Toxic Waste still poisoning Bhopal Water

Toxic waste still poisoning Bhopal water

While controversy rages over the method and agency to be involved in clearing up the stockpile of toxic waste lying inside the abandoned Union Carbide pesticide plant in Bhopal, the hazardous material continues to pollute ground water on a massive scale as the soil inside the factory premises, particularly in its northern and north-eastern side, remains contaminated by toxic chemicals.The group of ministers on Bhopal has recommended complete decommissioning and dismantling of the hazardous plant. This is to be done by the state government and the process supervised by an oversight committee to be created by the Central government. The question that remains to be addressed is how to clean up the polluted soil.

http://www.asianage.com/india/toxic-waste-still-poisoning-bhopal-water-257]
By: Lalti Shastri

Source: The Asian Age, New Delhi, June 27, 2010

‘Govt. dragging its feet on hazardous waste management'

Environmentalists in the Capital have accused the Delhi Government of dragging its feet over the issue of managing hazardous waste as the city is yet to have a proper data bank of its scrap dealers, the amount of hazardous waste being generated and its proper disposal.“Despite the recent accident where workers handling radioactive scrap were seriously injured, the Delhi Government is yet to wake up and take stock to ensure that an accident of this nature is not repeated,'' laments environmentalist Vinod Kumar Jain.“The State officials still have no proper data bank on how much hazardous waste is being handled by the scrap dealers. The condition of the rest of the country is no different with the Central Pollution Control Board not having a city-wise break up of the amount of hazardous waste that is generated in the country and how it is disposed,'' says Mr. Jain, who had asked for information under the RTI Act on the amount of hazardous waste being handled by scrap dealers city-wise and especially in Delhi.

http://www.hindu.com/2010/06/23/stories/2010062359690400.htm

By: Bindu Shajan Perappadan
Source: The Hindu, New Delhi, June 24, 2010

Despite ban, plastic bags still clog airports, railway stations

There might be a ban on plastic bags in the city, but they form about a third of the huge mountains of plastic waste generated by the three main railway stations and two airports in the Capital every day. The figures are staggering. A Central Pollution Control Committee (CPCB) study has found that while Hazrat Nizamuddin, Old Delhi and New Delhi railway stations together churn out at least 6,758 kg of plastic waste every day, the international and domestic airports are not far behind with 3,662 kg per day. But a closer look reveals that the density of waste generation is more at the airports. While the per capita plastics waste generation is approximately 9 gm/day at the railway stations, it is a high 69 gm/day at the airports. Despite the ban on plastic bags in the Capital, they form 30 per cent of the waste in the railway stations, the major chunk being plastic bottles.
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/despite-ban-plastic-bags-still-clog-airports-railway-stations/638226/0
By: Neha Sinha
Source: Indian Express, New Delhi, June 26, 2010

Pak tanneries poisoning Punjab folk

Generations of people across Punjab's Malwa region are under a serious health threat because of heavy metal poisoning from tanneries in Pakistan.The poisoning is happening because of contamination of the Sutlej river flowing through the region from effluents released by the tanneries in Pakistan's Kasur region. The concentration of toxics has gone beyond safe limits and left the soil, water and food chain affected. The worst hit areas are Ferozpur, Muktsar, Bhatinda and Jalalabad.The effects have to be seen to be believed. Newborns across villages and towns are being afflicted with incurable diseases, genetic defects and mental retardation. Adults are suffering from skin diseases and other ailments. Many are crippled and confined to homes or living on wheelchairs.
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/102997/India/pak-tanneries-poisoning-punjab-folk.html
By: Manaman Singh Chhina
Source: Mail Today, New Delhi, June 26, 2010