(a) whether several factories are being run in residential areas in
the metropolitan cities of the country and are spreading pollution;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the existing provisions in this regard;
(c) the action taken by the Government in this regard;
(d) whether the Government is formulating any scheme regarding shifting of
these polluting factories to some other places; and
(e) if so, the action taken by the Government in this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT AND
FORESTS (SHRIMATI JAYANTHI NATARAJAN)
(a)to(e) The siting and functioning of industries is governed by
the respective State Industrial Policies as well as the Master Plans
of metropolitan cities. By and large, the polluting industries in
residential areas are prohibited. The Water (Prevention and Control of
Pollution) Act, 1974 and Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act,
1981 empowers State Pollution Control Boards / Pollution Control Committees
to grant consent-to-establish and consent-to-operate to the units and
regulate the stipulated consent conditions. In case of Delhi and in
compliance to Hon’ble Supreme Court Directives, large number of units
falling under ‘H’ category have been closed down / shifted to other
location.