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The hopes raised across the world after US President Barack Obama’s post-election speech and his statement on occurrence of the super storm Sandy have almost shattered in the Doha summit for climate change ‘COP-18’. It’s to be noted that issues like climate change and global warming became suddenly relevant, politically, and featured as subjects of election campaign only after the super storm Sandy hit the US east coast when America was closing the day of presidential elections.

You may recall the Eko-Calendar that was brought out in 2012. It contained important environmental days with notes and tips - put thematically for each month – making it unique in the market.

The calendar had received immense appreciation from eco-conscious corporates who believe in the ‘sustainability space’.

This year's further improved version of the Eko-Calendar is being produced by Ekonnect Knowledge Foundation, a section 25 (not for profit) company that Dr. Prasad Modak has set up in September this year.

The Ekocalendar 2013 basically is a creative tool of sorts to be used by any and everybody, a quiet desk reminder of the countless little things people can do every day towards saving our environment.

To download the order form please click on the link here. Completed order form should be emailed to sreemoyee.chakraborty@emcentre.com

CEPT University, Ahmedabad is organizing a non- residential 3-day training course on "EIA: Ecology and Biodiversity" with the help of Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun on 10-12 January 2013 at Ahmedabad. Registration fee is Rs 9,000 per participant. The last date of registration is 31 December 2012.

For registration, pl contact Prof Dr A K A Rathi at drakarathi@cept.ac.in  079 29096984 

We required Solar Pump for treated water of 15 CMD in Delhi.

Please send the quote on below details,

do we have some list of authorized recyclers of HW catergory 33.3

Required: Environment Professional with experience in urban sector projects.

Experience: 8-10 years (with at least 5 years experience in assessing, monitoring, and mitigating environmental impacts of urban projects)

Qualifications: BE/Btech in environmental engineering/ post graduate in Environmental Science/Management

Job profile: Assisting government agencies in monitoring environmental safeguards for urban projects, developing frameworks and guiding documents addressing environmental and climate change concerns in urban projects, and related activities. Familiarity with funding agencies safeguard frameworks shall be an advantage.

Location: The position shall be for one year, based in Delhi.

Contact: Antara Ray (antara.ray@in.pwc.com), Rahul Mallick (rahul.mallik@in.pwc.com)

Training Programme on Hazardous Waste Management

With industrialization and development, there is a growing concern over the hazardous waste generation. The levels of dangerous wastes continue to grow.  Industries and individuals continue to be largely unaware of this major environmental problem. With pitiable landfill management facilities there is a growing concern over the management of hazardous waste.

Centre for Science and Environment recognises this need and has developed a hands-on three-day training programme aimed at giving practical exposure to participants on hazardous waste with specific reference to characterization of hazardous waste, design of landfill, incinerator facilities and hazardous waste manangement.

The programme will cover:

1. Exposure to the status of hazardous waste in India

2. Characterization ,recycle and reuse of hazardous waste

3. Understanding of hazardous waste management governing laws in the country

4. Better understanding of the environmental and social impacts of hazardous waste

5. Design of a landfill site, incineration and best practices involved

6. Good practices involved in the management of hazardous waste

7. National and international best practices

Schedule

Course Duration:

Date: January 28-30, 2012

Venue: CSE, 41, Tughlakabad Institutional Area, New Delhi -110062

Time: 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM daily

Course fee: Rs 8,000 (For industry, environment consultants and regulators) 25% discounts for NGOs, academicians and students)

Last Date for Applying: January 20, 2013

For Registration kindly contact: swati@cseindia.org

Open For:
NGOs, Regulatory Institutions (such as SPCB, state environment impact assessment authority, Environment Consultants, Students, decision makers and Industries A certificate of participation will be awarded to all at the end of the programme.

Course Contact

Swati Singh Sambyal, Research Associate
Industry & Environment Unit, Centre for Science and Environment
Tel: + 91-11-29955124/ 6110, Extension: 281, |
Fax: + 91-11-29955879 Mob. No.: +91 9910496283
E-mail: swati@cseindia.org

Hi Everyone,

Is there any specifications or color code for Solid waste collections containers for different types of waste.

