Loud Alarms Of E-Scraps In Delhi

India is rapidly becoming a developed country inOraganisation, says that India annually generates $
terms of the use of electronic equipments.1.5 billion worth of e-waste. Apart from
Computers have become a necessity for eachhomemade scraps, India imports 80 per cent of
and every office, school and bank. Nowthe e-waste generated by the US. A government
companies are targeting homes of Indians andofficial 'disclosed' the reason behind unchecked
providing PCs at rates as low as Rs 10,000. Butimport of e-scrap and told 'headlinesindia' off the
shining development has its dark side, too. Inrecord, "What is e-waste for US is not same for
other words, India will generate more e-wasteus. In India, it is treated as asset and source of
(electronic waste) in coming days. According to anrevenue generation and income." About 25,000
estimate, India will import more than 4 million newworkers are employed at scrap yards in Delhi
as well as used computers. Yes, it is a fact nowwhere 10,000 to 20,000 tonnes of e-scraps are
that India is becoming one of the greatestbeing handled every year. Computers account for
dumping hubs of e-waste with Delhi at its centre25 per cent of these scraps; TV screens, CDs,
Shastri Nagar and Seelampur in trans-Yamunamobiles, cables, toner cartridges, light bulbs and
area are among many other scrap dumping andtubes are other major contributors.
processing grounds in Delhi. These scraps containA report by Greenpeace in Dec 2005 revealed
Lead, Cadmium, Zinc, Mercury and various otherthat thousands of workers in countries such as
toxic elements, which have the potential to harmIndia, Pakistan and China had probably died over
human health and environment. But very few ofthe past 20 years in accidents or as a result of
those involved are aware of any such elementexposure to toxic waste. Cadmium components
present in the wastes that they are handling daily.may have serious impact on the kidneys and
Thus, they don't feel that there is any need oflungs. Cadmium is adsorbed through respiration
protective gears against toxicity. "It contains onlyand taken up with food. It has long half-life in the
iron, copper and plastics. It doesn't have any thingbody and can easily be accumulated in amounts
that can affect our health," said Mansoor Ahmad,that cause symptoms of poisoning. Lead is very
a scrap dealer of Shsatri Nagar. There were hugecommonly used in the electrical and electronics
piles of e-scrap and labourers were disintegratingindustries. Short-term exposure to high levels of
old computers, bare handedly. Most of them arelead can cause vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions,
from very poor background making them morecoma or even death. Mercury is one of the most
vulnerable against the harmful extracts mentionedtoxic yet widely used metals in the production of
above. "We get Rs 125 daily. We are not awareelectrical and electronic applications. It is a toxic
of any harmful effects and don't have any healthheavy metal that bio-accumulates causing brain,
problem," told a scrap breaker Wasim Qurrasi. Butspinal cord, kidney and liver damage. Dioxin is a
toxicity of e-scrap works as a silent killer, as Dr Mtoxic byproduct of PVC plastics, which can cause
S Bhati, a local practitioner, indicated, "Peopleendometriosis, an endocrine and immune disease
come with problems of TB, asthma and skincausing allergies, asthma and chemical sensitivities
diseases daily. Though they are un-aware ofin women. Other than these health concerns, toxic
reasons behind these diseases, the fact remainselements are equally harmful for environment as
that they are largely caused by their exposure tothey mix with air and percolate into fresh ground
wastes they are handling daily."water and open water sources.
Toxic Links, a Delhi-based Non Governmental