Bihar Industries Face Green Cover Crackdown

Industries operating for years in Bihar are now facing increased enforcement from the Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BSPCB) regarding green cover requirements. The board is intensifying its efforts to ensure compliance with plantation norms, especially concerning older industrial units that have historically struggled with inadequate green spaces and limited room for expansion. This initiative is particularly focused on areas like the Patliputra Industrial Area.

Applicable regulations mandate that standalone red-category industries, primarily those associated with air pollution such as cement manufacturing and thermal power generation, must dedicate 25% of their premises to green cover. For red-category units within industrial estates, the requirement is 15% of their area, supplemented by a common green belt. Orange-category units have a 20% green cover obligation, while industrial estates themselves must provide a common plantation zone covering 10% of their total area. These measures aim to establish green buffers that trap dust and mitigate the spread of pollutants.

Challenges such as space constraints in older industrial clusters, where production facilities and internal roads occupy most of the plot, persist. The BSPCB is enhancing its verification methods through digital monitoring and geo-tagged imagery to ensure green belts are genuinely established and maintained, not just depicted on paper. Industries failing to adhere to these environmental conditions risk penalties, including suspension or closure proceedings.