Parliament Question: Toxic emissions from a chemical plant

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 699 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.02.2026 Toxic emissions from a chemical plant 699. SHRI PRAMOD TIWARI: Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state: (a) whether a publicly listed chemical plant in Maharashtra’s Ratnagiri district is using machinery and technology procured from an Italian firm called Miteni which was shut down following alleged PFAS contamination scandal; (b) if so, the details thereof including concerns over toxic emissions and regulatory oversight with regard to the said plant; (c) whether the country has till date no specific regulation banning PFAS; and (d) if so, the manner in which Government proposes to address the hazardous emissions? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH) (a) As per the information provided by the Central Pollution Control Board a company named M/s. Laxmi Organic Industries Limited located at MIDC Lote Parshuram Industrial Area, Ratnagiri District of Maharashtra procured the manufacturing infrastructure from M/s Miteni spa, Italy, during 2021-22. (b) to (d) As per Environment Impact Assessment Notification 2006, the Environmental Clearance for the category B project is granted by State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA). The Chemical Industry in the Ratnagiri District of Maharashtra initially obtained the Environmental Clearance (EC) in the name of M/s. Laxmi Organic Industries from 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. The M/s. Yellowstone Fine Chemicals Private Limited obtained the EC for expansion in production from SEIAA Maharashtra during 2025. There is no specific environmental regulation banning PFAS manufacturing. However, as informed by 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 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 theRegistration Committee. Accordingly, two PFAS pesticides viz. Trifluralin and Oxyfluorfen are under restricted use. As per the information provided by CPCB, 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 informed by the 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 disposal as per the statutory procedures. The latest Joint Vigilance Sample (JVC) results dated 4.11.2025 are within consented standards. *****