foreign countries may step up efforts to dump hazardous waste in India in the coming days, cautions Stirling Smith, an ex-official of the International Labour Organisation. He says countries such as the us, Germany, the Netherlands, Australia and the uk may be targeting India for dumping hazardous wastes. These countries have a high concern about their environment.
India is one of the largest recipients of hazardous wastes generated in industrial countries. According to director general of Commercial Intelligence Services, the import of hazardous wastes for 1992-93, 1993-94 and 1994-95 was 1,70,000 tonnes, 2,59,000 tonnes and 3,25,000 tonnes respectively. The high magnitude of import certainly reflects that the control system created under the international and national laws has not been effective.
Smith says none of the Indian ports have implemented the Supreme Court order banning import of toxic waste into the country. He says checks should be instituted in all the ports to put an end to waste 'import'. Over years, waste traders from industrialised nations have shifted their trade from Africa to South Asia and India has suffered a lot mainly due to lack of environmental concern.
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