CHEMICALLY CONTAMINATED SITES

• In 2010, the Environment Ministry launched the Capacity Building Program for Industrial Pollution Management Project to design the National Programme for Remediation of Polluted Sites.
• This initiative focused on three main objectives — compiling an inventory of potentially contaminated locations, preparing a guidance document for assessing and cleaning such sites, and creating a legal, institutional, and financial framework for remediation.
• While the first two objectives were achieved, the legal framework remained incomplete. The rules announced on July 25 form part of this long-pending codification.
• Under these rules, district administrations must submit half-yearly reports on “suspected contaminated sites.”
• The State Pollution Control Board or a designated ‘reference organisation’ will review these reports and provide a preliminary assessment within 90 days. This will be followed by a detailed survey within the next three months to confirm whether the site is indeed contaminated.
• The process includes measuring levels of suspected hazardous chemicals — currently 189 substances are listed under the Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016.
• If contamination levels exceed safety limits, the site’s location will be made public, and access will be restricted. A panel of experts, serving as the ‘reference organisation,’ will then prepare a remediation plan. Additionally, the State board will have 90 days to identify the parties responsible for the pollution

• Chemically contaminated sites can have far-reaching and long-lasting impacts on both the environment and human health. When hazardous substances seep into the soil, they disrupt its natural composition, reducing fertility and affecting the ability of plants to grow.
• Contamination often extends below the surface, polluting groundwater — a vital source of drinking water for many communities — making it unsafe for consumption and daily use. In rivers, lakes, or ponds connected to these sites, toxic chemicals can accumulate, harming aquatic ecosystems, killing fish, and entering the food chain.
• For humans, the risks can range from mild health issues such as skin irritation, respiratory problems, or headaches to severe and chronic illnesses like organ damage, developmental disorders in children, and cancers, depending on the type and concentration of pollutants.
• Some contaminants persist in the environment for decades, meaning that even long after industrial activity has ceased, the dangers remain.
• These sites also reduce the usability of surrounding land, limiting agricultural activities, lowering property values, and in some cases forcing communities to relocate.
• Over time, such contamination can degrade biodiversity, alter natural habitats, and impose heavy economic and social costs on the affected regions

• Bhopal Gas Tragedy, Madhya Pradesh (1984 – Ongoing Contamination)

The Bhopal disaster is India’s most infamous industrial accident, but what’s less discussed is the lingering contamination. After the methyl isocyanate (MIC) leak from the Union Carbide plant, the site was abandoned with tonnes of hazardous waste left untreated. Over the decades, toxic chemicals seeped into the soil and groundwater, affecting around 42 communities in the area. Even today, residents face higher rates of cancer, birth defects, and chronic respiratory illnesses. Groundwater is still considered unsafe for drinking in nearby localities.

• West Bokaro Coalfields, Jharkhand

Open dumping of mine overburden and coal washeries waste has led to heavy metal contamination of soil and water in the West Bokaro region. Studies have found elevated levels of iron, manganese, and other metals in streams and groundwater. The contamination has degraded agricultural productivity and impacted aquatic biodiversity.

• Eloor–Edayar Industrial Belt, Kerala

This 3-km stretch on the banks of the Periyar River houses around 250 chemical industries. Years of untreated effluent discharge have led to mercury, lead, and cadmium contamination in river sediments and fish. The pollution has impacted local fishing communities and reduced the Periyar’s capacity as a source of potable water.

• Durgapur Industrial Belt, West Bengal

Decades of steel, cement, and chemical production have led to severe soil and groundwater contamination in and around Durgapur. Fly ash dumps and slag heaps have leached toxic substances, causing skin ailments and gastrointestinal problems in nearby populations.