Green panel survey to outline Chhattisgarh's industry plan

IITs in Mumbai and Kharagpur to conduct load-carrying capacity in Korba, Raigarh, Champa-Janjgir and Raipur

The Chhattisgarh government is conducting a comprehensive environment survey in four industrial cities to explore the possibilities of further investment.

The survey, related to the load-carrying capacity, would be conducted in Korba, Raigarh, Champa-Janjgir and Raipur. The Chhattisgarh Environment Conservation Board (CECB) had hired Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai and Kharagpur for the job. IIT-Mumbai would conduct the study in Raipur and Korba while IIT-Kharagpur would prepare the report for Raigarh and Champa-Janjgir.

“The survey that would underline the environment load in the city would be comprehensive, covering all the seasons to make it factual,” R P Tiwari, CECB Chief Engineer, told Business Standard. Both the institutes would submit its report in one year that would be important to draw the plan for the further industrialisation in the four cities, he added. It would also help the authorities to prepare an action plan.

The four cities had been the preferred investment destinations in the state that had been endowed with rich minerals. The state government had banned granting permission for setting up industry in Raipur because of environment concern. In Korba, a similar ban was imposed that was later lifted following a survey conducted by IIT-Kharagpur that was confined to only one season. The IIT-Mumbai would now conduct the survey for all the seasons that would make it more accurate.

In Champa-Janjgir and Raigarh, the authorities are exploring how much load both the centres could bear so that plan could be put on place to accommodate more industries.