A Brief History of Chemical Disasters in India

In 1984, India was the site of the world’s worst chemical disaster – the “ Bhopal Gas Tragedy ” which occurred on December 2nd, 1984 . This horrific event resulted in over 2500 deaths due to the accidental release of toxic gas Methyl IsoCyanate (MIC). The effects of this tragedy are still felt today.

Unfortunately, chemical accidents continue to occur in India, highlighting the country's vulnerability to such disasters. Currently, there are approximately 1861 Major Accident Hazard (MAH) units across 298 districts and 25 states & 3 Union Territories. Additionally, there are countless registered and unregistered factories handling a variety of hazardous materials, each posing their own unique risks.

What Causes Chemical Disasters?

1. Aging infrastructure, design flaws, and a failure to adopt modern technologies in the Indian chemical industry have all increased the likelihood of chemical disasters.
2. Organic solvents are a common cause of fires and explosions in the chemical industry.
3. Human error, often due to non-compliance with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), is a major cause of industrial accidents. For example, the Piper Alpha accident, where a worker inadvertently activated a pump under maintenance without a safety valve, causing a gas leak and subsequent explosion.
4. Terrorist activities and natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes can also lead to major chemical disasters.
5. Improper maintenance of equipment can lead to chemical disasters. Regular, scheduled maintenance following the manufacturer’s recommendations is crucial for safe operation.
6. The lack of an emergency response team to mitigate accidents during the transportation of hazardous chemicals has also resulted in major disasters across India.
7. Improper disposal of hazardous waste can contribute to fires, explosions, and toxic releases to the environment.
8. Sabotage as a result of terrorist attacks or civil unrest.

Legal Protections Against Chemical Disasters in India

In response to the threat of chemical disasters, the Indian government has enacted a number of laws aimed at protecting the environment and providing safeguards and penalties. Some of these laws include:

1. The Bhopal Gas Leak (Processing of Claims) Act, 1985, which empowers the central government to handle claims arising from the Bhopal gas tragedy, ensuring they are dealt with quickly and fairly.

2. The Environment Protection Act, 1986, which authorizes the central government to take measures to improve the environment, set standards, and inspect industrial units.

3. The Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991, which provides insurance to provide relief to those affected by accidents involving hazardous substances.

4. The National Environment Appellate Authority Act, 1997, which established the National Environment Appellate Authority to hear appeals regarding certain activities and processes related to the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

5. The National Green Tribunal, 2010, which was established to effectively and quickly dispose of cases related to environmental protection and forest conservation.

For more information about the Tribunals in India , visit the linked article.