The Indian Express                15.04.2013

825 tonnes of junk from Europe lands in city, MC writes to Customs

The arrival of 40 containers weighing around 825 tonnes containing junk material at the dry port of city, Dhandari Kalan, has created panic in the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation.

Reportedly, the containers landed in the city three days back. Mayor Harcharan Singh Gohalwaria shot off a letter to the additional commissioner (customs) to look into the matter and get the containers off the port as soon as possible.

"The waste is in 40 containers and equal to the garbage produced by Ludhiana city in one day. I cannot disclose the name of the company responsible for this nuisance right now but a letter has already been written to additional commissioner (customs) and company owner to take it back as soon as possible from dry port. Company has told me that they got wrong delivery and got what was not ordered for, and it is now complete waste for them but we certainly cannot allow it to be dumped in Ludhiana," said the mayor.

Reportedly, the containers have plastic bottles, papers, plastic bags and pouches.

Dr Arun Mitra , general secretary of the Bharat Jan Gyan Vigyan Jatha Ludhiana (BJGVJ), said "because of the callous attitude of our governments, the developed countries take us for granted. They are dumping plastic and other toxic waste into our country". "Health of our people cannot be compromised for the profit of a few," he added.