NEWS

The Maharashtra Government is formulating a policy for disposal of increasing amount of electronic waste (e-waste) in cities like Mumbai and Pune in a scientific manner, a senior official said. The State Government's Environment Department and MMRDA are working on the policy to tackle e-waste which has assumed serious proportions," Department Secretary Valsa Nair Singh told .Each year, Maharashtra produces 26,270 tonnes of e-waste which contains hazardous elements like Palladium and Cadmium. However, the waste is dumped at various places without recycling, Singh said. The maximum e-waste dumping is in Mumbai and Pune and poses health hazard and environmental issues, she said. Lead and metal pieces from the e-waste are mixed with landfill and groundwater, she added. If we keep growing at this rate, then by 2011 the state would have five lakh tonnes of e-waste or 40 per cent of the entire country, the IAS official said. Taking these factors into consideration, the Government is working on the policy, she added.