Delhi Universaties ( Chemistry deptt)'s negligence in 2010 involving sale
of Gamma irradiator containing radioactive Cobalt-60 to run-of-the-mill
junk dealers on highest bidder basis, prompted the Congress- led UPA to
frame guidelines in 2011. But, ironically, no system was put in place to
ensure that guidelines are followed in letter and spirit . The punitive
steps to be taken against defaulters, were also not thought of. Public
safety,as a shared responsibility,was ignored.
To know ground realities, Modi sarkar should re-visit the UPA's e
-waste management policy to promote public safety by overcoming the
following deficiencies :-- (a) Govt deptts / autonomous bodies/
electronic industries and the common Indian households are still
approaching the illiterate ,untrained and callous junk dealers for
disposal of hazardous e - wastes ( (ICs/computer hardware /mobile phones ,
micro-ovens etc. The scrap contains carcinogenic and radioactive
components/ chemicals; (b) Due to absence of status check mechanism , no
one knows,in how many cases, penalties have been imposed for
non-compliance of safety guidelines? (c) There is no method to know
whether electronic industries,both in private and public sectors, have any
e-waste management plan for conducting target and accountability checks? (d
) Has the DOE conducted impact assessment studies and safety audits of its
policy ? If so,with what results ?