Lok Sabha Question No. 2891 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-08-03
Subject: Contamination of Soil by e-waste
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: PONGULETI SRINIVASA REDDY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2891

TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.08.2018

## Contamination of Soil by e-waste

## 2891. SHRI PONGULETI SRINIVASA REDDY:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether improperly-handled electronic waste (e-waste) is contaminating sections of  the  city's/town's  groundwater  and  the  soil,  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the reasons for such situation;
- (b) whether the Government has analysed the soil samples which has several mounds of unprocessed electronic waste and has found, among other pollutants, copper in the  region's  topsoil  in  mg/kg  in  many  parts  of  the  country,  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (c) whether the contamination in the sub-soil where plants take root can mean that these residues can be absorbed into plant systems and find their way into human tissues; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

(a)  &  (b)  Disposal  of  e-waste  from  such  electronic  devices,  without  processing  it  in  an environmentally sound manner, may affect the human health and environment including soil and ground water. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in 2015-16 had carried out sampling  in  the  vicinity  of  river  Ramganga  at  Moradabad.  Samples  of  surface  water, groundwater,  soil  and  sediments  were  collected  at  different  locations  for  analysis.  The analysis of samples indicated that soil, sediments, drain and surface water along the banks of Ramganga  River  are  contaminated  with  heavy  metals.  The  contamination  is  due  to unscientific/uncontrolled  processing  of  milled  black  powder  mainly  from  e-waste/slag  by unauthorized recyclers. Directions under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 were  issued  to  the  District  Administration  Moradabad  on  26.04.2016  and  22.11.2016  for immediate closure of unauthorized e-waste recycling activities in the residential areas and on the  bank  of  river  Ramganga  in  Moradabad.  In  compliance  to  the  directions,  the  district administration imposed Section 144 of CrPC on 08.07.2016 for prohibition of entry of any vehicle  carrying  e-waste  into  Moradabad  and  storage  of  e-waste  without  permission  of Regional Officer, Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board, Moradabad. Instructions were also given  on  06.08.2016  to  Superintendent  of  Police  (Traffic),  Joint  Commissioner,  Sales  Tax and  Regional  Transport  Officer  for  preventing  entry  of  vehicles  carrying  e-waste  material into Moradabad from all entry points. Thirteen illegal units in Karula and one illegal unit in

Nagfani  area  of  Moradabad  were  closed  on  06.08.2016.  Twenty-seven  ball  mill  units  in Barbalan (Mughalpura area) of Moradabad were closed on 30.01.2017

(c) & (d): The Ministry has not carried out any study related to absorption of contaminant of e-waste by plant systems and finally finding their way into human tissues.

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