The Odisha government on September 17 launched a ‘Star Rating’ system for industries to strengthen State Pollution Control Board’s (SPCB) regulatory efforts to reduce pollution.
The initiative is the first-of-its-kind in the state, to ensure transparency in compliance to pollution standards to reduce air pollution.
The programme is launched by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, and will rate the industries from 1 to 5 based on their efforts to meet the standards set by SPCB.
During the launch Chief Minister Patnaik said that the project is a joint effort of SPCB and Energy Policy Institute of the University of Chicago.
“The Star- Rating Program is an excellent example of the 3T framework Teamwork, Transparency and Technology. This programme will help the public to find out whether industries in their vicinity are fair in their environmental compliance and empower them to strengthen regulations through public participation,” CM added.
Michael Greenstone, the Milton Friedman Professor in Economics and Director of EPIC and the Tata Centre for Development at Chicago, said “The Odisha star rating programme is a pioneering initiative which will help citizens identify the sources of pollution in their neighborhood and empower them to help ensure that industries comply with existing Indian laws.”
The chief minister while encouraging the industries to be part of the initiative said, “I convey my best wishes to all the industries of Odisha and invite them to be a part of this Star-Rating Programme to make Odisha a clean and green State and support healthy and sustainable growth.”
