The apex pollution monitoring body, in a joint inspection carried along with UP pollution control board, said that local authorities responsible for stopping inflow of e-waste in district Moradabad have completely failed to comply with the directions issued under section 5 of Environment Protection Act 1986.
"Local administration/concerned departments such as district administration, local police and electricity department responsible for closure of illegal and unauthorised recycling units operating near Ramganga near Daswaghat, Barbalan, Nawabpura, Karula and Nagfani area have not complied with the directions... Within its true spirit and need to make sincere and serious efforts in this regard," the joint inspection report said.
"Large number of people are involved in unscientific dismantling, crude chemical leaching of printed circuit boards, burning of wires/waste electrical and electronic components, grinding of residues, washing of metal rich residue (milled black powder) on the banks of Ramganga," the plea, filed through advocate Gaurav Bansal, had said.
Referring to various studies, the petitioner had said that copper levels were five times higher in five different soil samples collected near Ramganga, while chromium level was twice the Canadian standard and cadmium was 1.3 times.
The plea had sought setting up a monitoring committee to ensure prohibition of illegal electronic waste processing along the river and placing on record all relevant material and documents relating to the steps taking by authorities to prevent the pollution in the river.