CPCB conducting environmental survey on Haldia: Ministry

KOLKATA: The Central Pollution Control Board has engaged an independent agency to conduct an environmental survey on Haldia and other areas where a blanket ban has been imposed on setting up new industrial units.

"CPCB is conducting a survey through an independent agency to find out the pollution levels at Haldia and other areas," director with the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) P B Rastogi said.

He said the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) was expecting a report by March 15 after which the ministry would decide whether to lift the moratorium.

The ban, which was in force till March, 2012, was extended as the levels of pollution at Haldia and other places like Asansol were very high with the comprehensive environmental pollution index (CEPI) exceeding 70.

"If the CEPI was found to be 70 or less in the report, then the ban at Haldia and other places will be lifted. Otherwise it will remain in force," Rastogi told reporters on the sidelines of a Indian Foundry Congress seminar here today.

The Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal had written to the Centre to lift the ban, claiming that several steps had been taken to bring down the pollution level in these places.