The Hindu 19.04.2010
Many illegal dumping sites have hazardous waste: Survey
Bindu Shajan Perappadan
| “Long-term exposure can cause lung, kidney, stomach and skin problems” |
47 samples collected from various Delhi areas
23 sites found to be containing the chemical
NEW DELHI: Several illegal dumping sites across the Capital have been found to have hazardous waste hexavalent chromium, long-term exposure to which is known to cause lung, kidney, stomach and skin problems, according to the last survey conducted by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee.
The Committee looked at all the units generating hazardous waste in the city and the method used to dispose it. The survey also looked at illegal dumping sites and 47 samples were collected from various areas in Delhi and analysed for various parameters. The study found that 23 sites were found to be containing hexavalent chromium which exceeds the prescribed limit.
During the survey, data for 35 industrial areas in the Capital was complied and it was found that the Wazirpur Industrial Area was generating the highest quantum of waste about 790 tonnes per annum, industrial regions including Okhla, Nariana and Samaipur were also generating significant quantity of hazardous waste.
Highlighting the hazards of waste, the study said: “The quantification of hazardous waste lying at illegal dump sites needs to be assessed before rehabilitation of the dump sites. Further study is required to be carried out to work out detailed strategy for rehabilitation of these illegal dumpsites. Since the quantity of the hazardous waste generated from Delhi is not very high compared with other States and land is also not easily available for the disposal hence it is suggested that the possibility of transferring the hazardous waste to the nearby State should be looked into.''
Through the data it was found that the North-West Delhi is generating maximum land disposal waste which is 62 per cent of the total land disposal waste generated from various industrial locations in Delhi.
About 595 TPA incinerable hazardous waste and about 73 TPA recyclable waste is generated from South Delhi, which is about 34 per cent of the total incinerable waste generation and 12 per cent of the total recyclable waste generation in the city.
``There is little check on the waste generated in the city and the disposal of hazardous waste is still not handled well. After accident like the one at Mayapuri it is time that the Delhi administration woke up to the ill-effects of the mismanagement of hazardous waste,'' said environmentalist V.K. Jain.
