National Pollution Prevention Day or National Pollution Control Day is annually observed across India on 2nd December to honour and memorialize the people who have lost their lives or suffered in the 1984 Bhopal Gas Calamity, which is also referred to as the Bhopal gas tragedy or Bhopal disaster.
The day also aims to create awareness about the importance of pollution control acts.
- 2nd December 2021 marks the 37th anniversary of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy.
Objective of the Day:
- To spread awareness on managing and controlling industrial disasters.
- To prevent the pollution produced by industrial processes or human negligence.
- To make people and industries aware of the importance of pollution control acts.
Bhopal Gas Calamity:
i.Bhopal Gas Tragedy was India’s first major industrial disaster, a gas leak from the Union Carbide Plant that took place on the night of 2-3 December 1984.
ii.Around 45 tons of Methyl Isocyanate (also called MIC), a dangerous gas, leaked from the insecticide plant owned by the Union Carbide India Ltd (UCIL), the Indian subsidiary of the American firm Union Carbide Corporation.
iii.According to the records of the Government of Madhya Pradesh, around 15,000 people were killed and around 6 lakh victims sustained injuries.
Note:
MIC is no longer in production and at present, the Bayer CropScience plant in Institute, West Virginia is the only storage location of MIC across the globe.
Some of the Prevention Methods taken by the Indian Legislation:
- Hazardous Waste (Management & Handling) Rules of 1989
- Manufacture, Storage, Import, Export & Storage of Hazardous Micro- Organisms Genetically Engineered Organisms or Cells Rules of 1989
- Chemical Accidents (Emergency, Planning, Preparedness and Response) Rules of 1996
- Bio-Medical Waste (Management & Handling) Rules of 1998
- Ozone Depleting Substances (Regulation) Rules of 2000
- Municipal Solid Waste (Management & Handling) Rules of 2000
- Batteries (Management & Handling) Rules of 2001.
- Environment Impact Assessment Notification of 2006
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB):
i.Central Pollution Control Board under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, was constituted in September 1974 under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974
ii.It is entrusted with the powers and functions under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
Some of the Functions of CPCB:
i.Advise the Government on matters concerning prevention and control of water and air pollution and improvement of the quality of air.
ii.To plan and execute nationwide programmes for the prevention, control or abatement of water and air pollution
iii.Coordinate the activities of the State Board and resolve disputes among them
About Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB):
Chairman– Tanmay Kumar
Headquarters– New Delhi, Delhi
