Not aware of report of unsafe disposal of CFLs: Government

NEW DELHI: Government today admitted it was not aware of a study which estimated that around 15 million CFLs were disposed off "unsafely" but said the issue of mercury release from CFLs was a cause for "concern" and it has constituted a task force to evolve a policy on the same.

"Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is not aware of any such study," Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar informed Lok Sabha on a question pertaining to a study which estimated that 14.93 million CFLs releasing approximately 74.65 kg of mercury were disposed off unsafely.

Expressing astonishment that there is "no binding regulation or infrastructure" for disposal of mercury, Committee on Demands for Grants (2015-16) on Environment Ministry recently recommended the government to take concrete steps to ensure safe and scientific disposal of CFLs.

The committee in its report noted that even short-term exposure to mercury affects nervous, digestive and immune system including lungs and kidneys.

It said that according to a study by Toxins Links - an environmental NGO, CFL has become a potential health hazard and it has been estimated that 14.93 million CFLs releasing approximately 74.65 kg of mercury were disposed off "unsafely" in Delhi last year.

Javadekar said the issue is cause for "concern" for his Ministry which had constituted a task force to evolve a policy on "Environmentally Sound Management of mercury in Fluorescent Lamps Sector".

He said the task force has adopted guidelines prepared by a technical committee in this regard.

Major recommendations by the technical committee included an independent notification under Environment Protection Act to manage CFL waste, process residues and waste from electronic industry, the minister said.

He said the Bureau of Indian Standards had finalised the standard for CFLs in April last year prescribing to limit the mercury content in an individual lamp to 5 mg.