Chemical Weapons Convention Awareness Programme held at Gajraula, U.P.

The CWC Help Desk-Delhi of Indian Chemical Council with the support of National Authority Chemical Weapons Convention (NACWC), Cabinet Secretariat, Govt. of India, organised CWC Awareness Programme (CWCAP) on 14th December 2018 at Officers Club of Jubilant Life Science, Gajraula for industries located in and around the region. During the programme a total of 22 participants from different industries participated in the programme.

The purpose of the awareness programme was to sensitize the participants on various provisions of CWC Act including the penal provisions, declaration requirements under the Act, CWC Rules 2016, role of National Authority Chemical Weapon Convention for implementation of CWC Act 2000 as well as providing information on procedure for e-filing of declaration by the existing as well as new users for filing error free declarations. Most of the participating industries were from the OCPFs as majority of the declaring facilities under the Delhi Helpdesk fall under this category.


MR. RADHESHYAM SINGH, VP- OPERATIONS & SITE HEAD, JUBILANT LIFE SCIENCE, GAJRAULA DELIVERING THE WELCOME ADDRESS. SEATED (L TO
R) ARE: MR. P S SINGH, SECRETARY, ICC- NORTHERN REGION, MR ARUN KUMAR SINHA, FORMER TEAM LEADER, OPCW, DR RAJENDRA KUMAR, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, NACWC, DR R K SHARMA, CHAIRMAN, ICC SH&E COMMITTEE AND HEAD SUSTAINABILITY (INDIA GLYCOLS LIMITED), DR. RAKESH KUMAR, ADVISOR, CWC HELP DESK DELHI– ICC.

Mr Radheshyam Singh, VP- Operations & Site Head, Jubilant Life Science, Gajraula welcomed the participants and speakers viz. Dr Rajendra Kumar, Deputy Director, NACWC, Govt. of India, Dr R. K. Sharma, Chairman, ICC SH&E Committee and Head Sustainability, India Glycols Limited, Mr Arun Kumar Sinha, Former Team Leader, OPCW, and Dr Rakesh Kumar, Advisor Chemical Weapons Convention Help Desk - Delhi– ICC. He also thanked speakers for deliberating on various aspect of CWC and to the organizers for the awareness programme. He also requested all the participants to take advantage of the presence of Dr Rajendra Kumar of NACWC by interacting with him on any related issues.

Dr R. K. Sharma started his presentation with a brief history of chemical weapons during the World War-I & II with common examples of chemical weapons, CWC objectives and brief introduction of OPCW. He also touched upon various Articles and Annexures of CWC. He lucidly summarized the key take away points of his presentation such as understanding the importance of CWC Act, fulfilling the obligation as an industry as well as conscious citizens of the country and role of industry in fulfilling the commitment of Government of India to international community etc.



DR RAJENDRA KUMAR, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, NATIONAL AUTHORITY CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION ADDRESSING THE PARTICIPANTS

The perspective on CWC and its implementation in India was presented by Dr. Rajendra Kumar, Deputy Director, NACWC. During his presentation, Dr. Rajendra Kumar elaborated on the structure, objective, role and functions of NACWC for meeting the Government of India's commitment to multilateral international agreement of CWC.
Mr Arun Kumar Sinha made a presentation on declaration criteria and inspection issues. He shared his long experience on the subject while working for OPCW as a team leader. He has comprehensively explained about various chemicals in schedule 2, schedule 3, DOCs, their thresholds, time line for declaration, various forms used for declarations, important definitions, inspection aims, its period, various steps and process involved for inspections in order to eliminate the fear among the industry.

The e-filing of CWC declarations was presented by Dr. Rakesh Kumar, Advisor Chemical Weapons Convention Help - Delhi. He explained in detail various steps involved in e-filing of the declaration for new users as well as for existing users. The brief procedure of the digital signature during e-filing was also explained during the presentation.

During the interaction session the participants asked the questions on various aspects such as sequential inspection, the type of equipment the inspection team carries while inspecting their facility, possibility to defer the inspection once the notice is received and the kind of information required by the inspection team etc.


A PART VIEW OF THE DELEGATES


The expert speakers have clarified on the concerns raised by the participants. The sequential inspection relates to the inspection of the other facility falling within a certain distance by the same inspection team. It does not refer to the inspection of the same facility. For most of the OCPF inspections, normally no special equipment/instruments are needed. Most of the equipment only relates to the laptops, hard disks, etc. Use of cameras etc. is rare and under specific circumstances. It was also clarified that it is not possible to defer the inspection once the notice is issued to the facility for inspection. Mr Sinha also clarified that no confidential information is asked by the inspection team. In case any such information is asked by the inspection team, the facility can politely deny for providing such confidential information through National Escort from NA CWC. He informed the participants that OPCW inspections are very friendly in nature and there is no reason to be afraid of such inspections. Dr Rajendra Kumar from NACWC also clarified that such inspection does not incur any financial burden to the facility and are conducted at no cost to industry.

All the relevant information along with the copy of the presentations was provided to the participants in CDs. Video recording of important proceedings of programme was also conducted.

The programme ended with vote of thanks to all the participants, NACWC for deputing their senior officer, management and staff of Jubilant Life Science, Gajraula for making all the necessary arrangements for the success of programme and to the speakers who have come all the way for the awareness programme.

 



CWC Helpdesk - Gajraula 14 Dec 2018 - Part 1



CWC Helpdesk - Gajraula 14 Dec 2018 - Part 2



CWC Helpdesk - Gajraula 14 Dec 2018 - Part 3



CWC Helpdesk - Gajraula 14 Dec 2018 - Part 4



CWC Helpdesk - Gajraula 14 Dec 2018 - Part 5



CWC Helpdesk - Gajraula 14 Dec 2018 - Part 6



CWC Helpdesk - Gajraula 14 Dec 2018 - Part 7



CWC Helpdesk - Gajraula 14 Dec 2018 - Part 8



CWC Helpdesk - Gajraula 14 Dec 2018 - Part 9