The Deccan Chronicle 26.08.2010
Waste importers make quick buck out of muck
In the last two years, two ports in Tamil Nadu received at least over 400 tonnes of garbage — e-waste, municipal waste, medical waste — from abroad. “It is possible that more such waste has reached the state. The figure we are referring to is the quantity seized by various agencies,” says a senior official from the directorate of revenue intelligence (DRI).
This is a relatively new trend. The exporting countries are offering good money to the Indian importers to take the e-waste out of their countries. This is because recycling such waste on their soil will be even more expensive, notes C. Rajan, additional director general, DRI.
In the last two years, 11 cases of garbage dumping were reported at Chennai and Tuticorin ports. The customs investigators detected six cases while five were registered by DRI.
According to the official, countries like Canada, Korea, Australia, the UAE and Maldives are the ones that send their garbage to India. “Most probably, Indian importers promise easy disposal of waste for a price and bring it home. In the last one week, DRI seized 127 tonnes of e-waste at Chennai port that had been declared as brand new computer parts,” he adds.
Indian agencies had once intercepted a consignment of 281 parcels of battery waste at Tuticorn port. The mindless importers are ready to bring in anything for a price.
Once the waste reaches Tamil Nadu, in most cases, the importers just burn it after initial segregation. “Dioxins formed during the burning of e-waste can be very dangerous to human health. Sometimes it can be as bad as the Bhopal gas tragedy,” says Mr Rajan.
Similarly, medical waste can be very unsafe as it brings all kinds of germs with it. Interestingly, there is no severe punishment for importing garbage as new products. “The importers will be asked to send back the waste to the country of origin within 90 days. Apart from that, a fine will be levied. That is all,” says a customs official.
