The Hindu : New Delhi News : Board not ready with waste management policy

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jul 12, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Board not ready with waste management policy

By Anjali Dhal Samanta

NEW DELHI, JULY 11. Even though the Supreme Court deadline on formulation of a national policy document on hazardous waste is drawing closer, the Central Pollution Control Board has not yet managed to prepare the final guidelines. And while a draft on the national policy has been prepared, the CPCB is waiting for comments from various State Pollution Control Boards and Pollution Control Centres.

"We have sent the draft to the various SPCBs and PCCs and they were to send their comments by July 1. But most have asked for more time so we have extended the deadline till July 15. About 14 States have responded till now, but many are yet to send their comments,'' said a CPCB official.

According to the Supreme Court Order on Hazardous Waste Management, October 2003, a time limit of nine months was set for CPCB to draft the national policy document on hazardous waste. While a draft on the same has been formulated in May 2004 and subsequently circulated among the State Boards, the CPCB is still waiting for a response.

Aimed at being a guideline for the States, the proposed draft national policy looks at waste avoidance and minimisation, recycling of hazardous waste and safe disposal of generated hazardous waste. The draft policy also explores the option of setting up of common facilities in hazardous waste management and inter-State transportation of hazardous wastes.

The draft policy addresses the difficulties of certain States - like Delhi - to identify a hazardous waste disposal site within the city. According to the draft policy, in cases like Delhi, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and North Eastern States, "combined facility with neighbouring State including inter-State movement if required due to various factors such as land availability and the amount of waste generated suitable for land filling or incineration'' could be considered.

Looking at alternatives for waste disposal, trial runs for the use of high calorific hazardous waste in cement kilns is also part of the draft. It also tries to address the problem of illegal dump-sites, the need to educate Customs personnel and the disposal of date expired and banned pesticides.

"It is meant to serve as a guideline to the SPCB as to how they should dispose of the waste, minimise it and use it, if possible. We are looking at developing treatment, disposal and storage facility for hazardous waste. There is also a need to develop clean technologies for hazardous waste management,'' said member-secretary of CPCB, B. Sengupta.

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