For ex., plastics, food waste, glass, scrap metals, wood etc

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON GLOBAL SCENARIO IN ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY” (ICGSE² 2013)

http://icgsee2013.crazyweb.co.in/

http://www.manit.ac.in/manitbhopal/Year2012/Workshop/ICGSEE_brochure.pdf

Greetings from Department of Energy& Chemical Engineering, MANIT Bhopal, India!

ICGSE² 2013 welcomes research article from any interested participants willing to present papers during the international conference. The conference is aimed at creating an effective forum for exchange of innovative ideas, thoughts and research works in the areas of Environment and Energy.Research Article of ICGSE² 2013 will be published by International Journal of ChemTech Research, which will be indexed by Elsevier, Scopus, Engineering Village, reaxys, Embase.

 Date: March 14-16, 2013

 Place: MANIT Bhopal, India

 Journal ISSN: 0974-4290 

 Conference Theme: “Utilization of alternative energy resources for cleaner and sustainable environment”

 Theme I

v  Energy resources: Potential, Estimation and utilization of renewable resources

v  Techno-economic feasibility of Energy and Environmental system

v  Energy & Environmental modelling, analysis and simulation

Theme II

v  Solar thermal and solar photovoltaic energy systems

v  New & Emerging technologies like wind, small & micro hydro, geothermal, ocean thermal, tidal and wave, hydrogen and fuel cells

v  Nuclear energy: Environment and safety issues, policies

Theme III

v  Appropriate energy technologies for rural development, greenhouse farming, energy plantation in agriculture.

v  Biomass conversion technology

v  Agriculture waste processing

v  Hybrid systems for power, co-generation, etc.

Theme IV

v  Energy policy, planning and economics, energy and environmental policy, planning, laws and treaties.

v  Sustainable Development: Roles of societies, Governments, NGOs and entrepreneurs

Theme V

v  Emission, climate change, implementation of emission mitigation technologies

v  Low carbon society: Challenges, opportunities and pathways

v  Green-Technology, Green building, Green chemistry and Green computing

v  Clean coal technology and Carbon sequestration/capture

v  Energy conservation and management, energy efficiency, energy storage

Theme VI

v  Solid waste management

v  Industrial wastewater treatment technology

v  Environmental Biotechnology, nano-particles application in Energy and Environment

v  Environmental Impact Assessments

v  Life Cycle Assessments

v  Case studies/critical assessment, state-of-art in the above areas 

  Important Date:

Contact:

icgsee2013@gmail.com

CSE’s short-term training programme on SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT

Last week left to register for the SIA training programme at CSE, New Delhi

The objective of this programme is to build capacity and create awareness among regulators, developers, NGOs and academicians to understand SIA process - Reconnaissance and Baseline Survey, Land Acquisition Survey and Plan (LAP) and Preparation of the Resettlement Action Plan (RAP). The programme also aims at evaluating the SIA report along with the applicable legislations in India.

On completion of the programme the participants will be equipped with:

The programme will cover:

1. Exposure to aspects of SIA, from theory to applications regarding:

• Understanding the Terms of Reference

• Data need, data collection, collation and interpretation

• Development of tools and instruments for conducting SIA survey

• Effective assessment methodologies

• Reporting methodologies

2. Integrated approach for addressing SIA and EIA process - from scoping, data collection to impact assessment as well as the role of public consultations

3. Knowledge on review of SIA reports and identification of strengths and weaknesses

4. Post SIA monitoring

5. Procedure for institutional strengthening and capacity building

5. Experience sharing on national and international best practices in SIA

SCHEDULE

Course Duration: January, 3-5 2013

Venue: CSE, 41, Tughlakabad Institutional Area, New Delhi-110062

Time: 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM daily

Course fee: Rs 8,000(For developers, environment consultants and regulators) 50% discounts for NGOs, academicians and students

Last Date for Applying: December 29, 2012

For Registration kindly contact: swati@cseindia.org

OPEN FOR:
Government officials of Project Executing Departments, Developers, NGOs, CBOs, and Academicians, Students and Industries

A certificate of participation will be awarded to all at the end of the programme.

COURSE CONTACT

Swati Singh Sambyal, Research Associate,
Industry & Environment Unit
Centre for Science and Environment
Tel: + 91-11-29955124/ 6110, Extension: 281, |
Fax: + 91-11-29955879 Mob. No.: +91 9910496283
E-mail: swati@cseindia.org

The fast growing economy, rapid industrialisation and growing urban population in India along with increasing wastewater generation are reasons for concern and reiterate the need for appropriate water management practices.

