(a) whether the indiscriminate industrialisation is causing damage to the ecological
balance of the country;
(b) if so, the names of the areas most severely affected due to industrialization and the
areas where environment is getting affected; and
(c) the steps taken by the Government to tackle the situation?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRIMATI JAYANTHI
NATARAJAN)
(a) to (c) The indiscriminate industrialisation is adversely affecting the ecological
balance in the country. The Government have taken adequate steps to check indiscriminate
industrialization to prevent damage to the ecological balance. Industrial projects
specified under category A and B are required to obtain Environmental Clearance (EC)
under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and are subjected for scrutiny by the State
and Central level Environmental Appraisal Committees. The industries are also required to
seek consent-to-establish and consent-to-operate under the Water (Prevention and Control
of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 from
the State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) and Pollution Control Committees (PCCs).
Further, based on the Comprehensive Environmental Pollution Index (CEPI), the Central
Pollution Control Board has indentified 43 critically polluted Industrial Clusters and
these clusters are having CEPI score more than 70 on a scale 100 and hence, considered to
be Critically Polluted Areas (CPAs). Action plans have been prepared for these clusters
for restoration of environmental quality. The action plans are implemented through State
Government and Department. The details of State-wise distribution of CPAs and severely
polluted industrial clusters are annexed.