The Government of India, Ministry of Environment under the Environment Protection Act, 1986 has promulgated the Chemical Accidents (Emergency Planning Preparedness & Response) Rules 1996 for preparedness and response, during operation of on-site and Off-site Emergency Plans during chemical disaster.
ADMINISTRATIVE MACHINERY
Under these Rules "State Crisis Group" and "District Crisis Groups" have been constituted and the "Local Crisis groups" are required to b constituted.
State Crisis Group
The Chief secretary, government of NCT of Delhi is the ex-officio Chair-person of the State Crisis group with Secretary (Labour) as its Member-Secretary besides Chief Fire Officer and Chief Inspector of Factories and ten other persons as members of the State Crisis Group. Besides four other persons have been co-opted as members in accordance with the provisions of these Rules.
Functions of State Crisis Group
The major functions of the State Crisis Group is to review all District Off-site Emergency Plans in the State, with a view to examine its adequacy and to assist the State Government in the planning, preparedness and mitigation during a major chemical accident, and to continuously monitor the post-accident situation arising out of major chemical accident in the State and to forward a report to the Central Crisis Group. The Labour Department has published a Compendium giving list of experts and officials in the NCT of Delhi alongwith duties of various authorities during operation of an Off-site Emergency Plan.
"District Crisis Groups"
The Dy. Commissioner of the district is the ex-officio Chair person of the District Crisis Group with Inspector of Factories as the Member-Secretary of the District Crisis Group.
Functions of the District Crisis Group
The functions of the District Crisis Group is to assist in the preparation of the district Off-Site Emergency Plan, review all the On-Site Emergency Plans and to assist the district administration in the management of chemical accident at a site and to continuously monitor chemical accidents. The District Crisis group is also required to conduct periodically mock-drill of a chemical accident at a site every year and to forward a report on the strength and the weakness of the Plan to the State Crisis Group.
"Local Crisis Groups"
Under these Rules, "Local Crisis Groups" are also required to be constituted. The "Local Crisis Group" is a body in the industrial pocket, to deal with chemical accident and to coordinate efforts in planning, preparedness and mitigation efforts during such an accident. Its duties require preparation of Local Emergency Plan for industrial pocket, dovetailing of Local Emergency Plan, with the district Off-site Emergency Plan and to train personnel in management of a chemical disaster and to educate the people (population) likely to be affected during a chemical accident about the remedies and existing preparedness and to periodcally conduct mock-drill of a chemical accident and to forward a report to the District Crisis Group.
Local Services 