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WASTE DISPOSAL |
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WASTE DISPOSAL |
On Dangerous Ground Activists launch a campaign
to eliminate hazardous substances By AKSHAY SHARMA While much of the country was busy
observing World Environment Day with the ritual reaffirmation to save the planet, a group
of Nepalese activists began a campaign to remove toxic substances from their neighborhood. A signature campaign has been started to
eliminate poisonous substances stocked at the godowns at Amlekhgunj of Bara district. The
toxins, which have been stored in large quantities, have been harming the local people,
flora and fauna. The campaign has been launched under the
theme "Give earth a chance, remove the poisons of Amlekhgunj". "After the
signatures of ten thousand environmental enthusiasts are collected, they will be handed
over to Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba," said campaigner Anju Shrestha, who also
heads the Awareness Promotion Forum.
About 50 metric tons of toxic
substances, including DDT imported from various countries for malaria eradication and for
pest control, have been stored at Amlekhgunj, it is learnt from the Agriculture Inputs
Corporation. Experts say the toxins stocked there can cause brain tumor and cancer and
impair fertility and reproduction. Seventeen years ago, expired poisonous
substances were buried at the forest at Adabhar as a way of disposal. But when their
negative impact on humans, flora and fauna became apparent, the substances were taken out
from the pits and stored in the warehouse. An attempt was made to destroy the toxins
by burning them at the boiler of the Hetauda Cement Factory. "But it was feared that
the fumes emanating by burning the poisonous substances would be hazardous to the people's
health. This in turn would trigger strong public protests. So the substances could not be
burnt," says Bharat Bahadur Ghale, chairman of Amlekhgunj Village Development
Committee. The government has, meanwhile, developed a plan for the disposal of toxins with cooperation from the international environmental group Greenpeace. Of the 74 metric tons of toxins stocked in Nepal, 14.47 tons is believed to be stored at Nepalgunj and 3.71 tons at Khumaltar of Lalitpur district. About 3.71 metric tons of toxins are with the Cotton Development Board. |
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