Page 136 - CW E-Magazine (6-8-2024)

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QUALITY CHECK

Mandatory BIS Standards ensure chemicals meet

quality parameters: DCPC

The enforcement of mandatory Quality Control Orders (QCOs) for ning, Preparedness and Response Rules,
standards for chemicals and petrochemi- chemicals & petrochemicals. Of these, 1996 have also been notifi ed to comple-
cals framed by the Bureau of Indian 41 QCOs have been implemented and ment MSIHC Rules, 1989 and provide
Standards (BIS) under the steward- enforcement date of remaining 31 QCOs statutory backup to crisis management set
ship of the Department of Chemicals has been extended from time to time. up in the country with a four-tier system
and Petrochemicals (DCPC), Ministry at Central, State, District and Local Level.
of Chemicals and Fertilisers, Govern- Further, she added, the Ministry of
ment of India, is aimed at ensuring that Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare has Fluctuating trade trends
both imported and domestically pro- notifi ed Insecticides Act, 1968 for the According to DCPC’s estimates,
duced chemicals meet stringent quality regulation of import, manufacture, sale, over the past fi ve years, overall exports
parameters, and preventing the use of transport, distribution and use of insecti- of chemicals, petrochemicals and fertili-
hazardous and substandard products. cides with a view to prevent risk to sers have shown varying trends. Total
human beings or animals and for exports of major chemicals increased
Making these standards compul- matters connected therewith. from 16,98,384-tonnes in FY20 to
sory under Section 16 of the BIS Act, 26,42,179-tonnes in FY24, with a
2016 aims to protect human, animal Similarly, the Ministry of Environ- peak at 46,26,765-tonnes in FY23,
and plant health, ensure environmental ment, Forest and Climate Change has while exports of major petrochemicals
safety, prevent unfair trade practices, notifi ed that Manufacture, Storage and decreased from 87,98,230-tonnes in
and enhance national security. This Import of Hazardous Chemicals Rules, 1989 FY20 to 38,50,778-tonnes in FY24,
was stated by the Minister of State for (MSIHC) and subsequent amendments with a high of 93,34,559-tonnes in
Chemicals and Fertilisers, Ms. Anupriya thereof wherein hazard criteria, viz. toxi- FY23. In respect of fertilisers, exports
Patel in the Lok Sabha recently. city, fl ammability and explosiveness, fell from 303,604-tonnes in FY20 to
has been defi ned to identify hazardous 154,682-tonnes in FY22, which in-
72 Quality Control Orders chemicals used in industrial processes. creased to 186,148-tonnes in FY23
The DCPC has so far notifi ed 72 The Chemical Accident Emergency Plan- and 298,762-tonnes in 24.
INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION

CSIR-IICT scientist Dr. S. Sridhar, inducted as FRSC

Dr. Sundergopal Sridhar, a Chemi- effl uent treatment and gas purifi cation Generator (60-1,000 litres/day capaci-
cal Engineer and Chief Scientist at in pharmaceutical, steel, textile, aroma ties) to produce remineralized drinking
CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical chemicals, and petrochemical industries. water from relative humidity in the air
Technology (CSIR-IICT), Hyderabad, in water-scarce regions, hospitals, and
has been admitted as a Fellow, Royal Dr. Sridhar has also designed and railway stations.
Society of Chemistry (FRSC), London. installed more than 75 water purifi ca-
tion plants based on nanofi ltration, During COVID-19, Dr. Sridhar de-
During his 26 years as a research ultrafi ltration, and reverse osmosis for signed low-cost novel multilayer wash-
scientist, Dr. Sridhar has developed purifi cation of ground water, surface able masks that were provided to more
and transferred several technologies water, and fl ood water for fi ve million than 6 lakh people, including school
to chemical & allied industries. Major people affected by fl uorosis, typhoid, children and frontline workers. These
highlights of his career include the com- and other water-borne diseases in 10 masks generated Rs. 2-crore in revenues
missioning of several membrane-based States of India. His other innovations for NGOs and employed 500 senior citi-
pilot plants based on electrodialysis, include a novel and affordable system zens and Women’s Self-Help Groups.
nanofi ltration, gas permeation, and for medical-grade ultrapure water for Dr. Sridhar has published 181 research
reverse osmosis for solvent recovery, dialysis, and an Atmospheric Water papers in reputed international journals.

136 Chemical Weekly August 6, 2024

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