The study on Zoning Atlases for Siting of Industries taken up district-wise, zones and classifies the environment and presents the pollution receiving potential of various sites/zones in the district and identifies the possible alternate sites for industries, through easy-to-read maps (1: 2,50,000 scale). The Atlases have been finalised for 85 districts. The studies have been completed for 39 districts for which draft reports are ready and the studies are in final stages of completion for other 16 districts.

Industrial Estate Planning & Development of Eco-Industrial Estates

In continuation of the Zoning Atlas studies, the Industrial Estate Planning studies have been taken up at micro level (1: 50,000 and lower) to identify environmentally acceptable sites for industrial estates and to suggest control of surrounding land uses. Studies for twelve sites have been completed, the draft reports are ready for 3 sites and the work is in progress for other seven sites.

It is contemplated to develop Eco-industrial estates in the country in order to ensure proper siting of industrial estates, planning of the pollution abatement infrastructure and regulating development around these sites. Under the pilot phase of project, two new sites in East Godavari district and at Jeedimetla Industrial Estate of Andhra Pradesh are being covered with the technical support from the German Technical Co-operation (GTZ) and in association with the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation Ltd.

Environmental Management Plan for Urban Areas

The activity on Environmental Management Plans (EMP) for Urban Areas is targeted to provide planning solutions for the urban areas where in the problems are becoming complex and the environmental risks are increasing. The studies for Chennai, Bhubaneswar and Indore have been completed. Further actions are being taken for using the outcome of the studies.

Environmental Management Plan for Mining Areas

Similar to the preparation of environmental management plans for urban areas, Environmental Management Plan studies were also taken up for mining areas. The studies for Korba coal mining area (MP) and Satna limestone belt (MP) have been completed. Further actions are being taken for using the outcome of the studies.

Environmental Management Plan for Tourism Areas

The studies taken up for the tourism areas of Bakel Fort (Kerala) and Macleodganj (HP) are in advanced stage of completion.

Environmental Management Plan for Environmentally Fragile Areas

A study was taken up for Panchmarhi Biosphere Reserve located in Madhya Pradesh, which is an environmentally fragile area and has been completed. Also, environmental information has been developed for Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve. Further actions are being taken for using the outcome of the studies.

Mapping of Environmentally Sensitive Zones and Industrial Sites - State-Wise

The maps on Environmentally Sensitive Zones and Industrial Sites present the State-wise information on environmentally sensitive zones viz. national parks, reserved forests, protected forests and industrial sites. These maps were earlier completed for 18 States and work is in progress for Punjab and Rajasthan during current year.

Mapping of Polluting Industries in West Bengal

A pilot study taken up with the objective to create an inventory of industries in GIS environment for the state of West Bengal to facilitate decision-making on prevention and control of pollution. Further action would be taken for using the outcome of the studies.

Regional/State Planning Studies

The pilot studies on Regional Planning has been taken up for Jalpaiguri District of West Bengal and the entire State of Tripura. The report of Tripura had been issued to the state government for taking up stakeholder consultations and for providing comments.

Eco-city Programme

The Ecocity Programme was initiated under the Tenth Five Year Plan to bring in visible environmental improvement at the identified small and medium towns. In the first phase, the Programme has been initiated in the towns of Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh), Puri (Orissa), Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh), Kottayam (Kerala) and Vrindavan (Uttar Pradesh). The project in Kottayam is aimed at rejuvenating Mundar River and Kacherikadavu Boat Jetty and Canal that have severe siltation and pollution problems. The project in Ujjain is aimed at area-wide improvement around Mahakal Temple and cleaning of Rudra Sagar Lake, which is highly silted and polluted with sewage. The project in Vrindavan is aimed at improvement of the historic core of the town located around Ranganath Temple. The project in Tirupati is aimed at improvement of the core of the town near Govindrajaswamy Temple. The project in Puri is aimed at improvement around Jagannath temple, renovation of three of the religious ponds, shifting of garages and automobile workshop and improvement of existing solid waste disposal facility.

Urban Environmental Information System

To provide information to the public in the form of a local environmental report to be prepared by the Municipalities on the status of socio-economics, development and environment of the towns and cities, preparation of "Urban Environmental information System" has been taken up at few volunteering towns including Agartala, Chennai, Guntur, Indore, Kottayam, Agra, Bhubaneswar, Kanpur and Patna. The draft reports are ready for Bhubaneswar, Chennai and Indore.