GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
RAJYASABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2453
TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.03.2022
Hazardous waste management
2453. SHRI G.C. CHANDRASHEKHAR:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:
(a) whether it is a fact that hazardous wastes exported to India by other nations are dumped
unclaimed in few parts and inland container depots;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether it is a fact that India is becoming a dumping yard for such substances; and
(d) if so, action taken by Government to combat such activities?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)
(a) & (b): The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) in its Report No. 16 of 2018 titled “Performance Audit of Working of Inland Container Depots (ICDs) and Container Freight Stations (CFSs)” has reported that as on 31.03.2017, 469 containers of hazardous waste were lying isolated in the Container Depot itself.
(c) & (d): Government of India has notified the Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016, under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to ensure safe storage, treatment and disposal of hazardous wastes in an environmentally sound manner without causing adverse effect to environment and human health. As per Rule 12 of the aforesaid rules, import of hazardous and other wastes from any countryto India is only permitted for recycling, recovery, reuse and utilization and not for disposal of hazardous and other wastes. Further, the hazardous and other wastes listed under Part A, Part
B & Part D of Schedule III of the aforesaid rules are permitted for import, whereas, the hazardous and other wastes specified under Schedule VI are prohibited for import. Hence the hazardous substances from other countries cannot be imported and dumped in India and there is strict monitoring of CPCB and MoEFCC in this regard. The aforesaid rules laid down the responsibilities of the occupiers engaged in generation, storage, transportation, recycling, utilization, disposal of hazardous and other waste wastes etc. for obtaining authorisation besides maintaining records and filing returns pertaining to hazardous waste generation and its management; lliability for all damages caused to environment or third party and financial penalties for violation of the provisions of the rules. As per the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), they have developed Disposal Manual, 2019 for disposal of seized/ confiscated/unclaimed items through disposal/auction. Further, as per CBIC, as on 22.02.2022 they have taken action on 528 uncleared containers of hazardous waste lying at ICDs/CFS including 469 containers mentioned in the afore mentioned CAG report.