Lok Sabha Question No. 3261 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-16
Subject: Health Services in Polluted Areas
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Dr. Rajkumar Sangwan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3261

TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.12.2024

## Health Services in Polluted Areas

## 3261. DR. RAJKUMAR SANGWAN:

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

- (a)   whether  the  Government  proposes  to  formulate  any  scheme  to  maintain  the  health  of people residing near the companies and factories causing pollution and to protect them from pollution related diseases;
- (b)   if so, the details thereof;
- (c)   whether the Government has deployed any team to examine the health of such people;
- (d)   if not, the details thereof;
- (e)   whether  there  is  any  proposal  to  open  medical  dispensaries  specially  in  the  villages located close to such companies in Uttar Pradesh;
- (f)   if so, the details thereof; and
- (g)   the time by which such dispensaries are likely to be opened?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a) to (g): In order to mitigate pollution and to safeguard health and environment, Government of India has  enacted  the  Water  (Prevention  and  Control  of  Pollution)  Act,  1974,  the  Air  (Prevention  and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. Under the provisions of these  acts,  Central  Pollution  Control  Board  (CPCB)  and  State  Pollution  Control  Boards  (SPCBs)  / Pollution  Control  Pollution  Committees  (PCCs)  implement  various  rules  and  directions  to  protect environment.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) notifies 'Standards for Emission or Discharge of Environmental Pollutants from various Industries' under Schedule-I of the Environment  Protection  Rules,  1986.  The  general  standards  as  notified  under  Schedule-VI  of  the Environment Protection Rules, 1986 are applicable where specific standards are not available for the industrial sectors. The concerned SPCB/PCC ensures the implementation of said standards. CPCB has directed all 17 categories of high pollution potential industries and common waste treatment facilities to  install  Online  Continuous  Effluent/  Emission  Monitoring  Systems  (OCEMS)  for  strengthening monitoring mechanism and effective compliance through self-regulatory mechanism and constant vigil on  pollution  levels.  Real-time  values  of  environmental  pollutants  of  trade  effluent  and  emissions generated through OCEMS are transmitted online to CPCB and concerned SPCB/PCC on 24x7 basis. Central  software  processes  the  data  and  in  case  of  value  of  pollutant  parameter  exceeds  prescribed environmental  norms,  an  automatic  SMS  alert  is  generated  and  sent  to  industrial  unit,  SPCB  and CPCB, so that corrective measures can be taken by the industry immediately and appropriate action can be taken by concerned SPCB/PCC/CPCB.

An 'Integrated Guidance Framework for Chemicals Safety in respect of the isolated storages and  industries  covered  under  Manufacture,  Storage  and  Import  of  Hazardous  Chemicals  (MSIHC) Rules,  1989'  has  been  prepared  by  MoEF&CC  and  CPCB  in  compliance  of  the  directions  of  the Hon'ble National Green Tribunal dated 11.06.2021 in the matter of Original Application no. 60/2021. The  framework  covers  factories  causing  pollution  or  accident  scenarios  like  spillages/  leakages  of hazardous chemicals, fire, explosion or other incidents arising due to handling of hazardous chemicals and provides guidance to industrial units on conducting safety audits in adherence to Indian Standard, IS:14489:2018  -  Code  of  Practice  on  Occupational  Safety  &  Health  Audit.  To  prevent  industrial accidents  and  chemical  emergencies,  the  MSIHC  Rules,  1989  prescribes  undertaking  safety  audits, preparation  of  on-site  emergency  plans  by  industries,  preparation  of  off-site  emergency  plans  by District Authorities and carry out mock drills for assessing preparedness. The MSIHC Rules, 1989 and Control of Industrial Major Accident Hazards Rules are enforced by the Chief Inspector of Factories (CIF)/Director of Industrial Safety & Health (DISH) of the respective States /UTs Governments.

The  Central Government  has  also  enacted the Factories Act, 1948, for ensuring the occupational safety, health and welfare of the workers employed in the factories registered under the Factories Act, 1948. The Occupier and Managers of the factories registered under the Act are required to comply with the provisions of the Act and Rules framed there under. In case of violations, the Chief Inspector  of  Factories/Directorate  of  Industrial  Safety  and  Health  of  the  State  Governments  are empowered to initiate penal action against the occupier and manager of the factories.

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