Bengal govt seeks Governor's intervention to lift ban on Haldia

The WB industry minister Partha Chatterjee recently met Narayanan requesting him to persuade the case with Centre

West Bengal government has sought Governor M K Naryanan's intervention to get the ban on industries on environment grounds in Haldia industrial area lifted.

West Bengal Industry minister Partha Chatterjee recently met Naryanan requesting him to persuade the case with Centre.

“There are still enough opportunity for new projects in the region. But, in name of environmental issues Centre is stalling the opportunity. We have written to Centre raising the issue. There has been no response. We have sought Governor's help. He has asked for related papers on the same,”  West Bengal industry minister Partha Chatterjee said.

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) had imposed a ban on new industrial units in 84 industrial regions, including Haldia across the country on January 2010 on environmental grounds. However, moratorium has been lifted in several regions after improvement in Comprehensive Environmental Pollution Index (CEPI) measurement. Now, decision is pending in about 26 regions.

Any industrial region measuring above 70 on CEPI is considered highly polluting leading to  moratorium on environment clearance.