Self-reliance and export prospects have contributed to the rapid growth of the Indian chemical industry. But the distaff side of the boom is the gigantic quantities of harmful byproducts: noxious wastes, dumped irresponsibly anywhere you can find some unmonitored space. A bit of foresight brings home the scary possibility that nothing less than a disaster will shake officials and industrialists out of their laidback attitude in dealing with environmental evil.