Maharashtra to Establish Four Circular Economy Parks for Major Industries

The Maharashtra government has announced plans to set up four circular economy parks for major industries in Aurangabad, Ratnagiri, near Pune and Nagpur. These parks will primarily focus on recycling scrap and other waste products. The proposed facilities will include a shipbreaking unit in Ratnagiri, an e-waste and auto parts unit near Pune, a steel scrap unit in Jalna near Aurangabad and a multipurpose multi-product unit in Nagpur. Each unit will be spread over a minimum of 500 acres and a maximum of 1,000 acres.

The Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) has land banks in these areas, and the government is ready to offer incentives like lower GST rates, lower power and water tariffs, and fully developed land at a lower price to early adopters who can set up large units. The Material Recycling Association of India (MRAI) will act as a knowledge partner with the government in policy drafting and implementation.

Potential Environmental Impact:

While the circular economy parks aim to support economic development and attract more investment in the state, there are some concerns about pollution issues that need to be addressed before the policy is finalized. The government official stated that these issues will be resolved before the policy is finalized by next month. The parks will also offer common scrapyards, breaking units, storage and effluent treatment facilities to ensure the proper disposal of waste and minimize environmental impact.