National Conference on Hazardous Wastes Management & Environment Protection for Sustainable Development

Vidarbha Productivity Council, Nagpur, in collaboration with ENVIS Centre on Hazardous Wastes, NEERI, Nagpur, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, Mumbai, Gujarat Pollution Control Board, Gandhinagar and National Productivity Council, Mumbai organized a National Conference on Hazardous Wastes Management & Environment Protection for Sustainable Development at Taj Lands End, Mumbai during June 8-10, 2006. The aim of this Conference was to provide a forum where experts, professionals, intellectuals, bureaucrats and practicing managers from industries, organizations, institutes and stakeholders expressed their views on hazardous wastes management for sustainable development.

In the inaugural function of the Conference, Dr. S.N Pathan, Vice Chancellor, Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University, Nagpur presided as the Chief Guest. The other dignitaries present on this occasion were: Dr. D Bandhopadhyay, Sr. Advisor (ENVIS), Ministry of Environment and Forests, New Delhi, Dr. T. Chakrabarti, Director Grade Scientist, NEERI, Nagpur, Dr. A.K. Saxena, Director, National Productivity Council, New Delhi, Dr. D.B. Boralkar, Member – Secretary, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, Mumbai and Mr. K.V. Bhanujan, IAS (Retd.), Chairman, Gujarat Pollution Control Board, Gandhinagar.

In his inaugural address, Dr. S.N. Pathan said that various toxic pollutants have entered into the food chain and most of the fruits, vegetables and milk samples have been found to contain pesticides and toxic heavy metals such as chromium, lead, manganese and cadmium. This has direct impact on our health, he added. Dr. Pathan suggested that it will be more economical to adopt a preventive approach through cleaner production, waste minimization and mitigation rather than adopting reactive approaches like remediation and reclamation as well as waste processing and disposal through thermal destruction or containment. He emphasized on a need to adopt a combined application of sustainable productivity, consumption and environmental management tools and techniques. This will reduce the adverse impact on environment improve resource productivity, which will help us to reach the goal of sustainable development, he added. In this context, Dr. Pathan opined that this conference is very important to highlight various aspects of hazardous waste management broadly encompassing inventorization, categorization and quantification of hazardous wastes, wastes minimization through adoption of cleaner production technologies, emerging technologies in hazardous waste management and rules, regulations and conventions related to hazardous waste management.

Dr. D. Bandhopadhyay spoke on the importance of Environmental Information System (ENVIS), which has been implemented by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Govt. of India. He said that ENVIS has become a tool for policy planners. They need correct information, without that decisions can not be taken, he added. In this regard, he informed that the Ministry has given responsibility to the ENVIS Centre on Hazardous Wastes, NEERI, Nagpur for disseminating the related information. He urged the ENVIS centre to identify environmental variables in the field of hazardous waste management and develop databases on these variables. He also stressed on the need of awareness among the people in this field. Without this sustainable development can not exist, and this has to be ensured by all ENVIS Centres, he added.

Dr. A.K. Saxena said that there is need of a proactive approach for reducing the pollution and to enhance the productivity. If we do not sustain development, problems will occur in near future, he added.

Dr. D.B. Boralkar said that hazardous wastes got more attention after the Supreme Court’s order came into existence in 2003 related to hazardous waste management. He informed that 4.4 tons hazardous waste is being produced in India, of which almost half produced in Maharashtra, followed by Gujarat. Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has completed the inventory of hazardous wastes in Maharashtra, along with identification of industries, he added. He also informed that MPCB has developed software for hazardous wastes tracking. Dr. Boralkar drew attention towards the website designed by the MPCB, which has been really proving a step towards sustainable development in the field of hazardous waste management. He said that hazardous waste is a major challenge and we need to change our paradigm.

Mr. K.V. Bhanujan said that we need to see the matter of hazardous waste management in the global context, because climate change and global warming have not remained global issues, but these are becoming local issues. He opined that the present strategy for hazardous waste management is working to some extent, but there is to do a lot. He suggested that there is a need of a paradigm change for management of hazardous wastes, along with involvement of all stake holders. The rules and regulations will not give any result unless individual responsibility is not well understood, for exa. pollutor, regulator and industry, he added. Mr. Bhanujan expressed satisfaction that this conference suggested some creative and constructive ideas for hazardous waste management.

Various technical sessions were organized in the Conference followed by the inaugural function, in which scientists / experts / academicians / professionals working in the field of hazardous waste management delivered lectures on various aspects of hazardous waste management relating them to sustainable development. The topics were : Health related issues pertaining to toxic exposure (by Dr. K. Krishnamurthy, Scientist, NEERI); Application of molecular biology in hazardous waste management (by Dr. Hemant Purohit, Scientist, NEERI); Emerging areas in hazardous waste management (by Dr. M.P. Patil, Scientist, NEERI); Hazardous waste management, treatment and disposal with case study (by Mr. P.N. Parmeswaran); Operation and maintenance of TSDF with case study (by Mr. P.S. Bhatti); Containment Technologies (by Mr. J.K. Bhattacharya, Scientist, NEERI); Thermal destruction of hazardous wastes (by Mr. Basargekar); Textile wastewater treatment by alkalophilic microbial consortia to minimize / eliminate hazardous waste; Pollution prevention – cleaner production, green technologies environmentally balanced industrial complexing (by Dr. Sukumar Devotta, Director, NEERI); Hazardous Waste (Management and Handling) Rules in India (by Dr. I. Chandrashekharan); Transboundary movement of hazardous wastes (by Mr. Nimbarte, MPCB, Mumbai); Remediation of contaminated sites ( Dr. T. Chakrabarti, Director Grade Scientist, NEERI); CPCB guidelines pertaining to hazardous waste management (by Dr. B. Sengupta); Site selection criteria for treatment, storage and disposal facility geographical information systems (by Dr. Rakesh Kumar, Scientist, NEERI); ISO:14000 and hazardous waste management (Mr. O.P. Joshi); Hazardous waste management in pharmaceutical industry (by Mr. T. Dange); Role of customs in inventorization of hazardous substances including waste (by Mr. Rajeev Yadav); Occupational health hazards related to hazardous waste management (by Dr. H.N. Saiyed); Hazardous Waste Management in India (by Mr. Kishor Malaviya); Inventorization of hazardous wastes, classification, categorization and quantification (by Mr. Rajeev Aundhe); Environmental management through legislations (by Mr. A.B. Jain); Personal protection for handling of hazardous waste management (by Mr. G.S. Saini) and Ship breaking at Alang (by Mr. K.V. Bhanujan, Chairman. GPCB).

A compendium on “Hazardous Wastes Management and Environment Protection for Sustainable Development” was also brought out on this occasion, which was released by the Chief Guest and dignitaries. The compendium covers all the above aspects related to hazardous waste management.