As per the Directives of Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, dated October 14, 2003 in the matter of Writ Petition No. (C) of 657 of 1995, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) is required to prepare and comply with the following directives:

9. To do R & D Work on Phasing out of Dirty Technologies
10. Co-ordination with Ministry of Environment & Forests w.r.to preparation and finalization of the draft Amendment to Hazardous Waste (M & H) Amendment Rules.

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in compliance of aforesaid directives, finalized and published the following guidelines:

2. Guidelines for Common Hazardous Waste Incinerators.
3. Guidelines for Transportation of Hazardous Waste.

As per the Order of Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, dated October 14, 2003 in Writ Petition (C) No. 657 of 1995, the Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF) either itself or through Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) or any other agency is required to draft a policy document on hazardous waste management, keeping in view recommendations of High Power Committee (HPC). CPCB co-ordinated with the Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF), in preparation of ‘National Policy Document on Management of Hazardous Waste’ and revision of Schedule 3 (list of wastes applicable for import & export for reprocessing, Schedule 4 (list of wastes, the reprocessing of which need registration from Central Pollution Control Board) and Schedule 8 (list of wastes prohibited for import and export of hazardous wastes) of the Hazardous Waste ( Management & Handling) Rules, 1989 as amended in 2003. The final draft of ‘National Policy Document on Management of Hazardous Waste’ and proposed draft amendments to Schedule 3, Schedule 4 and Schedule 8 of the Hazardous Waste (Management & Handling) Rules has already been forwarded to MoEF for consideration.

In the Draft National Policy on Management of Hazardous Waste, it has been suggested that inter-state movement of hazardous waste will be required when

Though, the above policies were finalized and incorporated in the draft national policy document, after considering the views of SPCBs/PCCs and keeping in view that some progress have been made in setting up of common facilities including in relatively small hazardous waste generating States such as Punjab, Himachal Pradesh & Kerala etc., as well as the reluctance of the State Governments to accept hazardous waste from other States, it was felt necessary to review the draft ‘National Policy on Management of Hazardous Waste’ particularly in respect of interstate movement of hazardous waste and disposal of hazardous waste in common hazardous waste treatment, storage and disposal facilities (TSDF). In this regard, a strategy was proposed, which was discussed in 52^nd Conference of Chairpersons and Member Secretaries of State Pollution Control Boards and Pollution Control Committees, held at Mumbai during January 05, 2006. Further, outcome of these discussions was also presented next day in the 13^th meeting of Supreme Court Monitoring Committee, held on January 06, 2006. After deliberations, following recommendations were made for taking further necessary action by the SPCBs/PCCs:

• Hon’ble Supreme Court may be appraised by SCMC accordingly.

The decisions taken in the afore said conference have been communicated to all the Chief Secretaries of State Governments and the Union Territory Administration by the Chairman, Supreme Court Monitoring Committee as well as to all the SPCBs/PCCs for necessary action.

As per the directives of the Hon’ble Supreme Court, all SPCBs/PCCs are required to carryout inventory in the light of the Hazardous Waste (Management & Handling) Amendment Rules as amended in 2003. In order to carryout inventory on hazardous waste generating industries by the SPCBs/PCCs as per the directives of the Hon’ble Supreme Court, the CPCB have prepared guidelines and circulated to all the SPCBs/PCCs. Also, to have uniformity in submission of the inventory reports, Central Board prepared a format and circulated to all the SPCBs/PCCs. So far, 22 SPCBs viz., Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamilnadu, Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal, West Bengal and 03 UTs

viz., Chandigarh, Daman, Diu Dadra & Nagar Haveli, and Pondicherry have completed the inventory and submitted the reports to CPCB. The States (04Nos) Viz., Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Sikkim and UTs (02 Nos) viz.,

Lakshdweep, Andaman & Nicobar Islands reported that there is no ahzardous waste generating units in the respective States or UTs. The States viz., Tripura, Delhi, J & K are yet to submit the inventory to CPCB covering the industry-wise hazardous waste generation in the light of the Hazardous Waste (M & H) Amendment Rules, 2003.

The information on hazardous waste generating units and the quantity of hazardous waste generation as reported by the SPCBs/PCCs are shown below.

Zonal Offices of CPCB have carried out random checks, as per the directives of Hon’ble Supreme Court. Random checks have been completed in 18 No. of States viz., Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar Chattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal, West Bengal and 03 UTs

viz., Chandigarh, Daman, Diu Dadra & Nagar Haveli, and Pondicherry. The random checks in other States/UTs viz., Goa, Maharashtra, Nagaland, Tamil Nadu are under progress.

The observations of the Central Board made on the inventory submitted by the States/UTs were discussed in 52 ^nd Conference of the Chairpersons and Member Secretaries of State Pollution Control Boards and Pollution Control Committees held at Mumbai on January 05,2006. Further, the observations of CPCB as well as the random check reports were communicated to the Concerned SPCBs/PCCs for updation of the inventory by the concerned SPCB/PCC. In the afore said conference it was decided that all the SPCBs/PCCs will take necessary action for rectification of the inventory in the light of the guidelines & as per prescribed format circulated by CPCB and keeping in view the observations of CPCB sent to the concerned SPCBs. It was suggested to SPCBs/PCCs to submit the updated inventory to CPCB, by March 31, 2006.

