Sample examination of a stock of imported metal and non-metal wastes dumped at the inland container depot (ICD) at Tughlakabad shows that the imports contain hazardous lead ash, battery scrap, and waste oil.
This is the finding of the MGK Menon panel on hazardous wastes.
During 1996-98, as much as 90,000 tonne of such wastes were imported by Indian firms. Of this, over 23,500 tonnes was received by ICD Tughlakabad. All the consignments, barring a small quantity which was subsequently released, are still lying at different ports and container depots including ICD Tughlakabad.
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The panel's finding is based on the sample examination of the stuff received at ICD Tughlakabad.
The finding, as regards the zinc ash, is that zinc content in the samples examined varies from 55 per cent to 57 per cent, and from 76 per cent to 83 per cent as per the analysis of another sample. It says if the zinc content is more than 65 per cent, such waste can be considered to be a source of zinc.
The implication is that the zinc ash imported is both hazardous and non-hazardous.
It depends on the zinc content of the waste. Another implication is that even if the zinc content is of the acceptable level, other associated elements such as lead, cadmium, arsenic, selenium, copper and nickel such as in this case, should also be of the acceptable level. >