63% of the sectors in the district are heavily polluting:
Nagpur: Nearly 63% of the Nagpur district industry emits toxic pollutants that are significantly higher than the safe limit, according to the latest data. Also, most coal-fired power plants have earned a five-star rating for being the “least polluting” sector.
The statistics are based on the Star Rating Programme, a first-of-its-kind initiative jointly conducted by the MPCB, the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC-India) and other organizations. In order to provide information on the environmental efficiency of the industries to the public, the program gives star ratings to the industries based on the median concentration of the current particulate matter (PM) stack samples.
According to the standards developed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the permissible limit for PM stack emissions is 150 milligrams per normal metric cube (mg / NM3). Out of the 24 industries being tracked in the district system, 15 failed to meet this level.
The most polluting industries are primarily oil, textile and metalworking industries. Seven sectors have a one-star rating, while two have a two-star rating. One-star means that the particulate matter emitted by these units is 250 mg / NM3 or more, which is almost twice the acceptable norm. A two-star rating indicates that PM emissions are between 150-250 mg / NM3.
People living in the area are at risk of respiratory and cardiovascular morbidity and can also contribute to mortality, according to the programme. “Emissions contain inhalable contaminants that can enter both the windpipe and the lungs,” he says.
Overall, 414 state-wide enterprises are being tracked under the Star Rating Programme. This tracks industrial air pollution in 10 state clusters — Pune, Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane, Nagpur, Chandrapur, Nashik, Aurangabad, Kolhapur, and Gadchiroli pockets.
Thermal power plants, including Koradi Thermal Power Station (KTPS), Khaperkheda Super Thermal Power Plant, Mouda Super Thermal Power Project, Vidarbha Industries Power Limited and Purti Sakhar Karkhana Limited have received a five-star rating.
Also in September last year, KTPS, Khaperkeda Super Thermal Power Plant and Mouda Super Thermal Power were ranked five-star, while Chandrapur Super Thermal Power Station was rated four-star.
Questioning the Board’s results, environmental activists said that no coal-fired power plant can get a 5-star rating. “People living near Koradi and Chandrapur have been complaining for years about massive air pollution. The effects of chemical pollution on public health as well as on crops are clearly visible. The data are not accurate, “they said.
TOI has been reporting frequently on the pollution crisis caused by KTPS. In June last year, the Ministry of the Environment of the Union declined to initiate the process of granting environmental clearance to the proposed two new plant units.
