List of Contaminated Sites
According to the March update of the Central Pollution Control Board, there are 128 contaminated sites containing toxic and hazardous substances in India.
States in the List
According to the March update of the CPCB, West Bengal has the highest number of contaminates sites- has 27 such sites. Odisha has the next highest with 23 contaminated sites. 196 sites are awaiting investigation and confirmation. All together brings the total number of such sites to 324 in India. There are clean up plans for 20 such sites in 6 states: Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Kerala, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
Contamination Incidents Highlighted
Some of the contamination incidents highlighted by the CPCB are oil contamination in Tamil Nadu due to leakage from underground pipes of BPCL, chromium contamination in Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh, pesticide and heavy metal contamination in Kerala’s creeks, electronic wastes on the banks of River Ramganga, mercury contamination in Tamil Nadu and Odisha, etc.
CPCB
The Central Pollution Control Board is a statutory organisation set up under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1974. It exercises its powers under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1981. It works for the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change according to the provisions of Environment (Protection) Act of 1986.
