CHANDRAPUR: Walking over the failure in implementation of two separate action plan meant for curbing high air pollution in Chandrapur, state environment minister Sanjay Detoale, who is also guardian minister of district, has now declared to prepare a third action plan to curb pollution in second most polluted place in the country.

In the meeting Deotale declared that National Environment Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) and IIT Pavai have been recruited to prepare an effective action plan to control pollution in Chandrapur. Member-secretary of MPCB Rajiv Mittal, MP Hansraj Ahir, MLAs Subhash Dhote and Nana Shamkule agtedned the meeting. Representatives of NEERI and IIT Pavai too were present in the meeting held at district collectorate.

Deotale said that the two agencies will come up with comprehensive action plan in six months. It would also be helpful in curbing pollution in other districts of the state. Deotale blamed the industries for spreading pollution and announced that due care will be taken before permitting any new industry in the area. "High air pollution due to toxic release from industries and vehicles are having adverse effect on the health of the citizens. The action plan needs to be inclusive of measures to curb the pollution from all such sources," he said.

This will be the third action plan for control of pollution for Chandrapur. The first action plan was prepared in 2006 by MPCB. But, its implementation failed disastrously and pollution in district rose manifold with advent several industries like coal washeries and sponge iron plants.

Rise in levels of pollution took Chandrapur to fourth place in comprehensive environmental pollution index (CEPI) prepared by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in 2009. Based on the CEPI, ministry of environment and forest (MoEF) had imposed ban upon Chandrapur, Tadali, Ghugus and Ballarpur industrial clusters in district for development of new industries since January 13, 2010.

Following the imposition of industrial moratorium, the action plan for control of pollution was prepared anew by MPCB. Several government agencies including collectorate, civic body, PWD, police, RTO along with MPCB had active role in implementation of the second action plan. Thanks to lack of coordination among the implementing agencies, this action plan once again failed to bring positive results.

Now that industrial moratorium has entered into its fourth consecutive year, Deotale announced yet another action plan. Environmentalists and citizens hope that this new action plan would be executed under strict supervision.