Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has notified the Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016 (HOWM Rules, 2016) under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to ensure safe storage, treatment and disposal of hazardous wastes in an environmentally sound manner without causing adverse effect to environment and human health.

The HOWM Rules, 2016 allow import of the hazardous wastes listed in Part A of the Schedule III for recycling, recovery, reuse and utilization including co-processing. Import of hazardous waste is not permitted for disposal in India. The import of hazardous waste listed in Part A of the Schedule III is allowed only to actual users with permission from the MoEF&CC and the Directorate General of Foreign Trade license, if applicable.

Any import of hazardous waste without permission of the MoEF&CC in accordance with HOWM Rules, 2016 is treated as illegal and under the Schedule VII of the HOWM Rules, 2016, Ports and Customs Authority are entrusted with the responsibility of taking action against importer for violations under the Indian Ports Act,1908 or Customs Act, 1962.

As per the Annual inventory submitted by the State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs)/ Pollution Control Committees (PCCs), about 5.47 lakhs MT of hazardous wastes was imported

by entities located in 10 States namely Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. Under the Schedule VII of the HOWM Rules, 2016, the SPCBs/PCCs are entrusted with the duties of grant & renewal of Authorization, Monitoring of compliance of various provisions of these rules and taking action against the violation of these rules amongst other duties.

This information was given by Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

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VM/GS

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