Seminar on ill-effects of electronic waste at Khalsa College

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, March 18

The Post Graduate Department of Computer Science and Applications, Khalsa College on Monday organised a seminar on `Environmental Hazards of Electronic Waste’ under the Digital India initiative of Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, to sensitise and impart knowledge among students and society about the proper management, disposal and channelisation of E-waste. Binesh Bhatia and Varun Sachdev, the two guest speakers discussed the ill-effects of the e-waste and remedies.

Bhatia said, “The electronic waste was degrading environment and creating health issues across the globe.” He highlighted that e-waste was an emerging global environmental and public health issue while Sachdev informed that India was producing 1.8 million metric tonne of e-waste every year.

Dr Mehal Singh, who earlier welcomed the guest speakers, proposed creation of collection centre of e-waste within the college premises as a step towards minimising one of the biggest environmental impacts from e-waste. He said when electronic waste was thrown away in landfills their toxic materials seep into groundwater, affecting both land and sea animals. The lecture was followed by a slogan writing competition on the theme of e-waste and the theatre team of Khalsa College played a nukkad natak which depicted the harmful effects of electronic waste. Prof Harbhajan Singh thanked the speakers. Prof Sukhpuneet Kaur, Prof Sukhwinder Kaur, Dr Mani Arora, Prof Anureet Kaur, Prof Rajkaran Singh, Prof Jagbir Singh, Prof Ravi Patni, Prof Guneet Kaur, Prof Sonali Tuli, Prof Kulbir Kaur and staff members were also present.

Those participated in the seminar said such events should be organised on a regular basis.