Par panel asks govt to evolve mechanism for e-waste management

Slamming the Centre for doing "too little" to manage e-waste, a parliamentary panel has asked the government to evolve a robust mechanism and ensure creation of adequate infrastructure so that e-waste rules can be implemented in an effective manner.

Referring to a Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) estimate that India generated 16.4 lakh MT of e-waste in 2014, the committee noted that merely notifying rules is not enough until there is a strong and effective implementation.

The Committee of Subordinate Legislations (2015-16) chaired by Dilipkumar Mansukhlal Gandhi tabled its 15th report on rules of e-waste management in Lok Sabha.

"The committee expresses serious concern over the handling of such an environmentally sensitive issue of e-waste management and feel the government has done too little and too late to address such a serious looming hazard.

"The committee strongly recommends that the government must evolve a robust mechanism and ensure creation of adequate infrastructural facilities in the country so that the rules can be implemented in an effective, efficient and within the given time," the committee said in its report.

Taking cognisance of the unsatisfactory working and compliance of various provisions of the E-waste (Management And Handling) Rules 2011, the Environment Ministry amended the rules by notifying E-waste (Management) Rules, 2016 in March which is to come into effect from October 16.

The committee noted that during the last decade, there has been an "exponential" increase in the generation of e-waste all across the world, including India.

"According to CPCB estimates, 1,46,800 metric tons of e-waste was generated in India in 2005 which increased to an estimated 8,00,000 MT in 2012 and 16.4 lakh MT by 2014.

"Considering that India is going through an exciting phase of development and economic transformation, the committee is apprehensive that the quantum of e-waste generation is likely to assume alarming proportions in the coming years posing a serious threat to the environment," it said.

The committee said it feels "extremely worried and perturbed" to find no serious efforts have been made in the past to address this escalating issue of environmentally sound management of e-waste being generated in the country.