The systematic approach in implementation of EMS as per the ISO 14001 framework motivated the township administration to adapt the same for the township for achieving sustainable environmental management. The township is a well developed, green with all the essential municipal services such as electricity and water supply, garbage disposal, sanitation, medical services and family planning facilities, roads and parks maintenance etc. All these facilities and services were taken up in the scope of the EMS, since all these departments/ services/ facilities directly come under the administrative power of the Town Administration.

The fine part of the EMS implementation has been the participation of the multi- stakeholder representatives including the representatives of the residential colonies, hospitals, schools, sports complexes, cultural affairs etc., are part of the core group besides the more obvious service departments such as water and electricity supply. Staff members of each of the departments identified the scope of the EMS have prepared an extensive database on the activities/products/services they deal with that have a possible impact on the environment. This exercise itself is an eye opener for the core group members and their respective wards who identified the need for a multi-sectoral co-operation in achieving sustainability goals.

As a result, the town administration prepared a Residents Guide for Conservation, which calls for the actions to begin at their homes. It has tips for saving water, fuel, electricity, paper, alternate pesticides, product purchase choices based on packaging material etc. The guide book also deals with detailed information on energy consumption figures of different appliances including dish washers, microwave ovens etc., and provides tips on efficiency improvement and conservation of energy. It has proposed to save 45000KWH of energy per annum. Twilight switches for street lights, gradual elimination of use of sea water for flushing and total replacement of inorganic fertilisers with organic compost etc., are some of the key targets setforth. The township could save on about 10% of total water required for household consumption and about 20% of it from the horticulture department.

One of the self proclamations of the guide reads as below:

"........its intended effect is to make all of us aware and conscious so that we will seek earnestly to reduce our contributions to the environmental crisis before it overwhelms us. We, as individuals and families, must help make this a decent, rather than a deadly, inheritance for our children and out grandchildren. A truly sustainable world".

The most crucial challenges in the entire exercise have been the team building, training and transfer of the knowledge to the lowest level of the hierarchy. However, these problems have been overcome through conscious efforts to involve every stakeholder and through innovative communication strategies, inter departmental audits etc.

The township realised several benefits including the compliance to bio-medical waste management rules, waste water discharge standards, municipal solid waste management rules besides preparing a detailed emergency preparedness and fire safety plans. The residents of the township are proud of their efforts and could clearly see their bit of contribution towards saving the beautiful planet - our earth.

Spread across three colonies the township has approximately 3300 flats. Besides the residential colonies, the primary and High school, the colony dispensary, consumer stores, the welfare centre, departments of security, garden, housekeeping and housing etc., are brought under the scope of EMS.

The Primary and High schools representatives being part of the core group, have played a key role in initiating several green programs across the township involving the residents, teachers and students and have undertaken several awareness programs including importance of wetland conservation program. In a drive to minimise quantity of disposable solid waste, have initiated programs for Biodegradable waste segregation from the canteen and Vermicomposting.

Kasturinagar Township has the distinction of being the first ISO 14001 certified township in the country. The township has 315 residential quarters. The EMS scope covers the departments of water supply, electricity, sewage treatment and disposal, solid waste disposal, bank, post office, recreation club, horticulture and temple complex etc., which are directly under the township administration.

After a detailed Initial Environmental Review (IER), identified the priority areas of intervention as - the conservation of resources with focus on electricity and water, solid and liquid waste management in an eco-friendly way. The core group consisted of housewives, all the representatives responsible for the services of the township, and the members representing co-operative store, recreation club, temple committee, senior citizen group etc. At each stage of the EMS implementation, Development Alternatives team trained the core group.

Several priority areas were identified and time bound action plans were drawn upon. Several initiatives such as the segregation of biodegradable waste for Vermicomposting, recycling of waste water up to 500 m3 for horticulture purposes, and rainwater recharging systems for capturing 700 m3 of water, conservation of treated drinking water, design and construction of rainwater harvesting structure for the entire township etc., have been taken up by the township.

These township examples show how cities/ towns/ urban local bodies can contribute to the sustainable development goals of the country by adapting the ISO 14001 framework for environmental management. The main impact of EMS implementation in these townships has been in the areas of resource conservation (energy, water, paper, chemicals and materials), improved management in key areas such as solid waste management, water pollution control and finally institutional development and public participation.

The Agenda 21 guiding principles emphasise on achieving sustainability on all fronts including socio-economic and environmental. Though the ISO framework is about environment, similar logic can be used to identify and prioritise the economic and social goals applicable to that local body. The applicability of such a system can be achieved only if stakeholders at all levels cooperate with each other to work towards fulfilling their responsibilities and for achieving sustainability goals on a continuous basis.