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POLLUTION will leverage approximately three times
the approved amount with
India’s e-waste report card contribution from the States as well
as farmers.
Severe health risks and environmental role in the domestic generation of e- The project not only aims to
damage are “widespread” in India due waste (2 Mt in 2016) due to the large mitigate climate change impacts and
to “very low” literacy levels of the population, but the country also enhance adaptive capacity, but will
country’s over one million people imports from developed countries, the also counter the adverse
involved in manual e-waste recycling report said. environmental impacts that arise from
operations, warns a new UN report on Severe health impacts and burning. The project will be
December 26, 2017. According to the environmental damage are widespread implemented following a phased
‘Global E-waste Monitor 2017’ report, in India, due to the final step of the e- approach.
India’s electronics industry is one of waste Initially, awareness generation and
the world’s fastest growing industries processing by the informal sector, capacity building activities will be
and plays an “important role” in the it warned. The report said that India undertaken to encourage farmers to
domestic generation of e-waste, has had the e-waste rules in effect adopt alternate practices which would
producing 2 metric tonnes (Mt) in since 2011. also help diversify livelihood options
2016. The rule mandates producers to be and enhance farmer’s income. A slew
By 2016, the world generated 44.7 responsible for the collection and of technological interventions will be
million metric tonnes of e-waste and financing of systems according to the undertaken for timely management of
only 20 per cent was recycled through Extended Producer Responsibility crop residue in addition to effective
appropriate channels, it said, adding concept, it said. Although 66 per cent utilisation of existing machineries.
that China was the top e-waste of the world’s population is covered Implementable and sustainable
producer in the world, generating 7.2 by e-waste legislation, more efforts entrepreneurship models will be
Mt. must be made to enforce, implement, created in rural areas through
In the Southern and South-Eastern and encourage more countries to upscaling successful initiatives and
Asia region, India plays an important develop e-waste policies, it said. innovative ideas.
The problem of crop residue
POLLUTION burning has been intensifying over
the years, with Punjab, Haryana and
Environment Ministry launches a Uttar Pradesh being the major burning

regional project to tackle stubble hotspots. Increased mechanization,
declining number of livestock, long
burning period required for composting and
no economically viable alternate
The Ministry of Environment, Forest Adaptation Fund for Climate Change use of residues are some of the
and Climate Change, on 28 December (NAFCC). The first phase of the reasons for residues being burnt in
2017, approved a regional project on project has been approved at a cost field. This not only has implications
‘Climate Resilience Building among of approximately Rs 100 crore for the for global warming, but also has an
Farmers through Crop Residue States of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar adverse impact on air quality, soil
Management’ under the National Pradesh and Rajasthan. The project health and human health.
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