MoEFCC Removes Approval Requirement for 'White Category' Industries from State Pollution Control Boards.

National

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change of India (MoEFCC) issued a directive that 'White Category' industries are no longer required to obtain approval from the State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) for their operations.


      - Industrial plants scoring up to 20 on the Pollution Index (PI) will be exempt from certain provisions under sub-section (1) of Section 21 of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, provided they inform their respective SPCBs or Pollution Control Committees in writing.

      - This decision is part of a broader initiative to streamline business processes.

     

Main Points:-   (i) Industries categorized under the White Category, which are considered to have minimal or negligible pollution potential, will no longer need to secure permissions known as 'Consent To Establish' (CTE) and 'Consent To Operate' (CTO) from SPCBs. This change aims to streamline the process for businesses and reduce bureaucratic hurdles.

      (ii) The permissions previously required from SPCBs have been merged with the environmental clearance granted by MoEFCC.

(iii) Plants that have already received environmental clearance under the 2006 notification issued by the former Ministry of Environment and Forests will also be exempt from needing a CTE for their ongoing operations.

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