The Manufacturers’ Association for IT (MAIT) has urged the Ministry of Environment & Forests to address the hindrances for the successful implementation of e-waste management rules notified in 2011 which came into effect in May, 2012. The rules are aimed at safe handling and disposal of the growing volumes of e-waste in the country.
The ministry had in principle accepted the suggestions to simplify procedures and increase levels of compliance, during the consultative meetings, but no action has been taken so far.
Alok Bharadwaj, President, MAIT said, “The Industry had extended all support to the Government to ensure successful implementation of the rules. In the absence of clarity, the industry is not sure if the compliance steps will serve the intended purpose. The decentralized loose multiple authority interface is not the best way to achieve the set objectives.”
Some of the challenges that the industry faces include the rules that make it mandatory to obtain authorization from the SPCB or PCC (Pollution Control Committee). Presently, the manufacturers have to take authorization from multiple states, thus, adding to data duplication. For the companies and SPCBs, this only adds to the administrative burden without any value addition. To make matters worse, some of the states are demanding fees along with the applications.
“MAIT strongly urges Ministry of Environment & Forests to take immediate steps to mitigate the problems and simplify procedures to increase compliance on new e-Waste rules. A speedy resolution to these challenges will allow the industry to focus on other key priorities,” said Sabyasachi Patra, Executive Director, MAIT.
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