Beware of electronics waste Greenpeace tells Indian government

New Delhi: Global campaigner on environment and ecological issues, Greenpeace, has cautioned India against the proliferation of the electronics manufacturing in the country saying it generates major waste that leads to contamination of groundwater and rivers.

Greenpeace wants the IT ministry in India to regulate the toxic impact of this industry hand in hand with promoting its growth.

Greenpeace activists say governments worldwide including China recognise that toxic contamination from e-waste is a looming environmental disaster and enforce a phase-out of toxic chemicals India is doing nothing.

Its report, Cutting Edge Contamination: A study of environmental pollution during the manufacture of electronic products about contamination of rivers and underground wells due to electronic waste products.

According to the report places around semiconductor manufacturing units have high level of toxic chlorinated volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) and toxic metals including nickel.

Quoting a Frost and Sullivan study, Greenpeace said the consumption of electronic equipment in the country would rise to $363 billion by 2015 from $28.2 billion in 2005 at a compound annual growth rate of 29.8 per cent.

Consumption of electronic goods and equipment has grown at a blistering pace and the country is emerging the preferred destination of global electronics majors.

Production of electronics equipment in India grew at 25 per cent in 2005 and is expected to reach a growth rate of 50 per cent in 2010.