The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday cleared a bill with provisions for regulation of boilers, safety of life and property from explosions, and uniformity in registrations. The Boilers Bill, 2024, which seeks to repeal the century-old Boilers Act, 1923, was cleared in the Upper House by a voice vote. The bill has provisions to ensure the safety of people working inside a boiler apart from repair of boilers to be undertaken by qualified and competent persons. According to the Commerce Ministry, the bill will benefit boiler users, including those in the MSME sector.= as provisions related to decriminalisation have been incorporated in it. Out of seven offences, to ensure the safety of boilers and personnel, criminal penalties were retained in four major ones that involve loss of life and property.
