National Pollution Control Day or National Pollution Prevention Day is annually observed across India on 2 December in the memory of those who lost their lives in the disastrous 1984 Bhopal Gas Tragedy.
- 2 December 2024 marks the 40th Anniversary of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy.
- The Day also aims to raise awareness of the management and control of industrial hazards and avoid pollution caused by industrial processes or human negligence.
- The theme for 2024 is ‘Clean Air, Green Earth: A Step Towards Sustainable Living.’
Bhopal Gas Tragedy:
i.Bhopal Gas Tragedy was India’s first major industrial disaster that took place on the intervening night of December 2 and 3 1984 in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh (MP). It is considered as one of biggest industrial pollution disasters.
ii.The gas leak at the Union Carbide pesticide plant in Bhopal, MP led to thousands of deaths and caused long term health problems for many others.
iii.Almost 45 tonnes of the hazardous gas Methyl Isocyanate (MIC) as well as several other poisonous gases leaked from a pesticide plant, Union Carbide (India) Limited (UCIL).
- UCIL was a chemical plant owned by the Indian unit of (a subsidiary of) the Union Carbide Corporation (UCC), an American chemical company.
iv.This disaster highlighted the critical need for better pollution control in industries, prompting stronger environmental regulations and a focus on safer industrial practices.
Pollution Control Government Policies:
i.The Indian government has introduced several policies and laws to tackle pollution and protect the environment.
ii.These policies aim to regulate industries, conserve natural resources, and promote sustainable development.
- The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974
- The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1981
- Bhopal Gas Leak Disaster Act 1985
- The Environment Protection Act 1986
- Factories Act 1987
- Public Liability Insurance Act 1991
- Disaster Management Act 2005
- National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) 2019
National Pollution Control Board (NPCB):
The National Pollution Control Board (NPCB) is the primary regulatory authority responsible for conducting regular inspections of industrial operations to ensure compliance with environmental regulations.
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB):
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) provides technical service to the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEF&CC).Â
Chairman-Â Tanmay Kumar, Indian Administrative Officer (IAS)
Headquarters- New Delhi (Delhi), India
