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Agence France Presse

"Import data compiled by Greenpeace from Indian government statistics for 1998-1999 indicate that more than 100,887 tons, including hazardous and potentially hazardous wastes, have entered India illegally," the group said.

Greenpeace said the dumping was in direct violation of a Supreme Court order in 1997 completely restricting the import of hazardous wastes.

The environmental group said that wastes such as zinc ash, lead material, used batteries and metal scrap of cadmium, chromium, cobalt, antimony, hafnium and thallium have been exported freely to India. It said the countries which have exported the materials include Australia, Belgium, Britain, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and the United States.

"These imports have occurred without any authorisation or the knowledge of the Indian Ministry of Environment," Greenpeace said in a statement. "Some of these waste items are also illegal under the laws of European nations and Australia, both of which have banned the exports of hazardous wastes to non-OECD countries."

Greenpeace said the environment ministry here was responsible for the failure to prevent the dumping of toxic wastes in India.

"Equally to blame are the exporters and exporting country governments which seek to exploit the limitations in the Indian regulatory infrastructure to export their environmental liabilities," it added.