Hyderabad: To attract more investments and due to tough competition between states to secure better ranks in Ease of Doing Business (EoDB), state governments have liberalised norms to give approvals.
The Telangana government has been giving all approvals, including environmental clearances within 21 days to set up industries. However, most of these industries that are being approved fall under the category of those that cause pollution. The Medchal-Malkajgiri district has got industries that cause maximum pollution.
A study conducted by the industries department has revealed that more than 75 per cent of the industries that were approved after EoDB rankings came into force in 2016 were causing pollution, mostly affecting groundwater.
Industries that are being approved are classified into four categories in terms of causing pollution. They are classified as white, orange, green and red based on points to determine pollution level.
The white category industries fall in the range of 1 to 20 points, which cause no harm to the environment. The green category pertains to 20-40, orange 41-59 and the red category industries clock above 60 points. The red category indicates higher pollution causing industries.
Of the total 5,701 industries that have been approved during the past three years, 402 fall in the red category, 1,134 in orange, 2,733 in green and just 1,432 in white.
Official sources in the industries department said, “Most of the industries that are coming up are pollution causing water pollution and also have an adverse impact on underground water.”
Official sources in the industries department said, “Most of the industries that are coming up are pollution causing units in engineering, fabrication, polythene, plastic processed, poultry, hatcheries, piggery, marble stone cutting, polishing, sizing sectors and rice mills. These industries cause air, water pollution and also have an adverse impact on underground water.”
The highest number of applications received was 893 in engineering and the fabrication sector alone, followed by 396 in polythene, plastic processed, 327 in poultry, hatcheries, piggery, 230 in marble stone cutting, polishing, sizing and 229 rice mills. Out of 893 engineering and fabrication units permitted, 571 came up in the Medchal- Malkjajgiri district, accounting for 64 per cent.
