The callousness on the part of governments of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan to evolve mechanism for safe disposal of hazardous e-waste invited the wrath of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) which served notices on them.

The Bhopal Bench of the NGT took cognizance of petition that sought direction and appropriate action against MP, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan governments for their failure to comply with the norms for safe disposal of hazardous e-waste.

The NGT’s action came following admission of the petition moved by a social forum Nagarik Upabhokta Margdashak Munch through its president Dr PG Najpandey.

According to him, these governments should have put in place proper mechanism for safe disposal of e-wastes which was harmful to the human and other living organism.

The Union Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF), as per its guidelines made the state pollution control boards as the nodal agencies to monitoring the disposal of e-waste.

The mechanism should have been in operation since May 2012, he noted.

Unfortunately, no serious efforts were made in this direction, he contended.

Barring Indore, the petition said no other places in the Madhya Pradesh made serious effort to execute e-waste disposal system leading to health hazard.

Indore alone account for 800 tonnes of e-waste in a year followed by Bhopal-415 tonnes, Gwalior-400 tonnes, Ujjain-315 tonnes and Jabalpur-215 tonnes. 

The order was issued by the bench comprising Justice Dilip Singh and expert member P S Rao on Friday. The respondents were directed to file their replies by March 18. 

According to a United Nations (UN) report  India generated 4362 metric kilo tonne of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE -- anything with a battery or a cord) which ultimately resulted in 2751 metric kilo tonne of e-waste containing toxic substances such as lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic and flame retardants.

UN has warned that it is likely that future US exports of e-waste will end up in India, as the only other glass-to-glass furnaces in the world (in China and Malaysia) are scheduled to close by 2013.

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-e-waste-...an-1957355