Centre for Science and Environment recognises this need and has developed a five-day hands on training programme aimed at giving practical exposure to participants on wastewater treatment for industrial and
urban wastewater management including reuse and recycle.

The objective of this programme is to build capacity and create awareness among regulators, developers, consultants, NGOs, students and academics to understand wastewater treatment process, technologies and affordable treatment options. The programme further aims at evaluating the performance and design parameters along with the applicable cost implication associated with each treatment system.

TOOLS
Lectures by experts, site visits to existing projects, practical group exercises, presentations by participants, reference materials and film screening.

TARGET AUDIENCE
Regulators, Consultants, Engineers, Environment Managers, NGOs, Academics and Students.

COURSE FEE:
The course fee is Rs. 9900 per participant. The fee includes training material, field visit, lunch, tea/coffee and refreshments during training and field visit.

Discounts for NGOs and students: They can avail a discount of 25% on the course fee. Discounted seats are limited and offered on first come first serve basis.

Fellowships Available for South Asian Participants.
Participants will get a certificate at the end of the course.

PROGRAMME SCHEDULE
Date: January 7-11, 2013
Timings: 9.00 am to 5.00 pm

Venue: Anil Agarwal Green College
Centre for Science and Environment,
38, Tughlakabad Institutional Area (Near Batra Hospital)
New Delhi- 110062

FOR REGISTERATION
Last Date for Applying: December 29, 2012

For information contact:
Deblina Dwivedi
Senior Research Associate – Urban Water Programme
Swati Singh
Research Associate – EIA Unit
Email: deblina@cseindia.org, swati@cseindia.org
Mobile: 9899596661, 9910496283

urban%20wastewater%20AD%281%29.pdf

A pipeline carrying crude oil for refining developed cracks and spilt oil in about 100 acres of farmland in a village in Nagapattinam district, officials said.

They said people of Manjavadi village detected the leak after they found their farmlands flooded with oil. The oil was being transported through pipeline from the Oil and Natural Gas Commission owned oil well at Adiyakkamangalam to Narimanam for refining, they said. Officials said it was not clear whether the pipe had broken due to recent heavy rains or the soil becoming loose.

ONGC officials said the pipes might have got corroded due to the saline condition in the area.

In August 2011, a similar rupture along the pipeline near river Devanadhi ruined Samba paddy fields. However, the damage was contained by the river, which washed away the oil slicks into the sea.

But now, the crude oil spill has begun flowing along the Kohur irrigation channel, which irrigates over 300 acres, across the villages of Manjavaadi, Anaimangalam, Kohur, Thenkarai and Vadakarai.

It is telling on the already weak prospects of the samba crop. Several acres of paddy fields irrigated by the oil slick-laden water from the channel have been ruined.

Article Source: Hindustan Times and The Hindu

नमस्कार, आदाब, और शत्श्रीअकाल. मैं पेड़ दादा एक बार फिर पेड़ - पौधों की हरी भरी दुनिया में आप सभी का हार्दिक स्वागत एवं अभिनन्दन करता हूँ. जनता हूँ की आप सभी मेरे परिवार के बारे में और भी अधिक जानने के लिए उत्सुक हैं और एक मैं हूँ, जो आपसे मिलने में इतना अधिक समय लगाता हूँ. परन्तु क्या करूँ दोस्तों मेरा भी परिवार है और मुझे भी जिम्मेदारी निभानी पड़ती है. आखिर मैं घर का बुजुर्ग जो ठहरा. और आप सभी लोग भी तो इन सब बातों को जानते होंगे. इसलिए मेरा आप सभी से विनम्र निवेदन है की इस बार फिर से आप सभी मुझे क्षमा कर दें.

मैं जानता हूँ की आप सभी मुझसे इतना प्रेम करते हैं की आप लोग मुझे माफ़ कर चुके होंगे, तो चलिए अब हम अपनी कहानी को आगे बढ़ाते हूँ. पिछले भाग में आपने जाना की किस प्रकार से हमारे परिवार का प्रत्येक सदस्य वातावरण को साफ़ एवं स्वच्छ रखने में अपनी-अपनी भूमिका निभाता है. इस भाग में हम जानेंगे एक बार फिर खास और सबसे आवश्यक बातें जो वातावरण में कुछ ख़ास चीजों के संतुलन को बनाये रखती हैं, और वो है पोषक तत्त्व और कुछ जरूरी गैसें, जो न केवल जीव-जंतुओं अपितु पेड़-पौधों के लिए भी अत्यंत ही आवश्यक होते हैं. इन पोषक तत्वों और जरूरी गैसों का संतुलन प्रकृति में विद्यमान सभी अवयवों के माध्यम से होता है, परन्तु इसमें भी हमारे परिवार के प्रत्येक सदस्य का अपना अलग-अलग योगदान रहता है.

