Question : POLLUTION IN CITIES

(a) whether the big industries and factories are spreading pollution in various States of the country including northeastern States;

(b) if so, the details thereof along with the details of pollution caused by them;

(c) whether the Government has formulated any scheme to provide assistance to the State Governments for abatement of pollution due to industries;

(d) if so, the details thereof and the amount allocated and expenditure incurred thereon during the last three years, Statewise; and

(e) the punitive action taken by the Government against the polluting industries?

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRIMATI JAYANTHI NATARAJAN)

(a)&(b) The Central and State Pollution Control Boards have identified 17 categories of highly polluting industries in various States of the country including north-eastern State. These seventeen categories of industries emit various types of pollutants which include dust emission, emission of hazardous / obnoxious gases and degradable and non-degradable pollutants from their effluents. The polluting categories of industries which are located in the north- eastern States particularly in Assam and Meghalaya include Pulp and Paper Mills, Petroleum Oil Refineries, Fertiliser and Cement Plants. The Statewise status of pollution control compliance in these 17 categories of industries is given at Annexure-I.

(c)&(d) A Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Common Effluent Treatment Plants is under implementation in the Ministry for enabling the small scale industries to set up new and upgrade the existing Common Effluent Treatment Plants to cover all the States in the country. The Statewise funds released thereon are given at Annexure-II.

(e) The CPCB under its Environment Surveillance Programme is carrying out surprise inspections of industries to verify the compliance. The directions issued under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and under Section 18 (i) (b) of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 are given at Annexure-III, which include directions for closure of industries.