Question : INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION



(a) whether the Government has conducted any survey for assessment of industrial pollution load;

(b) if so, the details of industrial clusters/areas under Cuddalore of Tamil Nadu;

(c) the steps taken to minimize the industrial pollution load and its outcome after taken steps; and

(d) the reasons for lifting the moratorium related to Cuddalore critically polluted industrial cluster?

Answer given by the minister


MINISTER OF THE STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRIMATI JAYANTHI NATARAJAN)

(a) &( b) Yes. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in collaboration with Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (IIT-Delhi) had conducted a survey based on Comprehensive Environmental Pollution Index (CEPI) for assessment of pollution load of industrial areas in 88 major industrial clusters in the country. 43 such industrial clusters including Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu have been identified as critically polluted.

(C) & (d) Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF) had imposed a temporary moratorium in January 2010 for a period of 8 months,on consideration of projects for environmental clearance to be located in critically polluted areas/industrial clusters identified by CPCB. During this period of moratorium, the CPCB along with the respective State Pollution Control Boards / Pollution Control Committees were required to finalize a time bound action plan for improving the environmental quality in these industrial clusters / areas. An action plan for environmental remediation for Cuddalore was submitted by Tamil Nadu State Pollution Control Board (TNSPCB). This was approved by CPCB after certain revisions and implementation of action plan was initiated. On the basis of these actions, the moratorium on consideration of the projects in Cuddalore was lifted in February 2011.