By Sandeep Pattnaik

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Bhubaneswar, 21 Jan’ 2015: With Odisha rapidly emerging as a IT hub, there is a need for a dedicated and responsible e-waste reuse system, experts said during a seminar titled ‘E-waste management and entrepreneurship development’ organised by Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) Odisha chapter in association with State Pollution Control Board here on Wednesday.

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B K Sahoo, Convenor-CII IT Panel emphasized on the need of E-waste in the state.

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Rajiv Kumar, IFS, Member Secretary,  OPSCB highlighted the various measures that the Odisha State Pollution Control Board [OSPCB] has taken in the promotion of e-waste management in the state and activities like setting up of collection boxes exclusive for e-waste will go a long way in conserving the environment.

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The technical sessions focussed on the Role of stakeholders such as e-waste producers, collectors & recyclers. Also discussed were the present scenario & future ahead in e-waste management. Satish Sinha, Associate Director, Toxics Link for instance pointed out that on an average the country is giving out 2.7 million tonnes of e-waste. The numbers are growing as the e-rovolution has taken shape. “Developing countries like India are often treated as a dumping ground for e-waste” said Mr Satish Sinha highlighting the dangers that such e-waste will do to a country.

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Dr Rachna Arora, Senior technical Advisor, Indo German Environment Partnership Programme, apprised the delegates of activities that the IGEP has carried out across the country in order to make people aware of safe disposal of e-waste.

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Delegates from IT, manufacturing, academic sectors participated in the seminar. The seminar was followed by a networking session.

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Deepak Singh, deputy director and head CII Odisha Chapter moderated the discussion.