Lok Sabha Question No. 1393 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-26
Subject: Fire Incidents in Chemical Factories
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: RAJESH VERMA

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1393 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.07.2016

## Fire incidents in Chemical Factories

## 1393:   SHRI RAJESH VERMA

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

- (a) the  details  of  fire  incidents  in  the  chemical  factories  during  the  last  two years in the country;
- (b) the loss of life and property in these fire incidents;
- (c) whether any inquiry has been conducted by the Government in this regard and if so, the details and outcome thereof; and
- (d) the action taken so far by the Government to prevent incidents of fire and explosion in chemical factories in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  OF  CHEMICALS  AND  FERTILIZERS,  SHIPPING,  ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI MANSUKH L. MANDAVIYA)

- (a) to (d)The number of chemical accidents during the last two years and current year in  the country is as under:

| Year             |   Accident |   Death |   Injury |
|------------------|------------|---------|----------|
| 2014             |          7 |      16 |       24 |
| 2015             |         40 |      38 |      206 |
| 2016 (till date) |          3 |      15 |      162 |

The Government of India in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has notified  two  sets  of  rules  under  the  Environment  (Protection)  Act,  1986  viz  (i) Manufacture Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemicals (MSIHC) Rules, 1989 (ii) Chemical  Accident  (Emergency,  Planning,  Preparedness  &  Response)  (CAEPPR)

Rules,  1996,  to  ensure  the  chemical  safety  in  the  country.  The  rules  are  being implementing by the concerned authority given in the Schedule in the rules. The main objectives of the MSIHC rule are to (i) prevent major accidents arising from industrial  activities  (ii)  limit  the  effects  of  such  accidents.  The  Rules  endeavour  to achieve  these  objectives  by  having  a  quantity  based  approach.  The  MHIHC  rules require  the  occupier  to  disclose  the  necessary  information  to  the  public  in  the neighbourhood that is likely to be affected by a major accident at the site. The Chemical Accidents (Emergency, Planning, Preparedness & Response) Rules, 1996 complement the MSIHC Rules and provide much needed statutory backup for Crisis Management setup and organizational support. Change (MoEF&CC)  has  also  initiated  various  activities  such  as  (i)  Hazard  Analysis  and Offsite Emergency  Plan  in  selected  districts;  (iii)  Establishment  of  Emergency  Response;

Government of India, Ministry of Environment Forests & Climate Rapid Safety Audit in selected industrial pockets; (ii) Preparation of (iv) Training and Awareness; and (v) Capacity building of state authorities.

Government of India, Ministry of Environment Forests & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has also developed web based online Chemical Accident Information and  Report  System  (CAIRS)  in  association  with  National  Informatics  Centre,  New Delhi to facilitate online reporting by State agency. A  Central  Crisis  Group  Alert System i.e Red Book has also been brought out by Government of India, MoEF&CC to facilitate quick information exchange during chemical emergencies.

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