Valsad

Moratorium on two ‘critically polluted’ industrial clusters in Gujarat, prohibiting setting up of new projects or expansion of the existing ones, might be removed soon, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said here today.

“We are continuously monitoring the pollution level of Gujarat Industrial Development Corporations (GIDCs) where moratorium was imposed. Pollution status of Vatva (Ahmedabad) and Ankleshwar (Bharuch) GIDCs will be ascertained on the basis of a new formula this month and I am sure the two will get relief,” he said.

The Union MoS for Environment and Forests said that the first decision he took after becoming the minister was to remove the moratorium on Vapi GIDC in Gujarat.

The three GIDCs in the state are among the industrial clusters where moratorium was imposed by the erstwhile UPA government considering the pollution levels. It stopped expansion of existing units and setting up of new units in these clusters.

Asserting that the Centre is committed to promoting solar power as a renewable source of energy, Javadekar said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has mooted ‘Surya Putra’ grouping of countries for cooperating on solar energy.

He also said the Centre is giving primacy to mangrove development and is in favour of tackling pollution “through a more scientific approach”.

PTI