11 August 2015

Standing Committee submits report on ewaste and e-radiation

Standing Committee submits report on ewaste and e-radiation
The Standing Committee on Science & Technology, Environment & Forests submitted its report to Parliament on e-waste and eradiation on July 21, 2015.42 E-waste means wastes from electrical and electronic equipment, or rejects from their manufacturing and repair processes, which are intended to be discarded (like TVs, mobiles). Ewaste contains toxic substances such as lead, mercury and cadmium which may have adverse effects on human health or the environment. E-radiation refers to the electromagnetic radiation which emanates from natural sources (like the sun) and man-made sources (like fixed and mobile radio communication). Currently the Department of Telecommunications is conducting studies to assess the long term effect of e-radiation on human health, flora and fauna. However, precautionary exposure limits have been prescribed by the Department.42 In light of the above, the Standing Committee recommended the following:  Current infrastructure to deal with e-waste is inadequate, and must be increased. Presently, there are 126 e-waste recyclers and dismantlers to deal with about 8 lakh tonnes of e-waste across the country.  Extended producer‟s responsibility should cover more producers of e-waste, and should be enforced. Extended producer‟s responsibility means the producers are responsible for the equipment they produce after the end of its life.  Comprehensive scientific studies should be undertaken to establish level of risks of eradiation from mobile towers. Regulations should be established regarding location and inspection of mobile towers.




Standing Committee submits two reports on disasters (and other environmental issues) in J&K and Uttarakhand
The Standing Committee on Science & Technology, Environment & Forests submitted two reports on July 23, 2015, on: (i) floods and environmental issues in parts of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K), and (ii) the earthquake in Uttarakhand.43,44 Key recommendations of the Standing Committee include:  Dredging or de-silting of water bodies must be conducted, and the drainage system of Srinagar must be replaced to prevent floods;  Some environmental issues must be addressed in Leh including solid waste management (for example, through setting up a landfill), air and water pollution (by setting up monitoring stations); and  In light of the earthquake early warning system in Uttarakhand (which can communicate a warning to Delhi within a minute of an earthquake in the Himalayas), government ministries should (i) coordinate to make the information public in real time, and (ii) educate people about steps to be taken before/ during/ after an earthquake

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