Daily Current Affairs : 15-November-2024
The Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has recently issued a notification that addresses a long-standing demand from industries. The notification removes the requirement for industries to seek both Environmental Clearance (EC) and Consent to Establish (CTE) approvals. This move is expected to simplify the regulatory process for industries, particularly those that are less polluting.
What is Dual Approval?
Dual approval refers to the mandatory requirement for industries to obtain both Environmental Clearance (EC) and Consent to Establish (CTE) from the State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs). These approvals are essential under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, and the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. The primary purpose of these laws is to ensure that industrial operations do not lead to environmental pollution.
- Environmental Clearance (EC): Required to ensure the overall environmental impact of a project is assessed.
- Consent to Establish (CTE): Required for industries to prove that their operations will not harm air or water quality.
Exemption for Certain Industries
Under the new notification, industries classified as ‘white category,’ which are non-polluting or minimally polluting, are exempted from obtaining the CTE and Consent to Operate (CTO). Instead, these industries will only need to acquire Environmental Clearance (EC).
Industries Exempted Include:
- Solar cell and module manufacturing
- Wind and hydel power generation units
- Fly ash brick manufacturing
- Leather cutting and stitching units
- Air-cooler and air-conditioner assembling, repairing, and servicing
Process of Exemption
To streamline the process, State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) will be involved during the Environmental Clearance process. This ensures that all the necessary aspects of pollution control, typically covered by the CTE, are still considered. A Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has been issued to integrate these steps efficiently.
Important Points:
- Dual Approval: Industries were previously required to obtain both Environmental Clearance (EC) and Consent to Establish (CTE) under the Air and Water Acts to ensure no environmental harm.
- Recent Exemption: The Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has removed the need for dual approvals, simplifying the regulatory process.
- Exempted Industries: Non-polluting ‘white category’ industries are exempt from obtaining CTE and Consent to Operate (CTO).
- Examples include:
- Solar cell and module manufacturing
- Wind and hydel power units
- Fly ash brick manufacturing
- Leather cutting and stitching
- Air-cooler and air-conditioner assembly, repair, and servicing
- Examples include:
- Environmental Clearance (EC): Industries will still need to obtain Environmental Clearance (EC), which assesses overall environmental impact.
- Role of State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs): SPCBs will be consulted during the EC process to ensure pollution control measures are met.
- Standard Operating Procedure (SOP): A new SOP has been issued to streamline the integrated approval process.
- CTE Fee: Industries will continue to pay the CTE fee, ensuring no revenue loss for state governments.
- Goal: The move aims to simplify the approval process for industries while maintaining necessary environmental protections.
Why In News
The Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has issued a notification addressing a long-standing industry demand by removing the requirement for dual compliance of Environmental Clearance (EC) and Consent to Establish (CTE), thereby streamlining the regulatory process and reducing administrative burdens for industries. This move is expected to encourage faster project implementation while still maintaining essential environmental safeguards.
MCQs about Exemption from Dual Approval for Industries
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What is the main purpose of the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change’s recent notification?
A. To impose stricter regulations on industrial pollution
B. To remove the requirement for industries to obtain Environmental Clearance (EC)
C. To simplify the regulatory process for industries, especially less polluting ones
D. To increase the number of approvals required for industrial operations
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Which of the following industries is exempted from obtaining Consent to Establish (CTE) and Consent to Operate (CTO) under the new notification?
A. Coal mining industries
B. Solar cell and module manufacturing
C. Heavy chemical manufacturing
D. Steel production industries
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What does the term “Dual Approval” refer to in the context of the industrial regulatory process?
A. The requirement for industries to obtain two types of environmental clearances
B. The requirement for industries to obtain both Environmental Clearance (EC) and Consent to Establish (CTE) approvals
C. The requirement for industries to obtain both Environmental Clearance (EC) and Consent to Operate (CTO) approvals
D. The requirement for industries to get approval from both the Ministry of Environment and the State Pollution Control Boards
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What role will the State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) play under the new notification?
A. SPCBs will now approve Environmental Clearance (EC) applications
B. SPCBs will handle all regulatory approvals without the Ministry of Environment’s involvement
C. SPCBs will be involved during the Environmental Clearance process to ensure pollution control aspects are considered
D. SPCBs will grant exemptions to all industries automatically
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