Illegal dumping of waste troubles Bangalore

Illegal dumping of waste troubles Bangalore

Bangalore, April 30. (UNI) Illegal dumping of hazardous industrial waste across Bangalore is causing a major health concern and the high tech city might eventually become unfit for survival, according to experts.

Pointing out that of the 475 industries in the city, 91 generated hazardous waste and dump it in 60 illegal dumping sites, Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce President S Chandrasekhar said at a seminar here on Energy Conservation and Industrial Waste Management.

He said "Unless immediate measures are taken, Bangalore will become unfit for survival."

He said increased nitrate concentration in ground water in the city due to improper dumping of hazardous waste could lead to renal failure, blood poisoning and cancer.

Mr T Chakrabarti, Heading Environmental Biotechnology Division at the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), exhorted the industries to make optimum utilisation of the treatment and waste disposal plants and stressed the need for a holistic approach towards the issue. Public participation was essential for the achievement of a stable eco-system, he added.

"Out of the 13,000 industrial units in the country, though most have multiple disposal facilities, the hazardous wastes are not judiciously disposed," he said.

Pointing out that every year the country produced five million metric tonnes of hazardous waste, including used batteries, zinc ash, lead and syringes, he regretted that 70 per cent of the surface water was unfit even for bathing.

Though there was no exclusive legislation facilitating disposal of IT industry wastes, it was on the anvil, he said.

Karnataka State Pollution Control Board Member Secretary V Ramaiah, citing case studies, said only effective industrial waste management could save the degenerating environment.