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News18
6 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Centre notifies rules to identify, clean up contaminated sites
Agency: PTI New Delhi, Jul 25 (PTI) The Centre has notified new rules for the identification and clean-up of contaminated sites across India to prevent risks to human health and the environment. Titled the Environment Protection (Management of Contaminated Sites) Rules, 2025, and notified on Thursday, the rules aim to prevent exposure to hazardous and toxic substances in soil, sediment and water. The rules aim to establish a structured mechanism for identifying such sites, holding polluters accountable and ensuring scientific clean-up through risk-based remediation. The rules empower state pollution control boards (SPCBs) and local authorities to identify and list suspected contaminated sites based on industrial activities, historical waste dumps or community complaints. These sites will be mapped and tracked through a centralised online portal to be developed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). As per the rules, 'The State Board shall list all such sites as suspected contaminated sites on the Centralised Online Portal" and initiate a series of assessments. These include initial screening followed by detailed site investigations to confirm the presence and extent of contamination. Once contamination levels are found to exceed defined risk-based thresholds, the site will be officially declared a 'contaminated site" and subjected to mandatory remediation. The rules introduce the concept of a 'responsible person", an individual, company, or entity found liable for causing pollution. The state board concerned shall identify the responsible person for contamination within 90 days from the date of publication of the site as contaminated. If the polluter cannot be identified, the government may fund remediation using a mix of resources, including the Environment Relief Fund created under the Public Liability Insurance Act and penalties collected from environmental violations. The rules also provide that 'responsible persons shall be liable for all forms of damage to the environment and human health" and prohibit them from transferring land ownership or land use during and after the clean-up without approval. To ensure transparency and accountability, a technical committee will oversee implementation and recommend additional remedial actions where needed. This committee will include representatives from central ministries, state boards, domain experts and industry regulators. 'The committee shall monitor the implementation of the provisions of these rules and submit an annual report to the central government," the notification said. The rules exclude specific categories from their ambit such as sites contaminated with radioactive waste, mining areas under existing mining laws and maritime oil spills already regulated under other frameworks. However, if contamination from these sources exceeds acceptable limits or is mixed with other hazardous waste, the rules may still apply. Another key provision mandates public participation and disclosure. The state board shall invite comments and suggestions from affected stakeholders within 60 days of publication of the site and publish final lists in local newspapers to inform communities. To fund remediation, the rules allow cost-sharing between the Centre and states in a 90:10 ratio for Himalayan and northeastern states, and 60:40 for others. In Union Territories, the Centre will bear the full cost. In case of voluntary clean-up, industries can submit proposals if they prove financial and technical capability, have agreement from landowners and commit to full compliance. PTI GVS ZMN view comments First Published: July 25, 2025, 20:45 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hindustan Times
26-06-2025
- Hindustan Times
Muktsar cracker factory blast: NGT seeks response from Central, Punjab pollution boards, DC
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has sought replies from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and others regarding an explosion in an illegal cracker factory at Singhewala village in Muktsar district, which left five people dead and 29 injured on May 30. The NGT has posting the hearing on August 4. (HT Photo) In an order dated June 5, a bench of judicial member Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert member A Senthil Vel, the green body took a suo motu note of a news report published in HT on May 31 regarding the incident at the unauthorised cracker unit. Quoting an HT report, the NGT order stated: 'According to the news item, it is alleged that the factory operator managed to buy a huge volume of explosives and other material used in producing firecrackers without permission, and that even after 10 hours of the explosion, the smell of potash emanated from the debris.' The bench said that the incident attracted provisions of the Public Liability Insurance Act, the Environment (Protection) Act, Manufacture, Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemical Rules, Chemical Accidents (Emergency Planning, Preparedness and Response) Rules, Explosives Act, Explosive Substances Act and Explosives Rules. The tribunal impleaded as parties or respondents the CPCB, PPCB, the Chandigarh regional office of the Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change and the Muktsar deputy commissioner. 'Let a notice be issued to the respondents for filing their response/reply by way of affidavit at least one week before the next date of hearing,' the tribunal said, posting the hearing on August 4.
Hindustan Times
25-06-2025
- Hindustan Times
Punjab illegal cracker unit blast: NGT seeks response from CPCB
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has sought replies from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and others regarding an explosion in an illegal cracker factory at Singhewala village in Punjab's Muktsar district last month that left five people dead and 29 injured. Investigators at the site of the explosion at Singhewala village in Punjab's Muktsar district on May 30. The explosion left five people dead and 29 injured. (HT file photo) The NGT had taken a suo motu note of news reports on the May 30 blast at the unauthorised cracker unit In an order dated June 5, a bench of judicial member Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert member A Senthil Vel said, 'According to the news item, it is alleged that the factory operator managed to buy a huge volume of explosives and other material used in producing firecrackers without permission, and that even after 10 hours of the explosion, the smell of potash emanated from the debris.' The bench said that the incident attracted provisions of the Public Liability Insurance Act, the Environment (Protection) Act, Manufacture, Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemical Rules, Chemical Accidents (Emergency Planning, Preparedness and Response) Rules, Explosives Act, Explosive Substances Act and Explosives Rules. The tribunal impleaded as parties or respondents the CPCB, Punjab State Pollution Control Board, the Chandigarh regional office of the Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change and the district magistrate or deputy commissioner concerned. 'Let a notice be issued to the respondents for filing their response/reply,' the tribunal said, posting the hearing on August 4.
The Hindu
15-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Effluent treatment plant at dyeing unit in Cuddalore SIPCOT collapses, flooding neighbourhood; 19 hospitalised
An effluent treatment plant (ETP), located on the premises of a dyeing unit in Cuddalore SIPCOT, collapsed in the early hours of Thursday (May 15, 2025), scattering debris and flooding houses in the vicinity of the unit in Kudikadu Colony. As many as 19 persons, mostly residents of Kudikadu Colony, suffered health complications, such as irritation in the eyes, nausea, and sudden sapping of energy. They were admitted to the Cuddalore Government General Hospital. The ETP, built to treat 6 lakh litres of wastewater from the dyeing unit and mounted on a structure, gave away at around 3.30 a.m. Though the workers were spared from the deluge that followed, it damaged the compound wall located near the ETP and flooded 20 houses. Eyewitnesses said the fumes from the effluents densely enveloped the area, spreading panic among the residents. Official sources said the condition of the affected residents was stable and they would be kept under observation for a day. 'We will carry out a probe to ascertain the probable causes behind the incident,' an official said. Following the incident, people in the neighbourhood blocked traffic on the Cuddalore-Chidambaram Road, urging the authorities to take stern measures against the company management. The district administration acted swiftly to contain the fallout. Collector Sibi Adhithya Senthil Kumar said officials from the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) were at the spot to investigate the incident. Temporary closure of unit recommended As many as 19 residents have been admitted to the Cuddalore GH with minor ailments, and their condition is stable. A temporary closure of the unit has been recommended in the interest of public safety. Work to clean the debris and the wastewater that had flooded the houses has begun. A medical team has also been stationed at the village to address the issue, he said. According to T. Arulselvam, coordinator of SIPCOT Area Community Environmental Monitors (SACEM): 'It is a matter of concern that there is no let-up in accidents in SIPCOT. There is a need to review basic safety measures and non-conduct of safety audit at industrial units. Had the dyeing unit conducted an off-site mock drill, the incident's impact could have been minimised. The district administration should ensure adequate compensation to the affected as mandated under the Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991.'
