Chandrapur: Hazardous pollution that has earned dubious distinction for Chandrapur is on decline. Chandrapur, which is under industrial moratorium for last five years thanks to heavy pollution, has slid to sixth position from second position on the comprehensive environmental pollution index (CEPI) recently. With fall in pollution levels, officials are optimistic that Chandrapur might escape from clutches of industrial moratorium next year.
Chandrapur was ranked fourth on pollution index when CEPI was first prepared by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) after in December 2009. As a result four industrial clusters namely — Chandrapur, Ghugus, Tadali and Ballarpur — were put under industrial moratorium in January 2010. Since the moratorium, which has withheld the industrial investment to the tune of Rs 40,000 crore, was extended time to time depriving industrial development of district.
"Collective efforts of MPCB, administration and environmental organizations have finally paid off and pollution levels in Chandrapur are on the decline. Cumulative CEPI score which was initially 88.83 in 2009 has declined to 81.90 by 2013. The fall is positive and we are optimistic that Chandrapur would be exempted from the moratorium by next year," said member of regional empowered committee, MoEF, Suresh Chopne.
CAPS makes the assessment of cumulative CEPI scores (air + water + land pollution) every two years. According to Chopne, Chandrapur had cumulative CEPI score of 83.82 in 2011, which fell down to 81.90 in 2013, plummeting Chandrapur to sixth position in overall raking of most polluted cities in country. He claimed that Chandrapur stands at 22nd position (CEPI score 51.75) in air pollution and at 24th position (CEPI score) in water pollution on the respective charts, Chopne claimed sighting the details gathered from MoEF in Delhi and CPCB, Bhopal.
"However, Chandrapur continues to top the chart of land pollution (CEPI score 75.50) in the country. Curbing the land pollution is necessary as a technical review committee is going to visit Chandrapur to take fresh stock of pollution in coming months. If we can manage to bring the collective CEPI score below 80, MoEF can lift the moratorium," he said.
Nagpur Environmental Engineering Research Institute (Neeri) has studied the pollution in Chandrapur to evaluate its reasons and suggest the remedies. Primary reports given by Neeri blamed all old units of Chandrapur Super Thermal Power Station, burning of coal as domestic fuel, industrial emission and dust rising due to heavy transportation for hazardous pollution in Chandrapur. Neeri is going to prepare a new action plan for control of pollution in Chandrapur based upon its own findings, Chopne said.
Union minister of state, Hansraj Ahir on Thursday held a meeting with local MPCB officers to review the pollution situation in Chandrapur and asked them to take necessary steps to curb the pollution. Regional officer, MPCB Chandrapur, AN Harshwardhan confirmed the claims of Chopne and said that these statistics were discussed in the meeting held with Ahir.
