Moratorium for green clearances lifted for 10 'critically-

Environment Ministry has lifted the moratorium for clearances in 10 industrial clusters after these showed decreasing pollution levels.
"It has been decided to lift the moratorium for environmental clearances in respect of projects to be located in the 10 clusters," stated a ministry notification.
It has, however, decided against lifting the moratorium on the remaining seven out of a total of 17 Critically Polluting Areas (CPAs) as their pollution levels were assessed to be on the higher side.
The 10 clusters which would benefit from the move are Bhiwadi (Rajasthan), Dhanbad (Jharkhand), Manali (Tamil Nadu), Ahmedabad (Gujarat), Korba (Chhattisgarh), Asansole, Haldia and Howrah (all West Bengal), Vishakapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) and Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh).

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) had conducted a survey of the CPAs between February and April of last year to reassess the Comprehensive Environmental Pollution Index (CEPI).
"In 10 of the CPAs, the CEPI score was below 80 and showed a decreasing trend as compared to the assessment in 2011.

"In the remaining seven areas, the CEPI score was found to be either above 80... And showing either an increasing trend or no change as compared to the values observed in 2011," the notification said.
The seven CPAs for which the moratorium remains in place till further orders are Ankleshwar and Vatva (Gujarat), Chandrapur (Maharashtra), Pali and Jodhpur (both Rajasthan), Vellore (Tamil Nadu) and Najafgarh Drain Basin (Delhi).

For having lifted the moratorium, the ministry has put in place conditions for the 10 clusters which require their respective state pollution boards to ensure that new projects or expansion proposals are in line with the approved action plan for CPAs.