March 25, 2025
Lok Sabha MP Sougata Ray’s speech on The Boilers Bill, 2024
Sir, I rise to speak on the Boilers Bill, 2024 which has been moved by Shri Piyush Goyal who is the Minister for Commerce and Industry. This Bill is not a significant Bill. It is a sort of repetition of the Boilers Act which was enacted in 1923. Like many other British era Acts, some how or other, we did not give attention to overhauling the whole Act which is why we are bringing a Bill after 100 years for this boilers. Sir, what are these boilers? Boilers are vessels where water is boiled with the help of external agencies, building up steam that is passed through pipes. Now, what work does it do? As we know, when gas expands, it starts working; thus, a boiler is used to do work. For instance, in a jute mill, steam from a boiler is needed for a jute press. This is how the boilers work. But what is the danger? The danger is, as you know, Boyle’s law states that pressure is inversely proportional to volume. It means, if the pressure is too much, then it will tend to expand, and it will give rise to accidents. The Boilers Act is to prevent such accidents. The whole structure is built up as to how boilers can be inspected properly. The structure is, at a Central level, there is a Boilers Board which is controlled by the Government of India. A Secretary of the Government of India is the Chairman. Then, there is a Technical Advisor who acts as the Secretary. But the work is not done by the Central Government. The work is done at the State level, where the boiler inspectors are there, and they do the work of dayto-day inspection. So, there is a Chief Inspector; there is a Deputy Chief Inspector, and there is an Inspector. These people inspect and validate all works connected with boilers. Now, there are two types of work. One is manufacturing of boilers, where a sufficiently strong metal vessel has to be built, where steam will be produced. Two is erection of boilers. Now for both these works, the clearance from these Inspectors is needed. One has to be very careful because if we give a boiler clearance without properly inspecting it, it will lead to accident. The main problem is with regard to the valves. When steam is generated, steam can be further heated by Sui gas. Then, the steam is heated and it passes through a valve into a tube where the machine is being operated. These are steam-operated machines. Now, one has to be very careful. The Chief Inspector gives clearance, but at every stage the Boiler Inspector has to certify. If that certification is not there, the person whose factory has a boiler, who either makes a boiler or acts with the help of a boiler, will be put under inspection. In some cases, there is a huge fine that they can impose. Also, there is a provision of appeal. If anybody has complained about an Inspector, he may complain to the Chief Inspector, and ultimately to the Central Government. These different levels are provided. I do not want to speak much on this Bill because it has already been passed by the Rajya Sabha. They have done, they have studied, and they have given a final report. All I want is that, if you go to some factory, in my area, a lot of factories are there, you will find that the factories, which use boilers, are in a dilapidated condition or in ancient condition. We must see that the factories are modernized because not being modernized, they can lead to accidents, causing the life of poor workers. So, with that, I will support this Bill, and recommend it for acceptance.
