Relevance of CEPI Score in Environmental impact assessment Process | Enterclimate

CPCB and IIT Delhi developed a #Comprehensive #Environmental #Pollution Index (CEPI). CEPI is a composite index used to assess the environmental pollution status of industrial clusters or regions. It helps identify priority areas for pollution control measures, set up pollution control targets, and prioritise the allocation of resources for environmental management.
The respective state pollution Board releases the CEPI score.
The PCBs and PCCs monitor and regulate pollution levels in their respective regions.
After a nationwide environmental assessment of Industrial Clusters based on CEPI, 43 industrial clusters with CEPI greater than 70 were identified as critically polluted on a scale of 0 to 100. During 2016, CPCB carried out revision of CEPI criteria and conducted environmental quality monitoring in 100 identified industrial areas across the country based on revised CEPI- criteria and identified 38 CPAs and 31 SPAs.
MoEF&CC, Govt. of India imposed a temporary moratorium on the consideration of new projects /expansion of existing projects for environmental clearance in Critically Polluted Areas in 2010. By 2018, based on progress in the implementation of the action plan, the moratorium was lifted from many regions. The list shows the data as per a reply given in the Lok Sabha in 2019, updated upto 2018.
MoEF&CC has devised a “Mechanism for environmental management in CPAs/SPAs for consideration of projects listed as Red/Orange categories”. Specific Protocols to be followed by the SPCBs PCCs for improvement of environmental quality in the Critically/Severely Polluted Areas (CPAs/SPAs) were provided to the boards.
For consideration of new proposals and expansion of activities listed in red and orange categories located in the CPAs/SPAs, stringent conditions have been recommended. As per the data information presented by the parliament in 2019, any project or activity in Category ‘B1’ is to be appraised at the Central Level if located in whole or in part within 5 km from the boundary of CPAs or SPAs. Proposals located in CPAs and SPAs may be examined by the sectoral EAC during the scoping or appraisal stage based on the EPI scores of Air/Water/Land Environment as published by CPCB from time to time.
In such proposals, appropriate mitigation measures for the environment possessing a higher CEPI score will be made by EAC. These recommendations will be explicitly mentioned in the Terms of Reference and the Environmental Clearance letter.
Now that we have understood what the developments were, lets understand the Environmental management of Projects in CPAs and SPAs as per the order of the National Green Tribunal in 2019
CEPI score Assessment can be used as a warning tool by the state government and the SPCBs concerned.
Short-term and long-term action plans were to be formulated to monitor environment data, and evaluate CEPI scores and will be placed in the public domain.
In case the CEPI Scores continue to be in the severe zone, MoEF&CC will review the action plan and can impose additional safeguards. Let's see the safeguards that are in place in the case of severely polluted areas……
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