New Delhi (PTI): India will not allow its territory to be used as dumping ground for hazardous waste and only scrap that can be recycled is allowed to be imported, Minister of State for Environment and Forests Namo Narain Meena said on Thursday.
Replying to supplementaries during Question Hour in Rajya Sabha, he said there were well laid out procedure for allowing import of recyclable wastes like metal scrap, non-halogneated plastics, waste paper confirming to specification.
Only registered firms are allowed to import scrap and they necessarily have to recycle the imported scrap, he said. "It is all regulated by Ministry of Environment and Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT)." "Waste is banned in the country. There is no question of India being used as a dumping ground," he said.
He said there was a shortage of some metals like lead, zinc and copper in the country and the Government was encouraging import of scrap for recycling purpose only.
No instance of illegal dumping of waste by a foreign company in coastal areas of Tamil Nadu has been reported, he said.
"In one case of import of the waste paper mixed with municipal solid waste beyond the permissible limits, the consignment received at the Tuticorin Port in Tamil Nadu was ordered for re-export by the Customs authorities."
Referring to scrap paper imported by ITC Co Ltd, he said it was asked to remove waste from paper scrap it had dumped in two villages in the state.
"With a view to safeguarding the environment, in case of illegal import of hazardous wastes, strict provisions have been made by the Central Government making it mandatory for the importer to re-export the waste at his own cost," he added.
Source : The Hindu