Lok Sabha Question No. 1692 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-28
Subject: Import of Asbestos
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: GOKARAJU GANGA RAJU

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1692 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.12.2017

## IMPORT OF ASBESTOS

## 1692. DR. GOKARAJU GANGA RAJU:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  it  is  a  fact  that  the  import  of  white  asbestos  from  Russia,  Kazakhstan, Brazil and China continues to rise according to Indian Minerals Yearbook published in December, 2015 despite technical ban on mining of all kinds of asbestos in India;
- (b)  if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (c)   whether the Government proposes to curb imports of deadly material of asbestos; and
- (d)  if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINES AND COAL (SHRI HARIBHAI PARTHIBHAI CHAUDHARY)

(a): White Asbestos is used for various purposes viz. asbestos cement pipes, roofing of households,  asbestos  based  manufacturing  products  like  brake  linings  etc. India's asbestos  requirement  is  mainly  met  through  imports  from  Russia,  Kazakhstan,  Brazil and Republic of China since the mining activity of asbestos mineral has been banned in the country on health ground.

As per available information from Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics and Indian Bureau of Mines, the country-wise details of quantity of asbestos imported during the year 2014-15 to 2017-18 (April-September) are as follows:

## (Quantity in thousand tonne)

| Name of the Country   |   2014-15 |   2015-16 |   2016-17 |   2017-18 (April - September) |
|-----------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-------------------------------|
| Russia                |    257.69 |    212.02 |    208.69 |                        100.56 |
| Kazakhstan            |     73.52 |     92.28 |     63.49 |                         27.14 |
| Brazil                |     61.79 |     49.22 |     37.28 |                         33.66 |
| Republic of China     |      2.78 |      2.08 |      1    |                          0.54 |
| Other Countries       |      0.69 |      0.06 |      0.11 |                          0.74 |
| Grand Total           |    396.47 |    355.66 |    310.57 |                        162.74 |

(Source: Indian Bureau of Mines, DGCI&S)

It can be seen from the table that there is continuous decline in import of asbestos during the period of 2014-15 to 2017-18 (Apr-Sep).

(b): Does not arise in view of the reply given to (a) above.

(c)  and  (d):  Information  in  this  regard  is  not  held  in  Ministry  of  Mines  since  the import/export of minerals is regulated through EXIM policy of Directorate General of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry. However, the following remedial steps have been taken by the Government for regulation and safe use of asbestos in the country:

- i. As per the provisions of the Factories Act, 1948 and rules framed there under, manufacture,  handling  and  processing  of  asbestos  and  its  products  is declared as hazardous process.
- ii. Government of India has prepared Schedule XIV - Handling and Processing of  Asbestos,  Manufacture  of  any  Article  or  Substance  of  Asbestos  and  any other Process of Manufacture or otherwise in which Asbestos is used in any form as a dangerous operation under section 87 of the Factories Act, 1948.
- iii. Government  of  India  by  Notification  in  Official  Gazette  has  reduced  the permissible  level  of  Air  borne  Asbestos  fibres  in  work  environment  to  20.1 fibre/cc.
- iv. Grant  of  fresh  mining  leases  and  renewal  of  existing  mining  leases  for Asbestos  was  banned  by  the  Ministry  of  Mines  in  the  country  on  Health Grounds.

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