MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(DR. MAHESH SHARMA)
(a) Under Swachh Bharat Mission the Ministry in association with Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has initiated a nationwide Capacity Building Programme on implementation of six waste management rules, including E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016. This awareness programme is being conducted for 68 major cities. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has been identified as National Implementing Agency to conduct these awareness programmes and National Productivity Council (NPC) has been selected as Programme Coordinator. The target group comprises of officials of municipal bodies, hospitals, resident welfare associations, market committees, local industries, facility operators, Bus Depots, Malls, Railway Stations etc. The Ministry is also implementing a Central Sector Scheme titled ‘Creation of Management Structure for Hazardous Substances’, under this scheme a fund of Rs 20 Crores has been earmarked for organizing awareness programme with various stakeholders for implementation of various waste and chemicals management rules including the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016. In addition Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has initiated a pilot project entitled “Awareness Program on Environmental Hazards of Electronic Waste” which aims to provide training, tools, content materials, films, printed materials to create awareness in order to reduce the adverse impact of e-waste on environment and health due to the polluting methods used in the unorganized sector for recycling e-waste.
(b) Toxic constituents such as Lead, Mercury, Cadmium, Hexavalent Chromium, Polybrominated biphenyls and Polybrominated diphenyl ethers are used in the manufacturing of electronic devices. Disposal of e-waste from such electronic devices, in absence of processing it in an environmentally sound manner, may affect human health and environment including soil and ground water. However, the Ministry has not conducted any formal study regarding the health hazards due to the dumping of e-Waste.
(c) & (d) Ministry has notified E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016 as an amendment to previously existing e-waste (Management & Handling) Rules, 2011. The producers of electrical and electronic equipments have been given responsibility of creating awareness including through media, publications, advertisements, posters, or by any other mean of communication and product user documents as per the provisions of the rules. No fund has been provided to organizations and educational institutes for creating awareness about the environment related dangers. However, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change in association with CPCB and NPC is organizing awareness programme in 68 cities on various waste rules including e-waste.
(e) The E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016 inter alia provides for collection target of e-waste for producers under extended producers responsibility (EPR), setting up of producer responsibility organizations and e-waste exchanges to facilitate collection and recycling of e-waste.
(f) The recycling/dismantling facilities of e-waste in the country have been setup by individuals. No expenditure has been incurred by Government for setting up of such facilities.
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