*US toxic waste dumped at Indian port
*11 Jun 2008, 1019 hrs IST, Times Now
[image: Toxic waste dumped at TN port]
Toxic waste dumped at Tamil
Nadu's<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/US_toxic_waste_dumped_at_TN_port/articleshow/3119947.cms#>Tuticorin
Port (Times
Now)
Thousand tonnes of hazardous American waste have been dumped at Tamil Nadu's
Tuticorin Port, where almost 35 large containers conceal the waste, that has
been lying untouched for the past three years. ( Watch
<http://broadband.indiatimes.com/videoshow/3118955.cms>)
There is reportedly an amount of 890 tonnes of harmful waste that has been
brought all the way from New Jersey. The biggest question though is if it is
a case of civic apathy or a classic case of the West treating India as a
dumping ground.
Since the past three years, contaminated municipal waster such as polythene
bags, crushed soft drink cans, pesticide containers, used batteries, metal
wires and others more have been rotting away at the port.
The cargo reportedly reached India as a part of wastepaper imported by an
Indian company back in 2005. However, during the routine checks, port
authorities -- much to their shock -- discovered that the cargo did not have
only paper but carcenogenic waster discarded by America.
However, the fact that has been interesting is that in September 2007, a
committee constituted by the Madras High Court had certified that the
American garbage posed a threat to the people of
India<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/US_toxic_waste_dumped_at_TN_port/articleshow/3119947.cms#>and
the environment. Following this, the Madras High Court demanded that
this trash be sent back to New Jersey immediately.
But, much to the horror of environmentalists, the scrap still lies around
the area and the Indian company is unwilling to take responsibility of the
cargo. The Americans also are refusing to take the waste back. BP Shukla,
Zonal Officer - South Central Pollution Control Board said, "This
consignment has municipal waste that cannot be allowed inside India."
This is not the first time that the West has used India as a dumpyard. In
October 2007, a huge controversy erupted after large amounts of toxic waste
sent from New
York<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/US_toxic_waste_dumped_at_TN_port/articleshow/3119947.cms#>was
seized at the Kochi port. Similarly there have been huge furores in
the
past over the dismantling of toxic laden ships like the Blue Lady and
Clemencau in India.
Port authorities said that this is not the first time hazardous waste has
piled up, but waste in such huge proportions can be a huge problem. However,
caught in legal wrangles- 890 tonnes continue to rot away here at the
Tuticorin port.
--
--
+ Savad Rahman
Subeditor
Madhyamam Daily
Kochi,Kerala
India-682018
cell:9995431420
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