यह तो हम सभी जान ही गए हैं कि प्रकृति में रहने वाले सभी सजीव प्राणियों को पोषक तत्वों कि आवश्यकता होती है. और यह सभी पोषक तत्त्व रासायनिक तत्वों और अणुओं से मिलकर बने होते हैं और इन सभी तत्वों का चक्रण सुचारू रूप से होना हमारे पर्यावरण के संतुलन के लिए आवश्यक है. क्या आप जानते हैं कि प्रकृति में इन सभी तत्वों और गैसों का चक्रण लगातार होता रहता है? जी हाँ, इन सभी पोषक तत्वों का प्रकृति में लगातार चक्रण होता रहता है. पोषक तत्वों और गैसों के इन चक्रों को जैव-भू रासायनिक चक्र या बायोजियोकेमिकल साइकल कहते हैं.

अब भला ये बायोजियोकेमिकल साइकल कौन सी बला है. आइये इस शब्द को जरा ध्यान से समझते हैं. यदि हम बायोजियोकेमिकल साइकल शब्द को देखें तो हम पाते हैं कि यह इन शब्दों से मिलकर बना है:

बायो: जीवन, जिसमे पेड़-पौधे और जीव-जंतु सब सम्मिलित हैं,
जियो: भू/धरा/पृथ्वी,
केमिकल: रासायनिक तत्व एवं
साइकल: चक्रण.

इस प्रकार से बायोजियोकेमिकल साइकल शब्द पेड़-पौधों व जीव-जंतुओं, पृथ्वी एवं इनके मध्य के रासायनिक जुड़ावों को बताता है.

एक और बात प्रकृति में संतुलन बनाये रखने के लिए यह अत्यंत आवश्यक है की इन रासायनिक खनिज पदार्थों का चक्रण लगातार, बिना रुके होता रहे. जानते हैं इन पदार्थों का चक्रण कैसे होता है? आइये बताता हूँ.... सबसे पहले खनिज पदार्थ मृदा अर्थात मिटटी के द्वारा जीवित कारको यानि की पेड़-पौधों में प्रवेश करते हैं और इन पेड़-पौधों के माध्यम से ये खनिज पदार्थ खाद्य श्रीन्खला के माध्यम से जंतुओं में प्रवेश करते हैं. इसके पश्चात जब ये पेड़-पौधों और जीव-जंतुओं की मृत्यु हो जाती है तो इनके सड़ने और गलने के पश्चात ये खनिज पदार्थ पुनः मिटटी एवं वातावरण में मिल जाते हैं.

एक और बात ये पोषक तत्व पौधों अर्थात हमारे परिवार के प्रत्येक सदस्य की वृद्धि एवं विकास के लिए भी बहुत अवश्यक होते हैं, इनमे से प्रमुख ६ तत्त्व जिनका चक्रण अत्यंत आवश्यक है वो हैं: कार्बन, हाइड्रोजन, नाइट्रोजन, फास्फोरस, और पोटासियम. तो देखा आपने की इन सभी पोषक तत्वों के चक्रण में भी हमारा योगदान रहता है. और हो भी क्यों न क्योंकि ये तत्त्व हमारे लिए और आप सभी के लिए अत्यंत आवश्यक जो होते हैं.

अब तो आप सभी समझ ही गए होंगे की हम हरे भरे बेजान से दिखने वाले पेड़-पौधों की ये जमात आप सभी लोगों के कितने काम की वस्तु हैं. अरे जनाब आगे ऐसे ही कई जानकारियों से आपको मैं अवगत कराऊंगा, बस आप सभी लोग इसी प्रकार से मेरा और मेरे परिवार का देखभाल करते रहे. आगे के भागों में आप जानेंगे की हम सब किस प्रकार से मानव जाती द्वारा विकसित धर्मों और संस्कृतियों में से समाहित हैं.

