New Delhi: Talcher, a coalmine hub in Orissa, is the most polluted place in the country, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) said Thursday.

The ministry of environment and forests said CPCB has identified 24 problem areas on the basis of air and water pollution by industries. The board will prepare Environment Management Plans (EMPs) for these regions soon.

Talcher in the Angul district of Orissa is known for its vast coal reserves and also houses a major National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) plant. The district is also home to the National Aluminium Company (NALCO), one of the profit making public sector units.

Following Talcher, Ankleshwar in Gujarat, Bhadravati in Karnataka, Bollaram in Karnataka, Chembur in Maharashtra and Dhanbad in Bihar are among the worst polluted places in India.

Jodhpur in Rajasthan, Durgapur and Howrah in West Bengal, Vellore in Tamil Nadu, Greater Cochin in Kerala, Vapi in Gujarat and Singrauli in Madhya Pradesh also made it to the list of 24 most polluted places in the country.

In the national capital, Najafgarh Drain Basin Area in southwest Delhi is the 17th most polluted place in the country, CPCB said.

CPCB said it has been conducting inspections to ensure compliance by industrial units of various pollution control norms.

It has identified 17 categories of polluting industries located along the rivers and lakes and in problem areas. According to the board, aluminium and cement industries are the top two polluters in the country.

 

Source : IANS