Will make environment norms for industries more stringent: Javadekar

New Delhi, Sep 16: The government will make environment norms for

more stringent, but at the same time they will be practical, Environment Minister

said Tuesday.

"Few days back we made environment norms for cement industry more stringent. We want to do the same for all other industries," Javadekar said, addressing a conference organised by industry lobby CII.

"However, the norms must be practical. If the industry wants three, it must be five, not ten... But whatever the norms are, compliance must be 100 percent," Javadekar said.

Javadekar said untreated discharge in rivers is a major concern, specially in Ganga, which the government has promised to clean.

"When we studied Ganga from source to where it merges in the sea, we found one third of industrial waste, two third of agricultural waste and one third of domestic waste was being discharged into the river untreated."

The minister said at least 40 industries along the Ganga have been closed recently for non-compliance of environment norms. Another 146 industries have been given notice to comply with the norms by March 2015.

IANS