Vapi still very polluted: Activist

The Union ministry of environment and forests finally lifted the moratorium on the establishment of new industries and expansion of incumbents in Vapi, earlier this week. But then, has the quality of effluent discharge really improved? Are the effluent discharge facilities any better?

In a letter to MoEF Jairam Ramesh, activist Rohit Prajapati has sought a copy of the report based on which Vapi has been removed from the Central Pollution Control Board's list of critically-polluted areas. The report has opened the doors for environmental clearance for new projects.

In a statement to the press on Thursday, Prajapati said that a report of Vapi CETP dated June 30, 2010 of the CPCB, indicates that effluents being discharged into the Damanganga go up to 456%, which is beyond the CPCB's permissible limits.

"We are really shocked and surprised that the moratorium has been lifted. Even today's ground realities invite continuation of strong action from your office, under environment laws, against all these critically polluted areas. The CPCB report shows that Vapi CETP is still not able to meet norms. We demand that effluent discharge be stopped at Tadgam Sarigam pipeline, from Vapi CETP, from FETP, Ankleshwar, ECP, Vadodara, and CETPs of Ahmedabad as they do not comply with the stated norms,"
Prajapati has stated in the letter.