Environmental and road safety considerations during transportation of hazardous materials by road in India

Keeping pace with other industrialized countries, India has in recent years witnessed rapid growth in transportation of hazardous goods by road. Simultaneously, the proportion of hazardous chemicals in total traffic is increasing at a much higher rate than any other commodity, due to unprecedented growth of chemical industries all over the world, including India. The movement of such substances is more prone to accidents than that of other goods, as is shown by worldwide experiences. Road accidents involving hazardous goods carriers can lead to disastrous consequences, such as fire, explosion, spillage and leakage. This can result in not only property loss and environmental pollution, but fatalities and injuries, as well. Currently several Government agencies, both Central and State, prescribe various rules and regulations for the safe handling of hazardous materials, in terms of manufacture, transportation, storage, treatment and disposal, without negative impacts on the environment. Various rules and regulations have been prescribed by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) of the Government of India under various environmental legislations/acts pertaining to the safe handling of these hazardous materials (excluding transportation by road). These have been covered under the different provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act (MVA) (1988), including the Central Motor Vehicle Rules (CMVR) (1989) formulated by the Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways (MoSRTH), Government of India. Even though these rules and regulations exist, accidents continue to take place due to the lack of strict enforcement and awareness amongst different stakeholders. Some major accidents which have occurred during the transportation of hazardous material by road in India and worldwide - and which relate to various major national laws applicable to such transportation - are briefly summarized in this paper. Because hazardous material transportation accidents lead to damage of life, property and environment, it is crucial that the Central and State Governments, as well as local authorities, be fully prepared to meet such eventualities.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/1790571
• Authors:
  • Sharma, N
  • Gangopadhyay, S
  • Dhyani, R
  • Bhan, C
• Publication Date: 2011-2

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Appendices; Figures; References;
• Pagination: pp 59-76
• Serial:
  • Indian Highways
  • Volume: 39
  • Issue Number: 2
  • Publisher: Indian Roads Congress
  • ISSN: 0376-7256

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crashes; Disaster preparedness; Freight transportation; Hazardous chemicals; Hazardous materials; Highway safety; Policy; Regulations; Spills (Pollution)
• Identifier Terms: Ministry of Environment and Forests (India); Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways (India)
• Uncontrolled Terms: Hazardous materials accidents
• Geographic Terms: India
• Subject Areas: Environment; Freight Transportation; Highways; Policy; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01350444
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 25 2011 2:39PM