The electronic waste cannot be thrown out in garbage particularly television sets without proper care. This could contaminate the environment and hazardous for individuals handling it (particularly if it is not properly handled). I was searching google on recycling television sets. I landed here.
The following paragraph in the article captured my eyes.
"By December, the DMK government in Tamil Nadu hopes that around 1.63 crore households would have received free colour TV sets, implying that more than six crore people would have benefited. This is nearly 90% of state's projected population of 6.8 crore". This costed exchequer Rs 4000 crore.
Typical life of the television set is 7-10 years. It will take at least Rs500/- (this is very conservative estimate and it costs over Rs 1500 in wester countries) to recycle each television set properly. This will cost Rs. 815 crores to recycle those television sets. Who is going to pay for this? Government or pubic? If it is not handled properly, we are waiting for huge environmental disaster in Tamil Nadu. The cost will be double if you consider the privately purchased TVs.
Over 70% of the cases, the Government distributed color Television is second TV to the family. The Times of India article highlights this. As per original plan, it was meant for people who did not have color TV. In reality, I have seen people who are Engineers in Government, Teachers (both Husband and wife work, kids are working in IT), Bankers who fall under upper middle class are receiving these freebies (BTW, they all have larger Color TVs or LCDs).
This money could have better spent if it was invested in power generation making electricity accessible to more people for more time, distributing energy efficient lamps which could alleviate demand, provide better education for kids, clean water, etc. It is sad to see Government spending money inefficient way to cause another environmental disaster.
Wake up Tamil Nadu. Otherwise your kids and/or grand kids will pay for this in terms of their health.
Studies have shown a correlation between higher television viewership and lowered birthrates. So our politicians are smarter than you think:)
ReplyDelete