PCAIT differs with Govt's proposed e-waste regulatory law

style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-origin: padding; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous;">Delhi-based
Progressive
Channels Association of IT ( href="https://www.dqweek.com/pcait-to-hold-elections-on-march-31">PCAIT)
has filed an objection
to the draft proposal of the Ministry of Environment and Forests
(MoEF), which is all set to formulate litigation for regulating
e-Waste in the country. The proposal is based on the
recommendations from various organizations like: GTZ, MAIT and
Greenpeace. These organizations stress upon the need to take back
used PCs, components, peripherals and other electronic equipments
through resellers, dealers and distributors. The manufacturers would
be held responsible through Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).

In an exclusive conversation with The
DQ
Week, Saket Kapur, General Secretary of PCAIT and MD of Green
Vision said, “The e-Waste management is not feasible with the
inclusion of channel partners. The dealers and manufacturers should
be kept out of this law as the repercussions include a cumbersome
management procedure and unavailability of additional in-premises
space."

"We had convened an emergency
meeting of PCAIT on July 5 and tabulated a set of objections and
recommendations from our members," added Kapur. As per the draft
proposal, resellers will be subjected to register themselves with the
state pollution control board of their respective regions.

"Instead, the government should
initiate training programs and registration process for scrap dealers
so that e-Waste can be disposed in a consumer-friendly manner,"
suggested Kapur. According to him, the gross margin of IT products
dealers varies from three to five percent, and this would only add to
their woes. Kapur opined that, “This is a national issue in which
the dealers and partners should come together.

However, a senior official of the MoEF
said, “The department is thinking of extending the deadline for
filing objections and comments on the proposed litigation for e-Waste
management.

The PCAIT in its letter to the
Secretary of MoEF said that the dealers need to be kept out of the
purview of this Act. The goods travel multiple chains to reach the
consumer. During the extended cycle, the product, particularly
desktops, laptops, DVDs and other electronic equipments face

upgradation and modifications and hence
they lose complete identity. The proposed law shall apply to all the
producers, distributors, dealers, dismantlers, recyclers and
consumers who are involved in the manufacturing, processing, sale and
purchase of electrical and electronic equipments and components