The industrial clusters of Ghaziabad, Noida and Delhi’s Najafgarh
drain basin are among the ‘dirty dozen’ where pollution poses a grave risk to human health and environment. A joint study by the Central
Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and IIT-Delhi has ranked Ankleshwar, Vapi (both in Gujarat) and Ghaziabad as the three top industrial polluters. The study has identified 88 industrial hotspots in the country where pollution has peaked. Others among the 12 highest polluters include Korba in Chhattisgarh, Bhiwadi in Rajasthan, Vellore in Tamil
Nadu and Ludhiana in Punjab. IIT-D developed an algorithm to measure the comprehensive environment assessment of industrial clusters (CEPI) on the basis of land, water and air pollution. The clusters were
categorised on the basis of their pollution scores. Ten clusters scored between 80 and 100 CEPI and were termed alarmingly polluted.
Thirty-three clusters had a scorecard of 70-80 CEPI and were considered critical while 32 others with a score of 60-70 CEPI were in the category of seriously polluted. Ten cities with a score of 50-60 CEPI were in the warning zone, while the remaining three had a score of less than 50 CEPI. “In Ghaziabad and Noida, we have also taken into account other sources of pollution such as burning of biomass and air
pollution,” CPCB chairman S.P. Gautam said. Ankleshwar and Vapi had a
score of 88.50 and 88.09 respectively while Ghaziabad scored 87.37. The Najafgarh drain basin in the Capital, which includes Anand Parbat,
Naraina, Okhla and Wazirpur, scored 79.54 CEPI, making it critically polluted. “This report is based on the 2008-2009 data. I want the CPCB
and state pollution boards to draw up action plans for the 10 most critical areas and the 33 most polluted clusters,” environment minister Jairam Ramesh said.