Despite the clear indications from the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (WL), about the adverse effects of mining project in Lohara forest, the state forest minister seems to be determined to overlook the letter and continue with the mining proposal of Adani Power Limited.
The high level of opposition from environmentalists to the project was evident during the first and probably the last meeting of 10-member study group formed to recommend measures to reduce effects of mining on the flora and fauna around Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR), held at Chandrapur on Friday. The meeting was convened at the office of conservator of forest, North Chandrapur forest circle.
Amidst strong protests, two of the 10-member study group resigned while another one walked out of the meeting questioning the basic motive behind constituting the committee.
"The methodology adopted by the study group is an eyewash, a mere formality to hush the voice of protesting conservationists. The basic question, which I pressed through hunger strike during last assembly winter session, of not allowing the project in Lohara near Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) was not discussed at all," said Bandu Dhotre, president of Eco-Pro, a Chandrapur based NGO.
During the meeting, APL officials tried their level to convince how the mine and flora and fauna in Lohara jungles can co-exist, which is a streak contrast to his demand, Dhotre pointed out. "While the APL officers in the group are trying hard to convince their point, the forest officials, who should be expressing concern regarding the possible eco-disturbance that might occur due to the project, appeared to be mere spectators," Dhotre said.
He resigned from the study group and walked out of the meeting as a mark of protest. Eco-Pro has filed a PIL which is pending with Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court and hence taking up proceedings regarding government level clearance to the mine without intimating the judicial bench will be held as contempt of court, Dhotre claimed.
Suresh Chopne of Green Planet Society, who is member of the study group, submitted a letter saying how the mine would be destructive for the environmental balance and the flora and fauna in Lohara forest and walked out of the meeting.
"Hence forth, I will not participate in the proceedings of the study group. I have already voiced my opinion on the issue in writing before the CCF and nodal officer Shailendra Bahadur," Chopne declared adding that the struggle against the mine in Lohara jungle would continue.
Registering strong protest against the mine another member of the study group Swananad Soni, of Srushti, a Nagpur based NGO said, "I have already raised questions over the wildlife conservation plan presented by APL officials and sought some explanations. I will be resigning from the study group." Another NGO member Arvind Sovani too questioned the motive behind constituting the study group and lodged protest against the mining project in Lohara forest.
When contacted, Bahadur, who is convener of the study group, claimed that proceedings of the meeting were running smoothly but admitted to the fact that a member had resignation. "Dhotre needs to forward his resignation from the group to the government, as I have no power of accepting such resignation. Jayant Kulkarni of NGO Envirosearch has presented the Adani's wildlife conservation plan and suggestions, queries raised by all the members are being recorded," said Bahadur.
The forest department officials, apparently appear to be in a great hurry to rush Adani coal mine project in Lohara jungle. According to social activist Rajendra Vaidya, the study group was to proceed on field visit only after the APL officials had finished with their complete presentation of wildlife conservation report. However, while only one phase of the report was presented before lunch, other members led by convener Shailendra Bahadur rushed to the field visit skipping the second phase of the meeting where the second part of the report was to be presented. Vaidya returned for post lunch sessions of the meeting as per the schedule only to find that the group had left for the field visit skipping. "Bahadur did not even have the courtesy of informing me about their decision of calling off the meeting," Vaidya protested.
The first meeting of the study group turned out to be the last one as no more meetings of the group will be held in future. CCF and convener of study group Shailendra Bahadur said, "Nearly 90% work of the group is accomplished. The suggestions and objection of the members of the group have been recorded. The phase of field visit and interaction with local people, different forest committees and officers will be accomplished on Saturday. Later the five days long formality of detailed study of wildlife conservation plan will be accomplished before tabling the final report of the study group entailed with the suggestions and objections from the members before PCCF (wildlife)," said Bahadur adding that no more meeting of the study group would be held any further.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
E Waste recycling facility for Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
Ashwin Aghor
The Mumbai metropolitan region will soon be relieved of the ever growing problem of e-waste. The state government will start a first of its kind plant for scientific recycling of e-waste generated in the region.
“E-waste has become a serious cause of concern for the society and the problem needs to be addressed effectively on priority,” said environment secretary Valsa Nair. The environment department of the state government along with MMRDA will soon start a formal e-waste recycling facility in the region through public private partnership. “The pre-feasibility study conducted by IRG Systems has given highly encouraging results. The report submitted two weeks back, shows that such facility, if created in the MMR, would be highly feasible,” Nair said.
According to research conducted by Greenpeace, Mumbai tops the country with around 50,000 tones of e-waste every year, projected to increase to three lakh tones per annum by the year 2011. The entire e-waste is recycled in un-organised sector under highly hazardous conditions. “The manner in which e-waste is presently recycled, is highly harmful for environment and human health as well,” Nair said. At present total e-waste generation in Mumbai and Pune is to the tune of five lakh metric tones per annum.
