Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications
Saturday, May 11, 2002
Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications Saturday, May 11, 2002 |
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Variety
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Health Industry & Economy - Environment Hyderabad turning into hazardous waste dump Our Bureau
HYDERABAD, May 10 THERE are at least 40 illegal sites in the neighbourhood of Hyderabad, where hazardous wastes, generated predominantly by the industrial units, are being dumped illegally. The non-implementation of the Hazardous Waste (Management and Handling) Rules and non-availability of common waste management facilities were the main reasons for these illegal dumpsites, pointed out a survey by the Environmental Protection and Training Research Institute (EPTRI). The area covering Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy and Medak districts has nearly 230 hazardous waste-generating industries. The belt also has the largest concentration of chemical and bulk drug manufacturing units, earning the State the nickname `bulk drug capital' of the country. These units generate up to 0.71-lakh cu.m of organic, 0.26 lakh cu.m of inorganic, miscellaneous amount of 0.37 lakh cu.m and 0.04 lakh cu.m of inert wastes. According to the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India report, hazardous wastes were being dumped by more than 230 industries in these districts in vacant lands and along roadsides close to industrial premises and other places. The implementation of the Hyderabad Waste Management Project at Dindigal in Ranga Reddy district, intended to treat, store and dispose hazardous wastes has also been delayed. Similarly, the State Pollution Board had not taken remedial measures against disposal of hazardous wastes in illegal dumpsites. As a result of the lack of stringent measures, wastes were deposited in industrial estates like Patancheru and Kazipalli. At Patancheru Industrial Development areas, waste from paint and dye industries sealed in polythene bags and gunny bags were buried in pits followed by soil covering. In Jeedimetla industrial area, wastes were deposited on both sides of roads leading to the industries. The Hyderabad Waste Management Project with technical assistance from the Government of Australia was initiated in January 1996 and a site was selected at Dindigal under Kazipalli industrial estate on an experimental basis, where around 23,000 tonnes of hazardous waste were illegally dumped at 40 dumpsites by various industries. Due to delays in the project, the wastes could not be transferred to the treatment, storage and disposal facility (TSDF) till end-2001. Ramky Enviro, the environmental engineering company that is executing the project, has expressed confidence that it would be able to start accepting the wastes soon. The industries in the area and the Pollution Control Board have held a series of meetings to work out a price mechanism for transport, handling and storage of the wastes. An association of the industries is also being formed.
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