By TIOL News Service

NEW DELHI, JAN 12, 2014: WITH the pollution levels declining in many parts of the country or coming under permissible limits as a consequence of several policy measures taken in the past, the Ministry of Environment had undertaken a Review exercise and has now eased the moratorium for approval in 10 industrial clusters in the country.

But it has refrained from giving the same benefit to the remaining seven clusters of critically polluting areas where pollution levels are still found to be higher than the permissible limits.

The 10 clusters which would benefit from this decision are Bhiwadi (Rajasthan), Manali (Tamil Nadu), Ahmedabad (Gujarat), Dhanbad (Jharkhand), Korba (Chhattisgarh), Asansole, Haldia and Howrah (all West Bengal), Vishakapatnam ( Andhra Pradesh ) and Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh).

The seven Cluters for which the moratorium continues to be in force are Pali and Jodhpur (both Rajasthan), Ankleshwar and Vatva (Gujarat), Chandrapur (Maharashtra), Najafgarh Drain Basin (Delhi) and Vellore (Tamil Nadu).

As per the Ministry, the new and expansion projects of the 10 Clusters given relaxation will have to seek approval from the State Pollution Control Boards.