Institute of Technology (IIT), New Delhi carried out a comprehensive environmental assessment of prominent industrial clusters in the country. Its aim was to identify polluted industrial clusters and prioritize planning needs for intervention to improve the quality of environment in these industrial clusters and the Nation as a whole. In all 88 industrial clusters have been assessed which were selected on the basis of environmental data available with State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). 

The CPCB during the year 2008 instituted a study through Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi for assessment of industrial pollution load discharges in the Ghaziabad Area, Uttar Pradesh. One of the Terms of Reference of the study related to evolving criteria for identification of critically polluted areas. The result was promising and a temporary moratorium was imposed in these critically polluted industrial clusters barring projects of national importance, defence and security. The Action Plan was to improve the environmental quality in the 43 critically polluted areas in coordination with State Pollution Control Boards/Pollution Control Committees. 

Comprehensive Environmental Pollution Index (CEPI) is a descriptive index of pollution. It is a rational number between 0 and 100, assigned to characterize the environmental quality at a given location following the algorithm of source, pathway and receptor and aggregated CEPI, indicates severe adverse effects on environment. It is also an indication of large percentage of population experiencing health hazards. The CEPI index is based on the parameters related to incidence of pollution in water, land (ground water) and air. The aggregated CEPI=im+{(100-im) X (i2/100) X (i3/100)}; Where , im is the maximum sub index; and i2 and i3 are sub indices for other media. Development of CEPI system has been a comprehensive exercise of CPCB involving Ministry of Environment and Forests and Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi. In addition other leading national agencies were also involved. 

The report shows that the 43 industrial clusters/areas having aggregated CEPI scores of 70 and above should be considered as critically polluted, with a need for further detailed investigations in terms of the extent of damage and formulation of appropriate remedial action plans. 32 clusters/areas having CEPI scores of 60-70 were considered as severely polluted areas and shall be kept under surveillance followed with efficiently implemented pollution control measures. 

43 industrial clusters having CEPI greater than 70, on a scale of 0 to 100, have been identified as critically polluted. Among them, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh have been identified with 6 critically polluted areas. Followed by Maharashtra-5, Tamil Nadu-4, Orissa and Rajasthan 3 each, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Karnataka and Punjab, each with 2 and Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh, having one critically polluted industrial cluster. 

25 new industrial clusters have been identified and are found to be critically polluted viz. Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh), Bhiwadi (Rajasthan), Ludhiana (Punjab). Noida (Uttar Pradesh), Dombivalli (Maharashtra), Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh), Cuddalore (Tamil Nadu), Aurangabad (Maharashtra), Faridabad (Haryana), Agra (Uttar Pradesh), Haldia (West Bengal), Ahmedabad (Gujarat ), Vatva (Gujarat), Ib valley (Orissa), Varanasi-Mirzapur (Uttar Pradesh), Navi Mumbai (Maharashtra), Mangalore (Karnataka), Jharsuguda (Orissa), Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu), Panipat (Haryana), Indore (Madhya Pradesh), Bhavnagar (Gujarat ), Vishakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), Junagarh (Gujarat), Asansole ( West Bengal). 

CEPI is linked to public health in terms of presence of toxins and their concentration, impact on human health and level of exposure. The index has taken into consideration the following two factors which are related to public health: Factor # B2: Reliable evidence of symptoms of adverse impact on people due to exposure; Factor # C1: For air pollution, number of people affected within 2 km radius from the industrial pollution source including industrial workers, and their families is estimated and CPCB has been asked to take follow up action on the findings of the assessment and coordinate with the Public Health Foundation of India. 

Financial assistance for establishment of common treatment facilities such as common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) and Treatment Storage and Disposal Facilities (TSDFs) and expansion of the Natural Ambient Air and Water Monitoring networks is available under the existing schemes of Union Government. 

CEPI will help in industrial siting and indicate the assimilating capacity of a particular area with respect to air, water and soil pollution. CEPI takes into account the scale of industrial activities, sources of pollution, its pathway and impact on receptor. Considering all the environmental factors of industrial area, the siting of types of industries may be decided. 

In accordance with the Water (Prevention and Control, of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, the State Pollution Control Boards are granting Consents to Establishment and Industries to operate. It is through the consent mechanism, the SPCBs/PCCs monitor the regulated industries for compliance to environmental standards. Consent to industries for meeting the standards for disposal of treated liquid effluents and gaseous emissions are prescribed under Section 25/26 of the Water Act and Under Section 21 of the Air Act respectively. 

• Industries are required to apply for consent in the prescribed form which is mostly uniform in all the States. On receipt of Consent application form, they are scrutinized and technical processing is done by the concerned dealing official in the Board. Many Board have constituted Consent Granting Committees according to the size of the industries. 

• Prior to the grant of the consent, field inspections are made to verify the compliance of the old industries with respect to the standards/ conditions prescribed in the previous consents. 

• Normally, the Red category of major industries are granted with the consent at the level of Member Secretary / Chairman and Green and Orange category in the medium and small scale industries are granted at the regional level . The validity of consent by and large is uniform throughout the country.