Parliament Question: Italy's environmental disaster relocated to Ratnagiri

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICALS AND PETROCHEMICALS RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1142 ANSWERED ON - 10/02/2026 ITALY'S ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER RELOCATED TO RATNAGIRI 1142. SMT. PRIYANKA CHATURVEDI: Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state: (a) whether Laxmi Organic purchased Italy's banned Miteni PFAS factory, operational since early 2025 in Ratnagiri, producing the same "forever chemicals" that poisoned 3,50,000 Italians, caused 4,000 deaths and convicted 11 executives to 141 years in prison; (b) how containers from the factory received clearance when Italy permanently banned PFAS; (c) the PFAS regulations of the country for drinking water, emissions, wastewater, when FSSAI only proposed a food packaging ban; (d) the health monitoring for Ratnagiri residents, groundwater PFAS testing, given identical production resuming; and (e) the accountability on MPCB officials, whether the plant shuts or India remains a dumping ground for Europe's toxic legacy? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS (SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL) (a) and (b): As per the information provided by Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change a company named M/s. Laxmi Organic Industries Limited located at Plot No. G-60, MIDC Lote Parshuram Industrial Area, Ratnagiri District of Maharashtra procured the manufacturing infrastructure from M/s Miteni spa, Italy, during 2021-22. Central Pollution Control Board reported that M/s. Laxmi Organic Industries initially obtained Environment Clearance from State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), Maharashtra and later on the same has been transferred in the name of M/s. Yellowstone Fine Chemicals Private Limited a 100%subsidiary of M/s. Laxmi Organic Industries. M/s. Yellowstone Fine Chemicals Private Limited obtained the environment clearance (EC) for expansion in production from State Environment Impact Assessment Authority, Maharashtra during 2025. As reported by Central Pollution Control Board, the unit obtained Consent to Operate (CTO) dated 11.07.2023 from Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) for manufacturing of three Per and Poly Flouro Alkyl Substances (PFAS) viz. (i) Potassium nonafluorobutane sulphonate (RM65), (ii) Perfluorotripropylamine (PFTPA) (iii) Potassium decakis(fluoranyl)- pentakis (fluoranyl) ethyl] cyclohexane- 1- sulfonate (RM98) Out of three Per and Poly Flouro Alkyl Substances (PFAS) above, the production of only Potassium nonafluorobutane sulphonate (RM65) was started by the unit during the financial year 2025-26. Further, the production of Potassium nonafluorobutane sulphonate (RM65) has been stopped by the unit since December 2025. (c), (d) and (e): As per Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, there is no specific environmental regulation banning Per and Poly Flouro Alkyl Substances (PFAS) manufacturing. As per the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmer Welfare there are 106 trifluoro and 19 tetrafluoro based substances besides one perflouro substance i.e Lithium Perfluoro-octane Sulfonate (Sulfonite). Thus, a total of 126 Per and Poly Flouro Alkyl Substances (PFAS) active substances are listed in the Schedule to the Insecticides Act, 1968. Out of these approximately 44 are registered for use as insecticides, fungicides, and herbicide in the country. The Government of India, from time to time keeps reviewing the continued use or otherwise of these pesticides which are banned/severely restricted in other countries of the world due to their toxic concerns or have been reported to pose harm to human health or environment in our country or other countries of the world. These reviews are undertaken by constituting Special Committees or through the Registration Committee. Accordingly, two Per and Poly Flouro Alkyl Substances (PFAS) pesticides viz. Trifluralin and Oxyfluorfen are under restricted use. As per the information provided by Central Pollution Control Board, the Chemical Industry in Ratnagiri District of Maharashtra obtained Consent to Operate (CTO) under Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 from the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board. As per Maharashtra State Pollution Control Board (MPCB) the effluent treatment systems and air pollution control systems are fully operational. Hazardous Waste is stored using scientific methods and disposed as per the statutory procedures. *****