An environmental assessment of industrial clusters conducted by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and IIT, Delhi last month had found that of the 88 most-polluting industrial clusters, 43 had reached an upper limit in terms of air, water and land pollution. This prompted the MoEF to ask the CPCB as well as State Pollution Control Boards to identify these areas and impose restrictions on consideration of development projects till August 2010.The CPCB and state boards will meanwhile finalise a time-bound plan for improving the environmental quality.

“We have received the directions from the MoEF and are looking into it,” said C S Bhatt, Member Secretary, UP PCB. “We are still waiting for the letter after which a policy will be formulated and the orders implemented,” said Yashpal Singh, director of the Environment Directorate which gives environmental clearance for development projects.