Using the power under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, the MoEFCC has notified the Environment Protection (Management of Contaminated Sites) Rules, 2025.
- Rules will ensure that polluted sites are cleaned up (remediation) by those responsible.
- Contaminated sites are areas where hazardous waste has been previously disposed of, polluting the soil and water and posing risks to health and the environment.
Key highlights of the Rules
- Contaminants Covered: 189 hazardous substances as per Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016.
- Exclusions: Contamination from radioactive waste, mining, oil spills at sea, and solid waste dumps (governed by separate legislation).
- Response levels: Different response levels are set for agricultural, residential, commercial, and industrial areas.
- Contaminated Site Management
- Site Identification: Local bodies/District Administrations must report suspected sites twice a year to State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs)
- Site Assessment: SPCBs shall inspect the suspected sites and list of probable contaminated sites and informa to the CPCB on the centralised online portal.
- Polluter Identification: SPCBs identify the polluter. If land is sold, the new owner is liable.
- Clean-Up Plan: Polluter must carry out a clean-up plan using an approved agency, and pay for it.
- However, if the polluter is not identifed, SPCB execute this.
- Funding for assessment and remediation: Initial assessment costs may be covered by the by the Central Government from the Environmental Relief Fund under Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991 and also by the State Government.
- If the polluter is found, these costs must be repaid within 3 months.
- Penalties: The State Board may impose fines for failure to clean up, especially if health is at risk.
Rules address the legal vacuum around the remediation of legacy pollution sites while also providing provision for voluntary remediation.