Nair said that currently, e-waste is recycled by only two steps like dismentaling and segregating, while recovery of valuable metals and resource recovery are not at all happening. “The major reason for this is that resource recovery facility is available only in Belgium, which proves to be very costly for the recyclers,” Nair said.
The state environment department has completed the study and now MMRDA will invite tenders to set up the facility. “MPCB and the department of environment provided technical support while MMRDA will take care of inviting tenders and providing land for the plant,” Nair said. Tenders will be invited by the end of July and the plant is expected to be completely functional by next year. The plant has become one of the urgent needs of the region as e-waste generation in MMR is expected to be doubled by the year 2050, Nair said.
“The project will be implemented in phased manner. In the first phase, the capacity of the plant would be 7500 tones per annum, which would be increased later. We have plans to start resource recovery facility at the plant in future,” Nair said.
Once the plant is functional, the contractor will establish e-waste collection channel in the region.
Box:
What is E-waste
Electronic waste, e-waste is a waste type consisting of any broken or unwanted electrical or electronic device. Some define electronic waste to include all secondary computers, entertainment devices electronics, mobile phones and other items, whether they have been sold, donated, or discarded by their original owner. This definition includes used electronics which are destined for reuse, resale, salvage, recycling or disposal.
How and why is e-waste hazardous?
If treated properly, electronic waste is a valuable source for secondary raw materials. However, if not treated properly, it is a major source of toxins and carcinogens. Toxic substances in electronic waste may include lead, mercury, and cadmium. Carcinogenic substances in electronic waste may include polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Up to thirty-eight separate chemical elements are incorporated into electronic waste items. The un-sustainability of discarding electronics and computer technology is another reason for the need to recycle – or perhaps more practically, reuse – electronic waste. Guiyu in the Shantou region of China, and Delhi and Bangalore in India, all have electronic waste processing areas. Uncontrolled burning, disassembly, and disposal are causing environmental and health problems, including occupational safety and health effects among those directly involved, due to the methods of processing the waste.
The Mumbai metropolitan region will soon be relieved of the ever growing problem of e-waste. The state government will start a first of its kind plant for scientific recycling of e-waste generated in the region.
“E-waste has become a serious cause of concern for the society and the problem needs to be addressed effectively on priority,” said environment secretary Valsa Nair. The environment department of the state government along with MMRDA will soon start a formal e-waste recycling facility in the region through public private partnership. “The pre-feasibility study conducted by IRG Systems has given highly encouraging results. The report submitted two weeks back, shows that such facility, if created in the MMR, would be highly feasible,” Nair said.
According to research conducted by Greenpeace, Mumbai tops the country with around 50,000 tones of e-waste every year, projected to increase to three lakh tones per annum by the year 2011. The entire e-waste is recycled in un-organised sector under highly hazardous conditions. “The manner in which e-waste is presently recycled, is highly harmful for environment and human health as well,” Nair said. At present total e-waste generation in Mumbai and Pune is to the tune of five lakh metric tones per annum.
Nair said that currently, e-waste is recycled by only two steps like dismentaling and segregating, while recovery of valuable metals and resource recovery are not at all happening. “The major reason for this is that resource recovery facility is available only in Belgium, which proves to be very costly for the recyclers,” Nair said.
The state environment department has completed the study and now MMRDA will invite tenders to set up the facility. “MPCB and the department of environment provided technical support while MMRDA will take care of inviting tenders and providing land for the plant,” Nair said. Tenders will be invited by the end of July and the plant is expected to be completely functional by next year. The plant has become one of the urgent needs of the region as e-waste generation in MMR is expected to be doubled by the year 2050, Nair said.
“The project will be implemented in phased manner. In the first phase, the capacity of the plant would be 7500 tones per annum, which would be increased later. We have plans to start resource recovery facility at the plant in future,” Nair said.
Once the plant is functional, the contractor will establish e-waste collection channel in the region.
Box:
What is E-waste
Electronic waste, e-waste is a waste type consisting of any broken or unwanted electrical or electronic device. Some define electronic waste to include all secondary computers, entertainment devices electronics, mobile phones and other items, whether they have been sold, donated, or discarded by their original owner. This definition includes used electronics which are destined for reuse, resale, salvage, recycling or disposal.
How and why is e-waste hazardous?
If treated properly, electronic waste is a valuable source for secondary raw materials. However, if not treated properly, it is a major source of toxins and carcinogens. Toxic substances in electronic waste may include lead, mercury, and cadmium. Carcinogenic substances in electronic waste may include polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Up to thirty-eight separate chemical elements are incorporated into electronic waste items. The un-sustainability of discarding electronics and computer technology is another reason for the need to recycle – or perhaps more practically, reuse – electronic waste. Guiyu in the Shantou region of China, and Delhi and Bangalore in India, all have electronic waste processing areas. Uncontrolled burning, disassembly, and disposal are causing environmental and health problems, including occupational safety and health effects among those directly involved, due to the methods of processing the waste.
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