Environment Ministry lifts moratorium from Maharashtra's Chandrapur

NEW DELHI: The Environment Ministry has lifted the moratorium under the Comprehensive Environmental Pollution Index (CEPI) in respect of the industrial cluster/area of (MIDC Chandrapur, Tadali, Ghuggus, Ballapur), Maharashtra. In an office memorandum dated 20.05.2016, the Prakash Javadekar led ministry has lifted the moratorium in the area after five years, clearing way for major new investment in the region.

This will enable new investments in the region, which was stalled for last more than 5 years.

The Ministry had imposed the moratorium in 43 CEPI areas on 13.01.2010.

The CPCB again conducted monitoring in Critically Polluted Areas (CPA) of Chandrapur, Maharashtra during February – March, 2016 and re-assessed the CEPI score. The CPCB, as per the ministry, in a communication dated April 18, 2016 informed of the revised

CEPI score in the Chandrapur (Maharashtra) at 54.42. It was 81.90 in 2013.

“In view of the re-assessment of CEPI score and taking into consideration that action plans for improving environment quality take time to yield results, it has been decided to lift the moratorium on the consideration of projects for environmental clearance in respect of projects to be located in Chandrapur (Maharashtra), where CEPI score is below 70 as compared to the CEPI score of 2013 (81.93)”, the ministry said in a statement.

The go ahead, however will be subject to certain conditions such as ensuring that any new project/activity or any expansion or modernization of existing project or activity or any change in product mix is in line with the overall approved action plan of the CPA, that implementation of action plan of CPA to be reviewed by the Chairman, SPCB on quarterly basis and report sent to CPCB by the 7th day of the month succeeding the end of quarter. Also Monitoring in CPA to be done by CPCB through a third party on biennial basis for computing CEPI and report submitted to MoEF for taking an appropriate view.

The EAC/SEAC will also be asked to take extra precaution during appraisal of projects to be located in these areas and prescribe the requisite stringent safeguard measures, so that the environmental quality is not deteriorated further in the CPA, the ministry said.