Progress report on behalf of the Central Pollution Control Board in compliance to the National Green Tribunal order dated 25/07/2023 in the matter of Janardan Chandar Patil & Others Vs Union of India & Others.

In compliance with the National Green Tribunal order dated July 25, 2023, the background of the Comprehensive Environmental Pollution Index (CEPI) as well as the details of actions being taken by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) was submitted.

The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has carried out environmental quality monitoring of all the 6 critically and severely polluted areas (CPA/SPA) during 2023 and assessed the CEPI scores.

Tarapur, the CEPI score in 2018 was 93.69 (SPA) and this has come down to 66.94 (SPA) - a decrease of 28.5 per cent in CEPI scores. When it comes to Chandrapur, the CEPI score in 2018 was 76.41 (CPA) and in 2023 it was 65.76 (SPA) - a decrease in 13.9 per cent in CEPI scores.

To control environmental pollution and reduce the CEPI scores, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) undertook various measures that included installation of continuous emission/effluent monitoring system (CEMS) for air and water in large and medium scale red category industries. Use of clean fuel (PNG) is encouraged to reduce dust emission by industries and industrial areas and units are encouraged to recycle 100 per cent treated effluent to achieve ZLD. These were some of the other measures taken by the MPCB to control pollution.

CPCB has been following-up with all concerned SPCBs/PCCs, including MPCB, for effective implementation of action plans.  It was further submitted that development of a portal to track the progress of CEPI Action Plans are in progress at CPCB, wherein, the concerned SPCBs/PCCs will upload the action plans, progress reports, and CEPI scores. CPCB developed the Comprehensive Environmental Pollution Index (CEPI) to find out an Index value to characterise the quality of the environment.