|
• Details of
import of electronic waste
K.S. Sudhakar of Toxics Link filed an RTI application
to the Central Public Information Officer of Chennai to find out the details
of import of electronic waste.
India receives large dump of electronic waste every
year from US and other developed countries. The import of e-waste needs
special clearance under the Hazardous Waste Rules 2003. Recommendations
have been made for the total ban on the e-waste import.
To find out the details of import of electronic waste, K.S. Sudhakar
of Toxics Link filed an RTI application on January 19, 2006 to the Central
Public Information Officer of Chennai. The objective of filing the application
was both to identify loopholes in the system and trigger an official debate
adding to the strength of the campaign to ban import of e-waste. The Assistant
Commissioner of Customs responded on February 15, 2006 but the information
sought was not answered completely.
To Sudhakar’s question on the legitimacy of import of electronic
scrap and second hand computers into India, Customs replied that it is
not illegal but only restricted. They also added that cross verification
of all the imported materials are mandatory. But the Customs office remained
silent to most of the questions like availability of scanning equipments
in Chennai port, details of computer donations, mechanisms employed to
check the quality of donated computers, etc.
 Download the PDF to see the RTI application
filed and response received (689KB, PDF format)
[read more]
• Status of
Common Bio-medical Waste Treatment Facilities in Tamil Nadu
K.S. Sudhakar of Toxics Link filed an RTI application
seeking details regarding the Common Bio-medical Waste Treatment Facilities
in Tamil Nadu from the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB).
The healthcare institutes
generating bio-medical waste need to install an appropriate facility in
the premises or connect up to a Common Bio-medical Waste Treatment Facility
(CBWTF) to ensure requisite treatment of waste.
K. S. Sudhakar of Toxics Link filed an RTI application on February 7,
2006 seeking details regarding the CBWTFs in Tamil Nadu from the Tamil
Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB). He also added queries on training
given to the hospitals on waste management, collection and disposal of
mercury waste, vehicles used for collection of bio-medical waste and monitoring
of CBWTFs. His aim was to solve the contradiction raised by various information
circulated by different government institutions. He received response
on March 15, 2006 after sending a letter to the Appellate Authority for
non– receipt of reply within 30 days.
In response, TNPCB gave details of the Common Treatment Facilities of
Tamil Nadu including their status, coverage and quantity of waste handled
adding that request has been sent to Indian Medical Association to provide
training to the privete hospitals. But they did not provide much detail
on the vehicles and inspections of CBWTFs.
The information received through RTI is entirely new set of information
which helped in identifying the direction of Toxics Link’s campaign
on biomedical waste management.
Download
the PDF to see the RTI application filed and response received (1.59MB,
PDF format)
[read more]
• PWD fined for violating Right to Information Act
PWD failed to provide information about a proposed bridge over the Adyar river of Chennai and was fined Rs. 250 a day for 100 days impose.
After more than three
months of waiting, the Highways Department furnished information to Toxics
Link relating to the proposed expansion of the existing Adyar bridge and
the details of the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) for the same, under
the RTI Act, 2005.
A petition was filed by Rajesh Rangarajan of Toxics Link to Public Works
Department (PWD) seeking information on proposed Adyar bridge on January
18, 2006. The RTI Act enjoins on the Public Information Officer (PIO)
of the PWD to either furnish the information himself or redirect the petition
- within five days of receipt - to the department concerned. However,
the PIO returned it, saying the information lay only within the purview
of the Highways or Rural Works Department.
Mr. Rangarajan approached the Information Commission, which sent a show
cause notice to the PIO. With the officer still failing to respond, the
appellate authority - in this case, the Deputy Secretary, PWD - was called
for an enquiry. Subsequently, the Chief Secretary was instructed to conduct
an enquiry and recover the fine of Rs. 25, 000 from the PIO, who is personally
liable to pay it.
After due enquiry, the State Information Commissioner in his order dated
July 20, 2006 observed that, “The Commission notes with great
distress the fact that the direction given to the Secretary PWD with copies
to the Secretary Highways, to have information supplied within 10 days
issued on 12.4.2006 has not been complied with. The Commission therefore
directs the Chief Secretary to Government to recover Rs .25,000/- as fine
from the concerned for having breached the order and also call for his
explanation why disciplinary action should not be taken.” The
message for State agencies is loud and clear – information has to
be provided and violations will not be tolerated.