तो ऐसी अनेकों जानकारियों के लिए जुड़े रहिये मेरे अर्थात पेड़ दादा के साथ. और पढ़ते रहिये प्रकृति मित्र ब्लॉग. तब तक के लिए गुड बाई. अपना और अपने पेड़ पौधों का ख्याल रखें धन्यवाद.

आपका अपना:

पेड़ दादा

प्रस्तोता: आशुतोष कुमार द्विवेदी “आशु”

Dear All,

Please send me the details such as necessary chemicals, instruments, etc. to establish a New Environment Lab in my CEMENT organization. your replies would be highly appreciated.

Thanks.

Sub: Get to know the latest opportunities in wind power from Wind Power India 2012 

I’d like to invite you to attend Wind Power India 2012 conference, India’s largest and most prestigious wind power conference, November 29-30, 2012, at Chennai Trade Center, Chennai –www.windpowerindia.in. This conference is held in parallel to the Wind Power India exhibition.

The Indian Wind Turbine Manufacturers Association (IWTMA), the premier association comprising the top wind turbine makers in India along with the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) and theWorld Institute of Sustainable Energy (WISE), is hosting the second edition of India's definitive wind power conference and exhibition.

While India presents significant potential for many renewable energy sources, wind is currently the most dominant and will remain so for the next decade. Wind currently powers over 70% of the total renewable energy capacity in the country, and this industry is expected to have a total installed capacity of over 50,000 MW by 2020. Opportunities in this fast growing sector are immense for both small and large businesses, and especially for those companies that are already operating in other renewable energy sectors.

Wind Power India 2012 conference will provide you with exceptional insights on the latest business trends and opportunities in the fast growing Indian wind power sector. This is a must attend event for all those keen on knowing the latest trends, as well as for those who wish to know the emerging business opportunities.

The accompanying exhibition will have over 200 companies, for the first time having representations across the entire wind power value chain.

Key Highlights of Wind Power India 2012

• India's largest and most prestigious wind power conference
• Over 75 Indian and global wind power experts share their expertise
• Unique and exclusive networking sessions with experts
• 15 sessions covering all wind power topics
• 1000 top professionals as delegates
• Presence of all the Indian wind power industry experts and leaders 
• The exhibition in parallel will provide opportunities to interact with over 200 top wind power companies
• Access to key government officials and decision makers

The conference will see the best and the largest assembly of wind power experts and professionals from around the world share their expertise and experiences – through seminars, networking and interactive sessions.

Wind Power India 2012 Topics - http://windpowerindia.in/node/80

Wind energy experts at Wind Power India 2012 - http://windpowerindia.in/node/84

In all, Wind Power India 2012 will be the most important wind energy event for India. It will indeed be exciting to have you as a delegate at Wind Power India 2012.

Registration Details: 

1. Online payment using Credit Card/Debit Card, please visit www.wpi.doattend.com
2. Cheque/DD – Kindly issue the Cheque/DD favouring “IWTMA – Wind Power India” payable at Chennai.

Cheque/DD to be sent to
EAI - Energy Alternatives India
C/O Clixoo Solutions Private Limited, 4th floor, MKM Chambers,
New no:42, Old no:154 & 155, Kodambakkam High Road, Nungambakkam,
Chennai – 600034, Tamilnadu, India

3. By Wire transfer for which our bank account details are mentioned below:

Name of Bank: Axis Bank
Bank Branch: Anna Salai
Branch Address: Chennai - 600 002
Account No: 911010066705750
IFSC Code: UTIB0000168
MICR No: 600211008

I look forward to hearing from you soon, and seeing you as a delegate at Wind Power India 2012.

Please feel free to call me on +91- 98407 98344 in case you have questions.

Take care.

Preethi
Marketing Support – Wind Power India 2012
M: +91-98407 98344: preethi@windpowerindia.in

Wind Power India - Power for Ever, Nov 28, 29 & 30, Chennai Trade Centre, Chennai, Tamil Nadu - www.windpowerindia.in

Tomorrow is the Vijayadashami the day when people in most of Northern parts of Indian peninsula shall burn effigy of Ravana. How glad we are when we come back home after seemolanghan and Ravan-Dahan, as if we ourselves have killed our own Ravana’s

 and become the purest of the soul.

