New Delhi, May 29 (IANS) The Environment Ministry has lifted the CEPI moratorium from the industrial cluster of Chandrapur in Maharashtra -- one of the most polluted cities in the state -- to pave way for renewed investment in the region, it was officially announced on Sunday.
"The ministry has lifted the moratorium under the CEPI in respect of the industrial cluster of Chandrapur. This will enable new investments in the region, which was stalled for more than five years," a government statement here said.
The Comprehensive Environmental Pollution Index (CEPI), developed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), is based on multiple pollution-causing parameters in a particular industrial cluster and has a maximum composite scale of 100.
When the score reaches above 70, the moratorium from CEPI is imposed, barring further industrial investment in the region.
The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change in 2010 imposed moratorium in 43 CEPI areas out of some 88 industrial clusters, including Chandrapur after it was placed fourth on the index in the country.
According to the government, the CEPI score in Chandrapur is 54.42 as of March and April 2016
"The evaluation of the CEPI score in Chandrapur (Maharashtra) is 54.42, as compared with the score assessed in 2013 which was 81.90."
The ministry said: "It has been decided to lift the moratorium on projects for environmental clearance which are to be located in Chandrapur (Maharashtra), where CEPI score is below 70."
The government in 2015 simplified pollution control measures in the industrial clusters by dropping a major parameter from CEPI, which considers the impact of pollutants on human health and environment degradation. The decision was seen as an industry-friendly but an anti-environment move.
