| Based on the
Indian Hazardous Waste Handling and Management Rules (1989,
amended 2000), the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board
(KSPCB) is in the process of implementing a Hazardous
Waste Management System.A Treatment, Storage and Disposal
Facility (TSDF) which will be in the centre of such a
system is being planned. Moreover, focus will be laid
on waste minimisation and abatement efforts in the generating
industries as well as recycling and reuse of waste.
The TSDF will consist of technical facilities for treatment
of waste (detoxification, neutralisation, etc.) and
permanent storage in an engineered and secure landfill.
All these components will be developed and installed
according to international standards and security precautions.
Possible emissions such as discharge of effluents, odour
or other nuisance will be avoided by applying state-of-the-art
technology. Simultaneously the industries will be encouraged
and enabled to implement hazardous waste minimisation
strategies; seminars and workshops will be held and
process changes or new technologies explained.
The increasing settlement of manufacturing industries
and the rapid development of the economy in Karnataka
are leading to state courts and the Supreme Court taking
actions concerning the consequences of uncontrolled
disposal of industrial waste. The Federal Ministry of
Environment and Forest (MOEF) together with the Karnataka
State Government are to solve these problems through
the intervention of KSPCB. Industries are complaining
that there is no proper, regulated hazardous waste disposal
site in Karnataka (as it is the case in the majority
of the Indian States). However, according to the Hazardous
Waste Rules they are forced to segregate hazardous waste
and dispose of properly without harm to human health
and environment and in a way which meets comparable
international standards. There are already solutions
for recycling and reuse of few special liquid hazardous
waste such as waste oil and organic solvents or lead
acid batteries, but conditioning of these wastes will
need improvement. Most small and medium sized enterprises
lack know-how and incentives for in-company waste minimization
strategies, which in many cases lead to cost savings
in the manufacturing process, and to an improvement
of the image as an environment friendly company, which
will attract customers.
Since there is no disposal infrastructure existing
yet, large industries are forced to store their hazardous
waste on their land for years, but presumably most of
the smaller industries' waste is disposed of via the
sewage system or by uncontrolled dumping.
So far the hazardous waste generated by the industries
in the State of Karnataka has not been surveyed statistically.
KSPCB only has estimated figures. HAWA will make a state
wide survey and collect data on quantities and qualities
of hazardous and industrial waste. This will lead to
a better knowledge of the waste streams in the whole
state and form the basis of an industrial waste cadastre
which enables the authorities and the private sector
to better plan future activities and react on changes.
The volume of hazardous waste generated is relatively
slight by comparison with other states. But in view
of the uncontrolled disposal it represents a high hazard
potential for human health and the environment. Contamination
via water, soil and the atmosphere leads to destruction
of the ecological balance. Moreover, it is above all
the poor population groups who live in the vicinity
of hazardous waste producing industries or along sewer
lines, or who enter into contact with hazardous wastes
as a result of illegal waste disposal sites, which are
most severely affected. In addition, pollution of water
resources leads to diseases, particularly among the
poorer population groups who are unable to afford hygienically
safe drinking water. Such diseases can also be triggered
by accumulation of pollutants in the food chain.
The TSDF will be operated by a private company that
must care for collection, transport, intermediate storage,
treatment, and final disposal. Some waste needs chemical
or physical treatment before it will be disposed of
in the landfill. The companies have to pay the cost
of transport, treatment and disposal in form of a gate
fee according to the quantities of waste delivered.
KSPCB will be the monitoring and enforcing authority
to control the whole Hazardous Waste Management System.
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