The Factories Act, 1948
CHAPTER III: HEALTH
Section 12: Disposal Of Wastes And Effluents
Bare Act
(1) Effective arrangements shall be made in every factory for the treatment of wastes and effluents due to the manufacturing process carried on therein, so as to render them innocuous, and for their disposal.
(2) The State Government may make rules prescribing the arrangements to be made under sub-section (1) or requiring that the arrangements made in accordance with sub-section (1) shall be approved by such authority as may be prescribed.
Simplified Act
(1) Every factory must have proper systems in place to treat waste and pollutants from their manufacturing activities, making sure they are safe and disposed of correctly.
(2) The State Government can create specific rules about how factories should manage their waste treatment, and may require that these methods get official approval from a designated authority.
Explanation using examples
Imagine a factory that specializes in dyeing fabrics. The process of dyeing generates a significant amount of wastewater containing various chemicals and dyes. According to Section 12(1) of The Factories Act, 1948, the factory is required to have effective arrangements to treat this wastewater so that the chemicals and dyes do not harm the environment. This might involve installing a treatment plant that neutralizes the chemicals and filters out the dyes before the water is released into a river.
Further, as per Section 12(2), the State Government could have rules that specify how the wastewater should be treated. For example, the rules might require the factory to use a particular type of filtration system or to ensure that the treated water meets certain quality standards before disposal. The State Government might also require that the factory's waste treatment arrangements are approved by an environmental authority to ensure compliance with these standards.