As per Hon’ble Supreme Court Directives, SPCBs/PCCs are also required to carryout inventory on hazardpis waste dumpsites and are required to make assessment with regard to the extent of soil or ground water contamination in & around identified dump sites and also to prepare and submit the rehabilitation plans.

As per the information provided by SPCBs/PCCs, 17 States viz., Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi, Goa, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, J & K, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Jharkhand, Uttaranchal, Manipur, Tripura, Sikkim & Chattisgarh and 05 UTs Viz., Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Pondicherry, Daman, Diu & DNH and Lakshadweep have indicated that there are no hazardous waste dump sites in their States/ UTs. The hazardous waste dumpsites, as reported by 12 States are as follow:

The various steps taken by SPCB are summarized below:

• Most of the States are in the process of making preliminary assessment with regard to the extent of soil or ground water contamination in and around the identified hazardous waste dump sites. The States viz., Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, West Bengal and Orissa have already made efforts with regard to assessment of dump sites.

• The State of Maharashtra has outsourced the work on identification and quantification of the hazardous waste dumpsites (outside MIDC area) to National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA), Hyderabad, using satellite imageries. The study is restricted to Thane district and is under progress.

• In the State of Gujarat, 15 identified dump sites have been reported to be cleaned up at an approximate cost of 14.3 Million Rupees.
• In the case of M/s. Hema Chemical Industries, Vadodara, the State Board has completed assessment through M/s. National Productivity Council, New Delhi.

• The State of Orissa and West Bengal have completed the preliminary assessment in and around the identified dumpsites in the respective States by engaging M/s. National Productivity Council, New Delhi.

• Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board have carried out the assessment of contaminated sites at Ranipet and Kodaikanal. However, the remediation plans proposed by the TNPCB to SCMC is under review. In case of Rajasthan, the remediation programme at Bichchri, Udaipur as per the directives of the Hon’ble Supreme Court is yet to commence.

• The State Board of Punjab constituted an expert committee so as to review the progress made by their consultant. Assessment of dumpsite in Punjab is under progress. The State of Karnataka have taken up the assistance of GTZ-HAWA for carrying out the assessment of HW dump site at Bommasandra Industrial Area, Bangalore. Assessment study is under progress.

• Other State Pollution Control Boards expressed difficulty in making the assessment of the HW dumpsites. In view of the difficulties expressed by the SPCBs/PCCs and in order to upgrade the technical capabilities of the State Board officials, training programmes have already been conducted as well as proposed to be conducted in the financial year 2006-07 for the officials responsible for assessment and preparation of rehabilitation plans in the SPCBs/PCCs.

In the afore said conference, the SPCBs/PCCs have been advised to complete assessment of dump sites and also to prioritize for the purpose of remediation and for consideration under World Bank Assistance Programme, by September 2006 and also to draw up the plans with financial estimates for immediate measures that may be required to stop further environmental damage as well as preparation of full scale rehabilitation plans with detailed estimation of cost of remediation and to send the reports to CPCB, by December 2006.

The decisions taken in the aforesaid conference were communicated to the SPCBs/PCCs for taking necessary action.

Study for the preparation of guidance document for hazardous waste management was taken up through Orissa State Pollution Control Board for industrial sectors such as iron & steel, aluminium, sodium dichromate & galvanising process. The objective of the study is the "Identification of hazardous waste streams, its characterization and recovery & recycling options". The study for aluminium & sodium dichromate manufacturing sectors has been completed & the report is under finalisation. The study pertaining to other sectors (Iron & steel and Galvanising) is under progress.

Separately, study for preparation of guidance document for Pesticide Sector was taken-up and completed through M/s. NCL, Pune which covers 12 pesticide products. The study is further continued for additional 12 products such as DDT, Dichlorovos, Phorate, Phosphamidon, Quinalphos, Lindane, Methyl parathion, Mancozeb, 2-4 D, Isoproturon under insecticides, fungicides, herbicides & weedicides group of pesticides, for identification of hazardous waste streams, its characterization and recovery/recycling options. The study is under progress.

The project has been taken up by the Central Board, to identify various hazardous waste streams, their characterisation and to recommend waste minimization options in paint industry. The National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) has been engaged to accomplish the project.

Detailed investigation of quantification / identification and disposal of hazardous waste from isolated dump sites in Madhya Pradesh have been undertaken in collaboration with Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board.

The small-scale units (75 nos.) were visited for physical verification of environment management facilities provided for reprocessing of waste /used oils and metal scraps. Some of these units were recommended to further improve the pollution control & solid/hazardous waste management systems before registering them as ‘Actual User’ for reprocessing such wastes.

Total 20 nos. of small-scale units were visited for physical verification of environment management facilities provided for reprocessing of waste /used oils and metal scraps.