Moratorium gone, Ib Valley get green signal

BHUBANESWAR: The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has decided to lift the moratorium on Ib Valley cluster of projects for environmental clearance.The Ministry, however, put conditions for considering the request for environmental clearance to Ib Valley industrial areas where a large number of thermal power projects are coming up. The MoEF rider for environmental clearance came shortly after granting of forest clearance for mining of coal in the coal blocks allotted to the 4,000 MW ultra mega power project, NTPC’s mega power projects and Orissa Power Generation Corporation (OPGC).The MoEF imposed moratorium on 43 critically polluted industrial clusters, including Ib Valley, for consideration of environmental clearance till August 31, 2010. The decision was based on the comprehensive environmental pollution index (CEPI) prepared by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).The Orissa State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) was asked to prepare a time-bound action plan for improving the environmental quality in the industrial clusters for consideration for environmental clearance. Though the moratorium period was extended twice, the pollution index of the Ib Valley clusters was still beyond the prescribed limits.The moratorium on consideration for environmental clearance to the Angul industrial clusters was lifted on March 31 along with six others.However, the Ib Valley clusters failed to meet the CEPI standard and the moratorium was further extended to September 30.The CPCB, basing on the report of the OSPCB, recommended to the MoEF on June 6 to lift the moratorium on the Ib Valley clusters.While lifting the moratorium for granting environmental clearance to Ib Valley industrial clusters, MoEF has put several conditions.  While the CPCB and the OSPCB were asked to host the approved action plans in respective official websites, the latter has been asked to monitor the implementation of the action plans as per their schedule and ensure that there is no slippage in terms of time frame. The CPCB will develop a monitoring mechanism and put it in place within 30 days and monitor the implementation of these action plans. The coal companies as well as the power producers in the area will set up continuous ambient air quality stations. The results of monitoring will be displayed at various locations and also put on the website of the  OSPCB.