State Level Stakeholders Consultation under Green Action Week
Guwahati,Rongili Barta- In 2019, the world produced 53.6 million metric ton (MT) of e-waste; Asia accounted for the largest share of this dump is 24.9 MT. India, the third largest producer of e-waste after China and the US, generated 3.2 MT, with a per capita generation figure of 2.4 kg. Despite the government’s initiatives, 90 per cent of this waste is handled and managed by the informal sector – unsustainably. The world is predicted to produce 75 million metric tons of e-waste by 2030. Said George Cheriyan, Director, CUTS International, Jaipur in his inaugural speech in the State Level Stakeholders Consultation under Green Action Week-22 today at Guwahati. The Stakeholders Consultation is organized by Consumers’ Legal Protection Forum, Assam in partnership with CUTS International, Jaipur at Hotel Riviera. In his speech as a Chief Guest Dr. Arup Kumar Misra, Chairman, Pollution Control Board said, ‘The Board installed hidden cameras in the various place of Bharalu River, Guwahati from Junali to Bharalumukh. It is a very pathetic for us when we study the photographs more than 700 photographs were captured where we show that some of the Guwahatians throw their garbage bag in the Bharalu River 12 midnight. Only Govt. machineries cannot do everything. Citizens have to behave like a citizen. Pollution Control Board publishes directives on the use of traditional fire crackers on the basis of Supreme Court and National Green Tribunal order. Every year the post diwali environmental situation of Guwahati and other parts of the city became very dangerous due to use of traditional fire crackers where harmful chemicals like barium nitrate used. Moderating the program Advocate Ajoy Hazaraika, Secretary, Consumers’ Legal Protection Forum, Assam share his experience on sharing communities and appeal the young generation to start the sharing habits from their home and from their reading table. Khagendra Sarma, Deputy Director, Dept. of Agriculture, Govt. of Assam; Dr. Oinam Sunanda Devi, Scientific Officer, Assam State Biodiversity Board; Dr. Manisha Sarma, Programme Officer, Assam Science Technology and Environment Council also attended as a guest of honour and share their inputs in the Stakeholders consultation. The consultation program was conducted by Tapashree Moitra of CLPF. The program was attended by more than 60 participants including environment experts, forest and agriculture officials, youth icons, officials from municipal Corporation, students and faculties from different colleges, media, CSOs and activists. Green Action Week (GAW) is a global people’s campaign to promote sustainable consumption. Around 60 organisations in 40 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, North- and South America are participating in the campaign in 2022. CUTS International is partnering and supporting 14 organizations in 14 states, for conducting GAW campaign including Consumers’ Legal Protection Forum in Assam.
