Centre to amend chemical accident rules

The Centre has decided to amend chemical accident rules to minimise disasters in chemical installations, a move which comes after a number of accidents underlined the gaps in the present norms recently.
"A number of accidents in chemical industry installations in the recent past have brought into focus the need to review the missing gaps in the aforesaid rules so that effective enforcement of regulations in chemical industry is ensured.
"There is an urgent need for amendment of the aforesaid rules in line with the existing needs for minimisation/ control of chemical (industrial) accidents," a notification by the Environment Ministry said.

The Ministry has invited comments from various stakeholders for amending the rules.
In order to regulate the manufacturing, use and handling of hazardous chemicals, the Ministry has notified two sets of rules - Manufacture, Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemicals (MSIHC) Rules, 1989 and Chemical Accidents (Emergency Planning, Preparedness and Response), (CAEPPR) Rules, 1996.
The main objectives of the MSIHC Rules are to prevent major chemical accidents arising from industrial activities and limit the effects of chemical (industrial) accidents.

Similarly, the CAEPPR Rules, 1996 provide the statutory backup for crisis management setup and prescribe a criteria for identification of Major Accident Hazard (MAH) installations.

All districts with such installations are required to establish crisis management groups, it said.
In addition, as prescribed by the MSIHC Rules, 1989, the occupiers of the MAH units are responsible for preparation of on-site Emergency Plans while the Chief Inspector of Factories (CIFs) in consultation with district authorities are required to prepare off-site emergency plans as well.
"All concerned departments, stakeholders and citizens are requested to furnish their inputs, information, comments on areas of amendments required in the MSIHC Rules, 1989 and CAEPPR Rules, 1996," the notification added.