Maharashtra Government’s Star Rating Programme, the first-of-its-kind initiative in India to rate large industrial plants based on their emission levels, has expanded to include 48 more industries from Vidarbha region. The list includes thermal power plants of State-run Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Limited (Mahagenco) and National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), Ordnance Factory Ambajhari, and several private industrial units from Nagpur, Chandrapur, Bhandara, Akola, and Amravati districts.

The five-star rating system gives out one star to the most polluting unit and five stars to the least polluting units. The initiative was launched in June 2017. As per the latest addition of 48 industries to the ratings list, Koradi and Khaperkheda thermal power stations of Mahagenco, Mouda super thermal power project of NTPC have earned five-star rating. Chandrapur super thermal power station of Mahagenco, and Ordnance Factory Ambajhari have earned four-star rating.

“The programme has been running successfully in several areas of the State and so far both the industries and public have shown keen and active interest. Of 48 industries, two were one-star industries, 11 were two-star, and 19 were five-star industries. We are planning to expand the number of industries over a period of time,” said Dr P Anbalagan, Member Secretary, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), in an event that announced the expansion of the programme in Nagpur on Saturday.

Representatives from 48 industries also were present on the occasion where MPCB handed over to them the report cards containing their respective ‘Star Rating’. Recently, 50 new industries from Mumbai metropolitan region also were added to the ‘Star Rating’ website….