Page 43 - The Insurance Times September 2022

from its rescue, relief, and restoration-centric approach to the development of plans for the management of chemical
a planning, prevention/mitigation and preparedness disasters. The Guidelines have been prepared to provide
approach. It has been realised that effective Chemical directions to ministries, departments and state authorities
Disaster Management (CDM) is possible by the adoption of for the preparation of their detailed Disaster Management
preventive and mitigation strategies as most chemical (DM) plans. These Guidelines call for a proactive,
disasters are preventable in comparison to natural disasters participatory, well-structured, fail-safe, multi-disciplinary and
that are difficult to predict and prevent. multi-sectoral approach at various levels.

With this renewed emphasis, the National Disaster The Guidelines consist of seven chapters; the
Management Authority (NDMA) took up the task of
details of which are as follows:
strengthening CDM in recognition of the gravity of the risk
Chapter 1 provides an introductory brief of risks,
posed by HAZCHEM. The main stakeholders in the
vulnerabilities and consequences of chemical accidents;
management of chemical disasters are Ministry of
provides an account of causal factors of chemical disasters
Environment and Forests (MoEF; the nodal ministry);
so as to restrict and contain them; and enlists major
Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA); Ministry of Health and
chemical accidents—their initiators, and impact on human
Family Welfare (MoH & FW); Ministry of Labour and
lives and the environment. The aims and objectives of the
Employment (MoLE); Ministry of Agriculture (MoA); Ministry
Guidelines focus on all aspects of the DM cycle to assist the
of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways (MoSRT & H);
ministries and departments of the Government of India,
Ministry of Defence (MoD); Ministry of Chemicals and
state governments and other agencies to prepare DM plans.
Fertilizers (MoC & F); Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
(MoP & NG), Department of Atomic Energy (DAE); state
Chapter 2 reviews the existing regulatory framework and
governments and Union Territories (UTs) and the chemical
practises. It furnishes an overview of the institutional
industries.
framework with details of the monitoring mechanisms and
compliance by central and state governments. It also
As a first step, a meeting of the stakeholders including
provides an overview of the functioning of research
representatives of Research and Development (R&D)
institutes, autonomous bodies, professional institutes, Non-
organisations, professionals from scientific and technical
Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and MAH units, their
institutes, academics, technocrats from leading national
compliance to statutory safeguards, and the efforts of the
institutions and apex industrial associations/consortiums of
MoEF in setting up crisis management groups in industrial
corporate sectors was convened on 17 February 2006, with
areas to ensure chemical safety. Various initiatives
a view to pool the knowledge in this multidisciplinary field.
highlighting substantial work done in the area of emergency
A core group of experts was constituted from amongst these
response and management systems in installations, storages
participants. Several meetings of the core group were
and transport sectors are also illustrated. A bird’s eye view
subsequently held and a draft document was evolved for
of international best practises and developments within
bridging the gaps that were identified.
India is also given.
These deliberations acknowledged several initiatives taken
Chapter 3 gives an overview of the salient gaps identified in
up by the government and other stakeholders. The draft
various aspects of the management of chemical accidents,
document was reviewed by a group of experts on 18 May
transport accidents and medical emergencies. The
2006, for evolving a consensus among various stakeholders
management of chemical disasters will aim at prevention and
including the nodal ministry. Detailed inputs from MAH units
mitigation with the introduction of safer process technologies,
and regulators were obtained during a meeting held during
improved performance of safety devices and reduction of
7–8 September 2006, at Bhopal. The recommendations and
human error. Immediate effects of a disaster can be mitigated
action points that emerged out of these deliberations have
through installing engineering systems like scrubbers, flares
resulted in the development of the National Guidelines for
and venting systems. The various work areas and activities
the Management of Chemical Disasters (hereinafter
that can be undertaken within the framework of the
referred to as the Guidelines).
Guidelines are described in chapters 4 to 6.
Structure of Guidelines Chapter 4 includes comprehensive guidelines for a
The present work is an important step in the direction of regulatory framework, code of practises, procedures and
The Insurance Times, September 2022 43