The e-waste burden

Known for being the home to over two hundred Fortune500 companies and a hub of BPOs, Gurgaon is also the biggest producer of e-waste, Sanjeev K Ahuja.

Known for being the home to over two hundred Fortune500 companies and a hub of BPOs, Gurgaon is also the biggest producer of e-waste.

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A recent study conducted by the Associated Chambers Of Commerce & Industry of India (Assocham) revealed that Gurgaon generates about 8,000 metric tonnes (MT) of e-waste every year, the highest in the country.

The groundwater in Gurgaon is contaminated with lead and heavy metals because of the unregulated disposal of e-waste and other solid and liquid waste, says the study.

Haryana, in fact, is still to implement its e-waste policy even after the Central Pollution Control Board notified it long back.

The study stated that the e-waste was growing at the pace of 20 per cent annually in India. It was going up in Delhi region, that includes Gurgaon, at the phenomenal rate of more than 40 per cent, it said.

“Our study shows that by 2012, the Delhi region would produce about six lakh metric tons of e-waste annually and would continue to be the highest e-waste producer with Gurgaon contributing to it in a major way. By 2012, India on the whole would produce e-waste at the rate of 10 lakh MT annually as compared to its present figure of 3.5 lakh MT,” Assocham Secretary General D.S. Rawat said.

With the increasing use of computers in households, purchase of mobile phones and television sets, e-waste in Delhi region, including Gurgaon, is going to go up phenomenally, the study says.

The study has revealed that IT companies in Gurgaon dispose off about 40,000 computers every year while the country’s figure is 20 lakh computers annually.

Bangalore too disposes a large number of computers annually. But it does it in a regulated manner and according to procedures that comply with the e-waste policy.

“Haryana is still to introduce e-waste policy in the state. Unregulated disposal of e-waste has resulted in groundwater contamination in Gurgaon.

Here the groundwater contains 40 per cent lead and 60 per cent heavy metals in most areas. The groundwater in Gurgaon has hardly any mineral properties,” the study said.