On my way to office at Banskhedi, Arera colony, I see a large number of Ravana effigy by the side of compound wall. Waiting for prospective buyers to come and fetch them away to different colonies and residential blocks where the  children and the youth will burn them all. without knowing how they are adding to Ambient air pollution May be some innovative sharp minds shall also burst a lots of crackers to celebrate the death of demon king, the Rawan. But the real demon actually lives within us.

In burning the effigy of Ravana, it is believed that one follows the spiritual path by avoiding Adharma therefore establishing virtue and goodness.

In burning the effigies the people are asked to burn the evil within them, and thus follow the path of truth and goodness, bearing in mind the instance of Ravana, who despite all his Knowledge & wisdom, Great  might and majesty was destroyed for his evil ways.By destroying the ten headed effigy of Ravana, the destruction and burning represents the destruction of ten Tamasic qualities of human nature : Kama vasana (Lust),  Krodha (Anger),  Moha (Delusion), ( Lobha (Greed), Mada (Over Pride), Matsara (Jealousy),  Manas (Mind), Buddhi (Intellect), Chitta (will) and finally Ahankara ( Arrogance).

It's high time we identify this demon within us, the negativity in our lives. There are many more tangible and non-tangible evils present in today’s world around us (The Great Kal-Yug).

If we want to fight, we want to kill, yes come forward, let’s kill religious-discrimination, caste-discrimination, illiteracy, quota, corruption, poverty abuse of power, and what not?  Time has come,  as swami vivekananda has said " Uttishthat, Jagruta, Prapyati varannibodha". Jaago, Jaago, Grow up, fight against these tangible and non-tangible evils and don’t let them play with your sentiments, we have a long way to go and make our lives worthwhile, because that is what for we have taken birth. thats the purpose of our life's journey. Burning more and more number of effigy we only recreate the phoenix of Pollution.

A phoenix was a mythical creature that had the ability to be reborn from its own ashes just like pollution , which never dies or ends only changes it's form like  mythical sacred firebird that originated in Greek mythology that never dies and rises again and again from it's ashes.

Its better we come together assemble at one place and go to nearest dussehra ground for seemolanghan (literally means crossing the village boundry but actually is expression of streaching one self to his own limits and to further endure new grounds)  and witness community effigy burning instead of having our own ravana and then burning it.

 I can not restrain myself from praising my dear wife who after return from seemolanghan would  make a rawan shape with handfull of rice grain in a large thali (Plate) wherein she would hide numerous coins of various denomination and all the children shall get one chance to cut that shape with a single stroke of finger to find and claim the hidden coins. Those interested may try this and watch the faces of your young children beaming with joy  rejoicing their newly accumulated wealth.

The increasing economic growth and changing consumption trends world wide have resulted in a significant rise in the disposable incomes and consumers’ propensity to spend. The advancement in technology and changing lifestyle, status or perception of consumers has driven this demand of electronic items. Consumers’ dependency on information and communication technology has been increasing very rapidly. The new innovations in information technology because of the rising demand for higher efficiency and productivity in the businesses and work have become a matter of day to day life. Technologies which were new yesterday have become obsolete for today. The increase in demand for “White Goods segment” i.e. on consumer durables such as television sets, microwave ovens, calculators, air-conditioners, servers, printers, scanners, cellular phones, computers etc. is for obvious. Thus, there can be broad range of waste electric and electronic goods which have outlived their use, ready for disposal. These contain chemical materials considered hazardous for human well beings and natural environment.The increasing rate of waste electronic products and additionally the illegal import of junk electronics from abroad create a complex scenario for solid waste management in India.

According to Ministry of environment and forest, E-waste is such waste comprises of wastes generated from used electronic devices and household appliances which are not fit for their original intended use and are destined for recovery, recycling or disposal.