Download
the PDF to see the RTI application filed and response received and order
of Tamil Nadu Information Commission (1.44MB, PDF format)
[read more]
• Bio-medical waste management in Chennai
Rajesh Rangarajan of Toxics Link filed application to Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board seeking information on medical waste dumping.
Bio-medical waste from Malar hospital has been dumped in the open near the Muthulakshmi Park near Adyar signal and rag pickers were seen picking waste from the dumps. Rajesh Rangarajan of Toxics Link filed RTI application seeking information on such medical waste dumping.
The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) responded that the hospital disposes bio-medical waste through the common facility only. They added that the Pollution Control Board and Green Squad regularly monitor the management of bio-medical waste.
Download the PDF to see the RTI application filed and response received (435KB, PDF format)
[read more]
• Information
on crematoria and burial grounds
RTI application filed to know the protective measures
adopted against environmental and health hazards of crematoria and burial
grounds.
According to the Bio-medical
Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998, body parts, human tissues,
etc. need to be disposed off by incineration or deep burial, after prior
authorisation from the State Pollution Control Board. In this context,
a member of Toxics Link Chennai node filed a RTI application to know the
number of crematoria and burial grounds in Chennai and how many of them
are authorised under BMW Rules.
Chennai Corporation responded partially to it saying that there are 34
burial grounds including 6 crematories in Chennai and that none of them
is used for disposal of bio-medical waste. Regarding information on measures
adopted to ensure protection against environment and public health hazards,
Corporation replied that three electrical crematoria units would be converted
to gasifiers shortly.
Download
the PDF to see the RTI application filed and response received (590KB,
PDF format)
[read more]
• Tamil Nadu
State Advisory Committee on bio-medical waste
RTI was filed to Department of Health and Family
Welfare of Tamil Nadu to know the measures adopted by State Level Advisory
Committee to enhance bio-medical waste management in the State.
The Government of Tamil
Nadu has constituted a State Level Advisory Committee on bio-medical waste
with the Secretary (Health and Family Welfare) as its Chairman. A Toxics
Link member filed RTI application to Department of Health and Family Welfare
to know the issues discussed in the committee meeting and measures adopted
to enhance bio-medical waste management in the State.
The application was filed on January 18, 2006, but no response was received
in the next 30 days. On May 2006, Tamil Nadu Information Commission sent
show cause notice to the Public Information Officer (PIO) of Health and
Family Welfare Department and warned them of imposing penalty for the
late response. Finally, on June 2006, a very general response was received
citing the issues and measures adopted under the provision of Bio-medical
Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998.
The measures mentioned were the installation of incinerators, microwave
and autoclave system for disposal of bio-medical waste; inclusion of bio-medical
waste management in the curriculum for doctors and nurses; and facilitating
deep burial facility for the isolated healthcare units. It also mentioned
sites for common treatment facilities.
Download
the PDF to see the RTI application filed and response received (1.51MB,
PDF format)
[read more]
• Clarification
in the Bio-medical Waste Management Rules
RTI application was filed by a member of Toxics
Link Chennai node to seek information on the instructions and actions
of Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) to ensure compliance of
the hospitals to Bio-medical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules.
The Bio-medical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules specify the disposal of anatomical waste in the yellow bag. RTI application was filed to sought information on the instructions and actions of Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) to ensure compliance of the hospitals to med waste rules.
The application was filed on January 18, 2006, but no response was received in the next 30 days. On May 2006, Tamil Nadu Information Commission sent show cause notice to the Public Information Officer (PIO) of Health and Family Welfare Department and warned them of imposing penalty for the late response. Finally, on June 2006, a very general response was received citing the issues and measures adopted under the provision of Bio-medical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998.
TNPCB responded that all healthcare facilities have been directed to segregate the category of wastes as per the Rules. To ensure compliance, the Board carries out surprise inspections and auditing of waste regularly.
Download
the PDF to see the RTI application filed and response received (328KB,
PDF format)
[read more]
|
E-mail
Print View
Live Feed
Right
to Information Act under Art 19 (1) was a landmark in Indian democracy
recognising the citizen's freedom of speech and expression. It has empowered
people to interact and seek accountability of the executive's plans and
course of action taken. The NGOs have also found a powerful weapon to
question the government on important issues like education, environmental
protection, health, civic facilities, etc. For the first time after independence,
the Act has enlightened hope among the citizen for better services from
government.
