UP govt failed to act against illegal e-waste units: CPCB

New Delhi, Apr 19 (KNN) The Uttar Pradesh government has  failed to act against the illegal e-waste industries near the Ramganga in the western region of Uttar Pradesh, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) informed the National Green Tribunal (NGT).

The CPCB carried out a joint inspection along with the UP pollution control board. The investigation found that the local authorities responsible for monitoring and stopping the inflow of e-waste in the district of Moradabad have completely failed to comply with the Section 5 of Environment Protection Act 1986.

The report said that the local administration including the police, electricity department who are responsible for closure of illegal and unauthorized units operating near Ramganga, Daswaghat, Barbalan, Nawabpura, Karula, Nagfani area have not complied with the directives.

This was in response to a plea filed by Mahendra Pandey, Scientist, seeking action against the illegal and non-compliant e-waste recycle units in Moradabad, Bareilly, Shahjahanpur which were responsible for polluting Ramganga.

According to the petitioner, copper levels were five times higher in five different soil samples collected near Ramganga. Chromium another pollutant was found twice more than the allowed safe levels. The results from water samples were devastating too, mercury levels were found to be eight times higher and had traces of arsenic.

In the plea, the petitioner sought a monitoring committee to ensure shutting down of illegal e-waste processing units along the river.