The Challenges
The industrial sector in India, and Odisha in particular has grown many fold since independence. It has now a very large population base engaged in industrial activity covering large, medium and small scale registered factories and mines. Odisha has also number of under ground and open cast mines covering coal, iron ore, lime stone, dolomite, bauxite, chromite etc. In addition a number of new projects, steel plants, aluminium plants, oil refinery and power plants have come. The economic reforms initiated by the Government since 1991 have added new dimensions to industrial growth. Most of these industries are hazardous in nature. They are likely to create conditions towards environment degradation, generate pollution if not controlled right at source and damage health of employees and the surrounding habitat. The Multi Disciplinary Centre on Safety, Health and Environment envisages to focus on the safety, health, environment, pollution control, industrial hazard management, and all such related need at these industries and organise awareness – cum – training programmes on a continuous basis so that any accident in the industry could be prevented and minimised.