GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 188
TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.02.2022
Issues due to hazardous e-waste dumping
188. SHRI SYED ZAFAR ISLAM:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

(a) whether Government is aware of the issues arising out of hazardous e-waste dumping and its recycling in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh; and

(b) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken/being taken to resolve the issue?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a) & (b) Government is aware of the issues arising out of hazardous e-waste dumping and its

recycling in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh. It was reported during 2014-15 that unauthorised e-waste processing units were operating in large scale and discharging their effluents directly

into drains joining river Ramganga. Heap of hazardous waste (black powder) were found on

the bank of river Ramganga. Accordingly, joint team of Central Pollution Control Board

(CPCB) and Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) inspected the areas of

Moradabad near bank of river Ramganga during 2014-15& 2015-16 and collected soil and

water samples in the area. Based on the findings of inspections and analysis of samples,

direction under section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to District Magistrate

Moradabad was issued by CPCB in April, 2016 and November, 2016 respectively.

In compliance of directions of CPCB, actions were taken against the unauthorised

units by the district administration. The unauthorised units were sealed and order for

disconnection of electricity supply and initiation of legal actions were issued.

Hon’ble National Green Tribunal (NGT), Principal Bench, New Delhi, in the matter

of Original Application (O.A.) No. 58/2017 of Mahendra Pandey Vs. Union Of India &

Others, vide its order dated 17th February, 2017 directed that joint inspection be carried out

by a team comprising of officials from CPCB, UPPCB and Ministry of Environment, Forests

and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) of the areas in the vicinity of river Ramganga at

Moradabad and also other areas of Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh to verify the actions taken in

compliance of the above directions issued by CPCB to District Magistrate, Moradabad, Uttar

Pradesh.Thereafter, Hon’ble NGT issued further directions on 16th October, 2018, as given

below:

(i) To take further steps and furnish an interim report by the Chief Secretary for disposal

of hazardous waste. 

(ii) CPCB to prepare a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) under Rule 10 of the

Hazardous Waste Management Rules, 2016 to deal with such issues which can apply

pan India.

In compliance of the above order, CPCB furnished the Standard Operating Procedure

(SOP) on 10th January, 2019 for Lifting and Disposal of illegally dumped Hazardous Wastes

in a safe and environmentally sound manner. Status report of Government of Uttar Pradesh

was also submitted before Hon’ble NGT. Following steps have been taken up:

(i) Site for temporary storage of hazardous waste was identified.

(ii) 4500 m2

 of land was prepared for temporary storage of hazardous waste. For

preparation, land was compacted and HDPE liner of 1.5 mm thickness was spread.

The site had embankment and boundary wall.

(iii) The estimated quantity of Hazardous waste (black powder) of 25,813.20 Tonsfrom

the banks of river Ramganga was transported and temporarily stored at the aboveprepared land within the Municipal Solid Waste site, Rampur, Moradabad.

(iv) For permanently storage of the hazardous waste, a Treatment, Storage and Disposal

Facility (TSDF) was proposed at Amroha Uttar Pradesh.

(v) UPPCB had issued consent to establish to M/s Sangam Mediserve Pvt. Ltd. for

developing TSDF and E-Waste Processing Facility at Amroha.