The Silicon Valley of India, home to around 1,700 IT companies, is now grappling with serious hazards posed by the increasing volume of electronic waste (e-waste).
The IT hub generates anywhere about 6,000 to 8,000 tonnes of e-waste annually and the issue needs to be accorded top priority, feels J Parthasarathy, Director, Software Technology Park of India (STPI), Bangalore.
The e-waste agency (EWA), a Bangalore-based NGO, supported by Indo-German Swiss e-Waste initiative, has already put forward a proposal before the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) to enact a legislation on the issue.
Pending a legislation on the subject, the ministry has been requested to issue guidelines as an interim measure, M R Deshpande, National Project Coordinator EWA, said.
It is felt that such guidelines may enthuse leading companies and associations to move towards voluntary compliance, which would eventually assist in acceptance of the legislative measure.
E-Parisara Pvt Ltd, the local firm which has pioneered e-waste recycling technology in the country and recycles about a tonne of e-waste every day, also seeks an e-waste policy.
A legislation is the 'need of the hour', says Parthasarathy, Director E-Parisara.
Courtesy : Expressindia.com
The IT hub generates anywhere about 6,000 to 8,000 tonnes of e-waste annually and the issue needs to be accorded top priority, feels J Parthasarathy, Director, Software Technology Park of India (STPI), Bangalore.
The e-waste agency (EWA), a Bangalore-based NGO, supported by Indo-German Swiss e-Waste initiative, has already put forward a proposal before the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) to enact a legislation on the issue.
Pending a legislation on the subject, the ministry has been requested to issue guidelines as an interim measure, M R Deshpande, National Project Coordinator EWA, said.
It is felt that such guidelines may enthuse leading companies and associations to move towards voluntary compliance, which would eventually assist in acceptance of the legislative measure.
E-Parisara Pvt Ltd, the local firm which has pioneered e-waste recycling technology in the country and recycles about a tonne of e-waste every day, also seeks an e-waste policy.
A legislation is the 'need of the hour', says Parthasarathy, Director E-Parisara.
Courtesy : Expressindia.com