Norms for 2 accident relief schemes eased

THE AMENDMENTS LAID DOWN THE PROCESS FOR VICTIMS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CORPORATE DISASTERS TO GET MONETARY RELIEF

- Jayashree Nandi

The Union environment ministry notified amendments to Public Liability Insurance (PLI) Act 1991 and Environment Relief Fund (ERF) Scheme, 2008 last month in an attempt to make it easier to do business in the country, and to also ensure that in case of industrial accidents, affected people can be assured of recompense.

The two were part of the 42 laws which were amended under the Jan Vishwas Act, 2023 which decriminalised 182 provisions. The PLI Act and ERF lay down how compensation can be accessed by people impacted by environmental disasters perpetrated by public or private companies.

PLI, enacted in 1991 in response to the Bhopal Gas Tragedy (1984) aims to provide for public liability insurance for the purpose of providing immediate relief to those affected by industrial accidents.

While provisions of the public insurance liability law have been decriminalised, the amendments notified last month, have laid down the process for how victims of environmental corporate disasters can claim monetary relief.