Indian Scenario

The Indian electronic waste industry is booming at a very rapid pace. It is expected to be increasing at a rate of 20% annually. With increasing per capita income, changing life styles and revolutions in information and communication technologies, India is the second largest electronic waste generator in Asia. India is generating around 4, 00,000 tones of electronic waste per year according to Ministry of Environment and Forest MoEF.  Not only this, it gets around 50,000 tones of e waste through illegal means of imports. According to a report on electronics market, TATA Strategic Management Group says that India is expected to have 11% share in global electronic market. MoEF’2012 report says that Indian electronic waste output has jumped 8 times in the last seven years i.e. 8, 00,000 tones now. India has majorly two types of electronic waste market called organized and unorganized market. 90% of the electronic waste generation in the country lands up in the unorganized market. And out of this only 5.7 % of e waste is recycled. Electronic waste accounts for 70% of the overall toxic wastes which are currently found in landfills which is posing toxic chemical contamination in soil and other natural resources. Another report from Central Pollution Control Board CPCB says that around 36,165 hazardous waste generating industries in India accounts for 6.2 million tones of toxic wastes every year. Indian PC industry is growing at a rate of 25% annually as per MAIT study.

Out of the total electronic waste generation in India, only 40 % of these are taken into the recycling processes and rest 60% remains in warehouses due to inefficient and poor collection systems. Generally, people hand over electronic waste to unauthorized recycling centres/ scrap dealers etc. for quick money. The e-waste scrap is managed through various management alternatives such as reuse of equipment from second hand dealers, back yard recycling (manual dismantling and segregation into plastic, glass and metal) and finally into the municipal dumping yard. 

MAIT (Manufacturers Association for Information Technology) study says that waste from discarded electronics will rise dramatically in the developing world within a decade, with computer waste in India alone to grow by 500 per cent from 2007 levels by 2020. Over 100,000 tonnes from refrigerators, 275,000 tonnes from TVs, 56,300 tonnes from personal computers, 4,700 tonnes from printers and 1,700 tonnes from mobile phone.

Techno-Trash

The electronic waste due to Computer waste also called techno trash is becoming most significant of all e-waste due to the quantity as well as the fast generation rate. The computer hardware sector has displayed an unusual growth in the past few years maintaining pace with the rapid growth in the software sector. The continuous innovations and technological up gradations in the hardware segment, obsolescence risk remains a key area of concern for companies that have made huge investments in their IT systems.

Management

Managing Electronic waste has become a very big challenge.  The governments and private organisation will have to play a crucial and responsible role in order to properly manage electronic waste. Proper inventorisation and management has been very necessary in order to reduce the negative impacts of e waste in human livelihood and maintain prosperity in society. It could be made possible through the consultation with different E-waste experts and the assessment of unorganised small scale industrial houses. Different awareness programmes and reach to the local level unorganised sector recyclers can play a pivotal role in efficiently managing e waste.

I generally do not rely on the Times of India (TOI) to give me my daily dose of useful, thought-provoking information, but the TOI did really get it right today! Page 24 carries two such thought-provoking write-ups. One is a column called Swaminomics by Swaminathan S Anklesaria Aiyar and the other an interview of Joseph Stiglitz, one of the few economists with the foresight to predict the financial crisis of 2008.

So what pearls of wisdom do they have to share with readers? Swaminomics is aptly titled CSR: a cloak for crooks (spot on, if you ask me!), while Stiglitz explains why he believes that India doesn't need FDI in retail to grow.

And, I quote:

"Lesson: don't get fooled by corporate spending on CSR..." -  Swaminomics 

"Not having access to FDI is not an impediment in India. Wal-Mart is able to procure many goods at lower prices than others because of the huge buying power they have and will use that power to bring Chinese goods to India to displace Indian production. So the worry is not so much about the displacement of the small retail store but displacement further down the supply chain." - India does not need FDI in retail to grow, An interview by Shobhan Saxena of the TOI with Joseph Stiglitz.

Both topics--CSR and FDI in retail--offer food for thought in environmental and social terms. Does CSR really benefit those it is supposedly intended for? Or is it just a mask that companies wear? Is FDI in retail going to propel India forward inclusively, or will it just create a bigger rift between the haves and have nots?

Without much ado, do read both these write-ups here and here, and feel free to write in.

This post was originally published at mahazareendastur.blogspot.in.

Dear Contributors

Greeting from IDSAsr

Due to some technical-administrative reasons, 4th IDSAsr International Seminar on the theme Water Energy and Food Security Nexuses slated for November 02 to November 04, 2012 has been postponed.  Now it will be held either by December end or early January next.  Fresh dates will be notified in consultation with the sponsoring agencies. For more detail contact at:idsasrsectt@yahoo.com

Meanwhile all interested are requested to submit their papers by December mid 2012.

Inconvenience caused is highly regretted.

Dr. Gursharan Singh Kainth