ravi aggarwal, director of ngo Toxic Links, has recently been conferred the who/ifcs (Chemical Safety) Special Recognition Award. He talks to arnab pratim dutta on different aspects of chemical regulation india: There is a hazardous waste law and a hazardous chemical law. But these don

With no let-up in pollution by ash let loose after burning rice husk by industrial boilers the State Pollution Control Board has served notices on 15 units in the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh industrial area to switch over to alternative fuels like furnace oil, diesel or petrol for all boiler operations within a month. These units which comprise textile and paper mills have been directed to submit an action plan about switchover to an alternative fuel.

The draft National Child Labour Policy, which was circulated for opinions from the stakeholders, will soon be placed before the Council of Advisers for approval, said Labour and Employment Adviser Anwarul Iqbal yesterday. "I believe once approved the policy will contribute to the elimination of child labour both in government and private institutions,' he added. The adviser was speaking as chief guest at the inaugural session of a national seminar titled 'Eradication of hazardous child labour' organised by labour and employment ministry at Biam auditorium in the city.

  Burning hazardous waste at the BEIL - Drum flying out of the fire     Burning hazardous waste at the BEIL -

spoiling act

A streamlined permitting system - which Government claims will cut red tape without putting the environment at risk - come into force for the waste sector and heavy industry at the weekend. The new system will focus on high-risk businesses while easing the regulatory burden on those with a proven environmental record and less hazardous processes. In practice this will mean less site visits and form filling for those seen as low risk and closer scrutiny of those whose activities pose the greatest threat to the environment.

The Maharashtra government has given away about 40 hectare (ha) of grazing land to Dow Chemicals for a research and development facility in Shendi village, 30 km from Pune.

the Maharashtra government has given away about 40 hectares (ha) of grazing land to Dow Chemicals for a research and development facility in Shendi village, 30 km from Pune. Villagers say they were

us-based Occupational Knowledge (ok) International recently announced the launch of