Lok Sabha Question No. 1856 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-03
Subject: Production and Sale of Acids
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: Sunil Dattatray Tatkare, DNV Senthilkumar. S., Shivkumar Chanabasappa Udasi, Subhash Ramrao Bhamre

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICALS & PETROCHEMICALS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 1856 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.03.2020

## Production and Sale of Acids

## 1856.  SHRI SUNIL DATTARAY TATKARE:

DR. DNV SENTHILKUMAR S:

SHRI SHIVAKUMAR C. UDASI:

DR. SUBHASH RAMRAO BHAMRE:

Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether Government has assessed the production and sale of acid in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the  details  of  statistical  data  of  production  and  sale  of  acid  in  the  country  during each of the last three years;
- (c)     the details of private and public sector manufacturers producing acid in the country, State/UT-wise;
- (d) whether  any  modification  is  being  made  in  the  regulation  of  acid  sales  to  make retailers  more  responsible  for  the  stocks  and  sales  of  acid  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (e)        whether  the  Government  has  undertaken  any  measures  to  counter  the  inevitable cropping up of a black market of acid; and
- (f)      if so, the details thereof along with the action taken against retailers who indulge in black marketing of acids?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  FOR  CHEMICALS  AND  FERTILIZERS  (SHRI  D.  V.  SADANANDA GOWDA)

(a) to (b) The chemical sector is de-licensed except a few hazardous chemicals and  there  are  many  acids  produced  in  huge  quantity  mainly  for  various  industrial uses in the country. Since the chemical sector is de-licensed, production of acids is not monitored.

(c) The  units  in  small,  medium  and  large  scale  sectors  are  being  set  up  by entrepreneurs  based  on  techno  economic  feasibility  for  various  chemicals  after getting  all  relevant  clearances  including  environmental  clearances  from  concerned State/ Central authorities.

(d) to (f) The  Poisons  Act,  1919  is  administered  by  Ministry  of  Home  Affairs. They have circulated the Model Poisons Rules on 30 th  August 2013 to all States/UTs for notifying the same to regulate the sale of acid in respective State/UT. Necessary advisory along with the Model Poisons Rules, 1919 were also issued to all States and UTs. Clause 7 of the Poisons Act, 1919 provides that 'the District Magistrate, the Sub-divisional Magistrate and, in a presidency-town, the Commissioner of Police, may issue a warrant for the search of any place in which he has reason to believe or to suspect that any poison is possessed or sold in contravention of this Act or any rule  thereunder,  or  that  any  poison  liable  to  confiscation  under  this  Act  is  kept  or concealed.'

Further  'Police'  and  'Public  Order'  are  State  subjects  under  the  Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India. The responsibilities to maintain law and order, protection  of  life  and  property  of  the  citizens  rests  with  the  respective  State Governments.  The  State  Governments  are  competent  to  deal  with  such  offences under the extant provisions of laws.

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