New Delhi: The environment ministry on Tuesday announced the deployment of 20 joint secretary and joint secretary-level officials to periodically assess and review critically polluted industrial clusters to ensure proper implementation of action plans to tackle pollution.

“These joint secretary-level officers have been directed to undertake field visits and to review the progress at least once in a quarter, in close coordination with CPCB (Central Pollution Control Board), to ensure effective action for pollution control. They will also monitor the progress of implementation of action plans in these critically polluted areas," the ministry said in a statement.

The officers will also note deficiencies in the implementation of action plans in critically polluted areas and submit reports to CPCB and state pollution control boards.

“We have provided transparent processes, done away with delays and enabled ease of doing business for responsible businesses. Now, our thrust will be on compliance," said environment minister Prakash Javadekar, explaining the rationale behind the decision.

In 2009-10, a comprehensive environmental assessment had been conducted by CPCB and the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, in 88 prominent industrial clusters. Of these, 43 clusters with a comprehensive environmental pollution index (CEPI) score of 70 and above (on a scale of 0 to 100) were identified as critically polluted areas.

Action plans were formulated to tackle pollution in such critically polluted areas. These plans are currently in various stages of implementation.

In January 2010, during the tenure of the United Progressive Alliance government, the environment ministry imposed a moratorium on developmental projects in these areas. Later, the moratorium was lifted in 28 critically polluted areas in a phased manner. At present, the moratorium is in force in seven critically polluted areas.

Since coming to power in May 2014, the National Democratic Alliance government has started a review of the CEPI mechanism. In June last year, Javadekar sought a reassessment of CEPI in a year’s time.

Last month, Mint reported on CPCB’s attempts to dilute CEPI norms. CPCB, citing the absence of reliable qualitative data, is proposing to do away with consideration of factors such as the impact on people and eco-geological features while deciding whether an industrial cluster is critically polluted or not.

Environmentalists, however, are sceptical about the latest initiative.

“It is merely a greenwash. Because, on the one hand, fundamentals of environment protection are getting violated, while on the other, compliance is being showcased," said Sanjay Upadhyay, an environmental advocate in the Supreme Court and managing partner of the Enviro Legal Defence Firm, an environmental law firm that also takes up training, education, publishing and outreach work.

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