Lok Sabha Question No. 3431 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-06
Subject: Moratorium on Industrial Clusters
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: POONAMBEN HEMATBHAI MAADAM, CHANDRAKANT RAGHUNATH PATIL, RAJESHBHAI NARANBHAI CHUDASAMA, RAMSINH PATALYABHAI RATHWA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3431

TO BE ANSWERED ON 06/12/2016

## Moratorium on Industrial Clusters

## 3431. SHRIMATI POONAMBEN MAADAM:

SHRI C.R. PATIL:

SHRI RAJESHBHAI CHUDASAMA:

SHRI RAMSINH RATHWA:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  moratorium  based  on  the  scale  of  Comprehensive  Environment  Pollution Index (CEPI) was imposed in the year 2010 on seven industrial clusters of Gujarat including clusters of Vapi, Ankeshwar and Vatva;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  State  Government  of  Gujarat  has  put  forward  the  case  for  lifting  the moratorium  from  Ankeshwar,  Vapi  and  Vatva  industrial  clusters  as  the  level  of pollution in these areas has gone down by 70%, 75% and 50% respectively and if so, the reaction of the Government thereto; and
- (d) whether  the  Ministry  has  carried  out  inspection  of  the  said  areas  on  18 th and  19th January, 2016 and if so, the time by which moratorium is likely to be lifted from these areas?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  (INDEPENDENT  CHARGE)  FOR  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI ANIL MADHAV DAVE)

- (a)&(b) Central  Pollution  Control  Board  (CPCB)  had  carried  out  a  comprehensive environmental  assessment  in  88  prominent  industrial  clusters  during  2009-10 based on the concept of Comprehensive Environmental Pollution Index (CEPI). Out of the 88 industrial clusters assessed, 43 industrial clusters having CEPI score of  70  and  above  were  identified  as  Critically  Polluted  Areas  (CPAs)  which included  the  industrial  clusters  of  Vapi,  Ankeshwar  and  Vatva  in  the  state  of Gujarat.  Based  on  the  CEPI  scores,  the  Ministry  on  13.01.2010  had  imposed moratorium  on  consideration  of  developmental  projects  in  all  the  43  identified CPAs.  Subsequently,  upon  submission  of  action  plans  by  concerned  State Pollution  Control  Boards  /  Pollution  Control  Committees  (SPCBs  /  PCCs)  and further assessment under CEPI in the year 2011 and 2013, moratorium has been lifted in a phased manner. Presently, the moratorium is in force in 6 CPAs namely Ankaleshwar, Vatva, Vellore (North Arcot), Jodhpur, Pali, Najafgarh Drain Basin.

In  case  of  remaining  8  CPAs  which  include  Vapi,  based  on  the  inputs  received from concerned SPCBs on initiation of ground work in implementation of action plan, moratorium was lifted on 26.10.2010. However, based on the CEPI studies of  2011  and  2013  moratorium  was  re-imposed  on  17.09.2013  but  this  reimposition of moratorium was kept in abeyance by the Ministry on 10.06.2014.

- (c)&(d) According  to  CPCB,  representations  have  been  received  from  Gujarat  State Pollution  Control  Board  (GPCB)  and  other  agencies  of  State  Government  of Gujarat for lifting of moratorium from CPAs located in Gujarat. For undertaking review and assessment of the progress of implementation of Action Plans, field visits were undertaken during 18th-19th January, 2016 by the nominated officers. The  matter  has  been  deliberated  in  the  Ministry  and  it  has  been  decided  to undertake another round of CEPI assessment through CPCB based on the latest environmental monitoring and revised CEPI concept.

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