Bharuch

Union Environment minister Shri Prakash Javdekar is likely to pay visit to industrial town Anleshwar on January 11.

Ankleshwar is one of the critical zones declared by the Environment department, Government of India in year 2010. This status prevents clearance from any department working under the ministry of Environment and Forests for setting up a new industrial unit or expansion of existing units. The state government wants the status of ‘critical zone’ to go. However the centre is not give favour easily.

The industrial town in Bharuch district has seen 156 closure orders, 118 closure notices, police complaint against 10 industrial units and bank guarantees seized in case of 5 companies for pollution in recent times.

Javdekar is likely to hold meeting with local industrialists and attend a function in Pandit Omkarnath Thakur Kala Bhavan.

Background

The tag of ‘critically polluted area’ that has put a blanket ban on the existing industry to invest into expansion of plants and machinery in industrial belts of Ankleshwar, Panoli in Gujarat. Industry insiders feel that once the ban is lifted, it could trigger investments worth at least Rs 5,000 crore to the area. In January 2010, the ministry of environment and forests had imposed a blanket ban on the industries in the region to undertake any expansion at site. The Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) as well as the Indian Drug Manufacturers Association (IDMA) have already written to the Central Pollution Control Board pursuing the matter with the department of environment and forests as well as the department of pharmaceuticals (DoP). IDMA claims that companies in the area have already invested close to Rs 500 crore, and Comprehensive Environment Pollution Index (Cepi) action plan has been implemented which is continually monitored by GPCB. Some of the measures implemented include establishment of common effluent treatment plants, common hazardous waste land fill site, common incinerator, laying of effluent convince lineup to deep sea, creating underground drainage system for carrying effluent, as well as tree plantation drives.

– DeshGujarat