Question : Use of Lead in PVC Pipes

(a) whether the National Green Tribunal has issued any order to fix norms regarding use of lead in PVC pipes and if so, the details thereof and the steps being taken in this regard;
(b) whether the Government intends to encourage use of any alternative stabilizer instead of lead based ones in PVC pipes and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government proposes to ban import of lead based PVCs and if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether the Government has conducted any study to confirm the ill- effects of lead contents in potable water and such other essential items; and
(e) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken/being taken to monitor use of lead or to check use of it?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

(a) to (c) The Hon’ble National Green Tribunal (NGT), vide its order dated 25.05.2017 in the Original Application No. 477 of 2015, directed the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) to, inter alia, notify and lay down standards for usage of lead in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes and also to draw up a programme for phasing out of lead as stabilizer in PVC pipes. Based on inter-ministerial and stakeholders consultations held in the matter, MoEF&CC has prepared draft rules for notification under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 mandating PVC pipes and fittings to conform to the lead extraction limits as prescribed in the relevant Indian Standards published by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and to phase out the use of lead stabilizers in manufacture and trade of various types of PVC pipes and fittings in a phased manner. In accordance with order dated 07.05.2018 of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in C.A.Diary No. 42031 of 2017, MoEF&CC has forwarded the draft rules to BIS.

(d) and (e) Toxic effects of lead in water are well established through studies of several premier institutions and BIS has already considered the effects of leaching of lead from PVC pipes on water quality. The Indian standards for various types of PVC pipes for water supply like unplasticized PVC pipes for potable water supplies, chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) pipes for potable hot and cold water distribution supplies, etc. prescribe a test for effect on water, giving permissible limits of, inter alia, lead (first extraction) and lead (third extraction).

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