Lok Sabha Question No. 1664 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-27
Subject: Environmental Damage due to Accidents in Chemical Industries
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: RAMCHARAN BOHARA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1664 TO BE ANSWERED ON27.07.2018

## Environmental Damage due to Accidents in Chemical Industries

## 1664. SHRI RAM CHARAN BOHRA:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the damage caused to environment due to leakage/accidents in chemical industries during the last three years;
- (b) whether there has been an increase in such accidents during the last three years;
- (c) if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the details of remedial measures taken to protect environment against such damages?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

- (a)to(c) As per the information provided by the Chief Inspector of Factories (CIFs) of the State  Governments/  Union  Territories,  accidents  have  happened  in  chemical industries causing damage to environment as well as human life. The available data indicates a downward trend in occurrence of accidents as well as resulting deaths. The  calendar-year  wise  details  of  accidents  happened  in  the  last  three  years  are mentioned below:
- (d) According  to  National  Disaster  Management  Authority  (NDMA),  apex  body  for coordinating  disaster  management  in  the  country,  concerned  State  Governments/ Union  Territory  administrations  are  primarily  responsible  to  deal  with  such accidents.  The  NDMA  is  responsible  for  laying  down  the  policies,  plans  and guidelines for disaster management for ensuring timely and effective response to such accidents. To this effect, NDMA had issued National Disaster Management Guidelines on Chemical Disasters (Industrial) in April, 2007. The Guidelines interalia contains  the  roles  and  responsibilities  of  different  stakeholders  to  deal  with such situations. NDMA released National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) in May,  2016  to  assist  stakeholders  including  State  Governments  in  disaster  risk management of various hazards including Chemical (Industrial). The Plan provides a  framework  and  direction  to  government  agencies  for  all  phases  of  disaster management  i.e.  prevention,  mitigation,  response  and  recovery.  Further,  the Ministry  has  notified  Manufacture,  Storage  and  Import  of  Hazardous  Chemical

|   Year |   No. of Accidents |   Deaths |   Injuries |
|--------|--------------------|----------|------------|
|   2015 |                 64 |       70 |        215 |
|   2016 |                 44 |       70 |        181 |
|   2017 |                 25 |       15 |        688 |

Rules,  1989  (MSIHC  Rules,  1989)  with  the  objective  of  preventing  chemical accidents from industrial activities and mitigate associated impacts. The Chemical Accident (Emergency Planning, Preparedness and Response) Rules, 1996 complement MSIHC  Rules, 1989 and provide statutory backup to crisis management set up with four-tier system at Central, State, District and Local level. The industrial units are also required to aid, assist and facilitate in functioning of the Crisis Groups.

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