollute. The industries are also keen to comply with the regulations. But it should be in a phased manner with a long term planning.

Whether there has been any assessment regarding impacts of air pollution originating from IMT Bawal and travelling to NCR cities?

You are telling the opposite. If you look into the historical trend of wind, we are on the downward side. Moreover, we are so far that one can ever believe air pollution from Bawal could travel and cause impacts in Delhi and even NCR cities like Gurgaon, Faridabad and so on.

But was there any study carried out?

To my knowledge, no such study carried out.

Do you think such a study should be taken up and industries should talk to Government on the basis of its findings that we are not polluting Delhi NCR, hence, we should not be troubled?

Yes. It is a good idea to take up such a study. IMT Bawal has been developed and maintained by the Haryana State Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIIDC). Therefore, the study should be initiated by the District Administration of Rewari and HSIIDC. Industrial Association should support the study in every respect. And based on the findings, which most likely will go in favour of the industries, the District Administration of Rewari should talk to the regulators – may be National Capital Region (NCR), the Commission for Air Quality and Management (CAQM), or Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) or National Green Tribunal (NGT) or even Supreme Court.

As you said, IMT Bawal has a significance, in terms of its geographical location on the border of Haryana State, is there any Online Continuous Air Quality Monitoring System installed here?

No. You have asked a very pertinent question. HSIIDC with Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) should create arrangements for the monitoring and measurement of air quality in IMT Bawal. They may discuss with the Industrial Association to bear the operational expenses. At least, it will give a clear picture on the scale of pollution the industries are creating in this area.

Now, switching from Air Pollution to Water Pollution, the Common Effluent Treatment Plant of HSIIDC has become operational in IMT Bawal. On this basis, the HSPCB has exempted some industrial units from the condition of STP installation. What is your stand on existing STPs being run by individual industrial units?

Actually, HSPCB has shown a dual behavior here. It says that an industry should treat the sewage first and then discharge into the HSIIDC sewer line. Now, industries bear a substantial costing towards treatment of sewage inside their premises. It has no sense to discharge the treated sewage. Moreover, there is a double costing incurred by the industries. So, HSPCB and HSIIDC must find a solution to ensure that the double costing is taken back. Industries, which treat the sewage and reuse the treated wastewater for various purposes inside their premises and do not discharge into the HSIIDC sewer should not be charged. Moreover, there should be adequate arrangement to accommodate sewage treatment during rainy seasons, for which the industries may be levied necessary fees. Having said so, I also mean that HSPCB should also continue insisting industries to attain Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD), which means treated effluent is taken back into process usages.

Coming to another environmental aspect, waste management, whether the industries are satisfied with the facilities provided by HSIIDC?

In fact, there is no facility offered by HSIIDC. They have been talking since long. But only talks going. Nothing happening on the ground. In the name of waste management, they solid wastes are being taken to a site on the side of Delhi – Jaipur Highway, where the waste is merely dumped. Many times, one can see that the wastes are burnt too, which is another reason of air pollution in the surrounding area.

For the Hazardous Wastes, Haryana Government has made arrangements through a company namely Gujarat Enviro-Protection and Infrastructure Limited (GEPIL), which is controlled by Haryana Environmental Management Society (HEMS). GEPIL has only been increasing the cost of hazardous waste disposal. It never passes on the benefits of co-processing cost savings to member industries. HEMS also never raise any matter in the favour of industries. Now, the HSPCB has introduced an online system to trach hazardous waste disposal. I expect that it could be instrumental to bring transparency in hazardous waste disposal. They should also look into the pricing mechanism.

What are the major environmental concerns of industries operating from IMT Bawal?

One of the major issues industries feel here is that the Officers from Haryana State Government and even Central Government work as auditors, not facilitators. When Government says “We are with you”, its team must come forward to understand problems, and also help identifying solutions. They may also be instrumental in implementing the solutions with a befitting plan. Issuing a mere Show Cause Notice won’t serve the purpose without a tracking of the final result. And why only Show Cause Notice? Stringent actions must be initiated against units which do not have positive approach towards regulatory compliance. By this, the true sense of Ease of Doing Business could also prevail. 

Published on 24th November 2021 issue of Enviro Annotations