These rules along with Manufacture, Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemicals (MSIHC) Rules, 1989 to regulate the manufacturing, use, and handling of hazardous chemicals and to have proper crisis management in the event of any chemical accident.
These are made in exercise of the powers conferred by
sections 6,8,25 of the environment protection act 1986.
DEFINITIONS AS
PER THESE RULES
MAJOR CHEMICAL ACCIDENT: It means an
occurrence of any particular major emission, fire or explosion involving
one or more hazardous chemicals and resulting from uncontrolled developments in
the course of industrial activity or transportation or due to natural
calamities leading to serious effects both immediate or delayed, inside or
outside the installation likely to cause substantial loss of life and
property including adverse effects on the environment.
MAH INSTALLATIONS (MAJOR ACCIDENT HAZARD
INSTALLATIONS): It Means, isolated
storage and industrial activity at a site, handling (including transport
through carrier or pipeline) of hazardous chemicals equal to or above the
threshold quantities specified in the rule
CONSTITUTION
AND FUNCTIONS OF CENTRAL AND STAGE GROUPS
The crisis management groups are organized into four
groups
·
CENTRAL CRISIS
GROUP
·
STATE CRISIS
GROUP
·
DISTRICT
CRISIS GROUP
·
LOCAL CRISIS
GROUP
CENTRAL CRISIS GROUP (APEX BODY): The secretary, GOI / MOEF is the chairperson of this group and few members from different departments. The main functions of this group are to
•
Meet every six months
•
Deal with major chemical accidents and to provide expert guidance for
handling major chemical accidents.
•
Continuously monitor the post-accident situation arising out of a
major chemical accident and suggest measures for prevention and to check
recurrence of such accidents
•
Conduct post-accident analysis of such major chemical accidents and
evaluate responses in coordination with a state crisis group
•
Set up the control room and information networking system with states
and district and appoint adequate staff and experts to handle.
•
Publish a list of Major accident hazard Installations, Major chemical
accidents in order. Publish the list of Central, State and District crisis
group.
•
Take measures to create awareness amongst the public to prevent
chemical accidents.
STATE CRISIS GROUP: The chief secretary is the chairperson of this group and few members from different departments. The main functions of this group are to
•
Meet every 3 months.
•
Review all district off-site emergency plans in the State to examine
its adequacy under the Manufacture. Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemicals
Rules and forward a report to the Central Crisis Group once in three months.
•
Assist the State Government in managing, planning, preparedness and
mitigation of major chemical accidents at a site
•
Continuously monitor the post-accident situation arising out of a
major chemical accident in the State and forward a report to the Central Crisis
Group
•
Review the progress and respond to queries by district crisis group
•
Publish a list of experts and officials who are concerned with the
handling of chemical accidents in that state.
DISTRICT CRISIS GROUP: The District collector is the
chairperson of this group and a few members from different departments.
Article by PJ Mohan
Sr.Faculty, NIFS
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