21.1.15

Maharashtra scraps River Regulation Zone policy

The state cabinet scrapped the River Regulation Zone (RRZ) policy , paving the way for held-up projects worth Rs.7,000 crore in various industrial areas. In the absence of the policy , environmentalists fear that unless strong guidelines replace it, rampant pollution of the rivers cannot be prevented.
The policy, based on central laws and enacted only in Maharashtra, had notified the location of industries along 20 river basins in the state based on water quality . Interestingly, studies by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) have shown that nearly 80% pollution in rivers was caused by municipal waste and the rest by industrial effluents. The Devendra Fadnavis-led BJP-Sena government scrapped the policy as an industry-friendly measure under the `Make in Maharashtra' campaign. A government source said the decision will remove an environment regulatory authority that failed to improve the quality of river water. “In the absence of the RRZ policy , factories by them selves will have to follow norms like setting up effluent treatment plants to prevent pollution.“
An official from the industries department said a board will conduct third-party audit of effluent treatment and decide on permits to industries.As per the law department, such a policy cannot be derived from central laws.

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