Brochure
on items of work handled in various Divisions and Sections of Ministry of
Environment and Forests
June 2003
XV 29 HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES MANAGEMENT
DIVISION (HSMD)
a)
MoEF is the nodal Ministry for
Management of chemical disasters in the country. HSM Division takes care of
this mandate and lays down procedures and safeguards for accident prevention,
preparedness and mitigation.
b)
Lay down procedures and
safeguards for handling hazardous substances: hazardous chemicals, hazardous
wastes and Solid Waste Management.
c)
Prepare and notify rules
on hazardous chemicals, hazardous waste and Solid Waste and monitor their
implementation.
d)
Help, create and sustain
infrastructure in the States for implementation of all the rules gazetted under
the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 on hazardous substances.
e)
Prepare and issue updated
version of the Red Book - The Central Crisis Group Alert System (CCG).
f)
Prepare and publish
guidelines, on various issues connected with hazardous chemicals and waste.
g)
Render help in establishing
Emergency Response Centres (ERC) in the States.
h)
Prepare and undertake
schemes to assess hazard potential of industrial pockets - a five year scheme
on industrial pocket wise analysis is underway.
i)
Undertake a scheme for
training of various categories of personnel in the area of accident prevention,
chemical database and legislations. Seven institutions have been identified for
this purpose.
j)
Inventorisation of isolated storages of
hazardous chemicals.
k)
Preparation of data base
on risk prone areas.
l)
Setting-up of Hazardous
Waste Disposal facilities in all States where significant quantities of
hazardous wastes are generated.
m)
Establishment of a Regional Training Centre for implementation
of Basel Convention.
n)
Setting up Custom
Laboratories at all important Ports and capacity building of Custom Officers
for checking contraband trade in hazardous chemicals / wastes.
o)
Cleaning up contaminates
sites to reduce risks to environment, people and natural resources.
p)
Adoption of
environmentally sound practices in ship dismantling
q)
Proper management of
bio-medical waste, municipal solid waste, plastics wastes,
r)
Need lead acid batteries,
waste oil, fly ash, etc.