The Kerala State Pollution Control Board plans to establish collection centres for e-waste in all districts as part of introducing an effective disposal mechanism, Cooperation and Pollution Control Minister C N Balakrishnan told the Assembly on Monday.
In phase I of the programme, the centres will be opened at municipalities and Corporations, he said in reply to a calling attention moved by M P Vincent. The collected e-waste would be removed to recognised dumping yards in other states, he said.
As it is, there is no effective mechanism for disposing off used CFLs, computers, tube lights and similar waste material. And they pose a hazard to the environment, the minister said. The PCB has launched an inventory on e-waste and has plans to issue pamphlets and other publicity material as part of raising awareness among the public, Balakrishnan said.
Religious Conversions to be Monitored
Religious conversions have not emerged as a matter of concern so far in the state but stringent action would be taken if there is a religious extremist angle to it, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said on Monday. Replying to a calling attention by K K Lathika of the CPM, he said that the government had not received any complaints so far. Most of the conversions that occur in the state had to do with inter-caste marriages.
“The government does not think it has emerged as a matter of concern socially, but we are keeping a special watch,” he said in reply to a demand by Lathika that a detailed investigation be launched to bring out the role of religious fundamentalists in conversions.
Pak National Blacklisted
The State Government had taken steps to blacklist a Pak national who acted in an ad at the Inforpark, Kochi, after coming here on a tourist visa, Home Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan informed the Assembly on Monday. Replying to a submission by Opposition deputy leader Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, he said Pakistan national, Mohammed Junaid Khan, had violated visa norms by engaging in other activities after arriving on a tourist visa.