Author Archives: Prerna Sah

Prerna is working as a development consultant for the district administration in Jharkhand, India. She has an M.Phil in Development planning and practice from IIT Bombay, and her research interests lie in the fields of governance and political ecology
Judicial delays in Bhopal Gas Leak Case

The Making of Vizag Gas Leak Disaster: Procedural lapses or Regulatory Design?

Under the Environment Protection Law in India, industries that process petrochemical-based products, such as styrene, require two levels of clearances—an Environmental Clearance (EC) from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and a Consent to Operate (CTO) from the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) which needs to be renewed every five years. As per the reports of the Center for Science and Environment, LG Polymers India had not adhered to rules at both these levels. The inquiry into the causes of the Vizag Gas leak that wreaked havoc in the lives of the denizens of the port city has made it clear that the industry has thrown to the winds any sense of responsibility by withholding crucial information whilst applying for the Environmental Clearance (EC) and Consent To Operate (CTO), thus subverting the regulatory framework to its advantage.  (read more...)