Daily Current Affairs : 27-July-2024

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has introduced adjustments in the way industries are regulated under environmental laws. Industries that are categorized as part of the ‘white category’ by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) will now be exempt from acquiring prior permissions, such as ‘Consent to Establish’ (CTE) and ‘Consent to Operate’ (CTO), from the state pollution control boards. This move is aimed at reducing the regulatory burden on industries that have a minimal environmental impact.

White Category Industries and Their Impact

White category industries are considered to have little to no pollution. These industries do not significantly affect air and water quality, making them less of a concern for environmental control. Examples of white category industries include:

  • Wind and solar power projects
  • Air cooler assembly units

Under the new guidelines, these industries no longer need to seek permission from the state pollution control boards to operate under the Air Act, 1981, and the Water Act, 1974. Instead, they are required to inform the relevant authorities about their operations through a simple self-declaration.

Categorization of Industrial Sectors

To better manage industrial pollution, the Ministry of Environment uses a system called the Pollution Index (PI), which ranks industries based on their level of environmental impact. The Pollution Index is a score ranging from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more pollution. The categorization is as follows:

  • Red category: PI score of 60 and above (High pollution)
  • Orange category: PI score of 41 to 59 (Moderate pollution)
  • Green category: PI score of 21 to 40 (Low pollution)
  • White category: PI score up to 20 (Minimal pollution)

Industries in the white category are considered to have the least environmental impact and are subject to minimal regulatory oversight.

Important Points:

  • White Category Industries are exempt from obtaining prior permissions (CTE and CTO) from state pollution control boards.
  • These industries are considered to have minimal environmental impact and are not major contributors to pollution.
  • Examples of white category industries include:
    • Wind and solar power projects
    • Air cooler assembly units
  • Under the new regulations, white category industries need to submit a self-declaration to inform authorities about their operations.
Pollution Index (PI) Categorization:
  • The Pollution Index (PI) ranks industries based on their environmental impact:
    • Red category: PI score of 60 and above (High pollution)
    • Orange category: PI score of 41 to 59 (Moderate pollution)
    • Green category: PI score of 21 to 40 (Low pollution)
    • White category: PI score up to 20 (Minimal pollution)
  • Industries in the white category have the least environmental impact and face minimal regulatory oversight.
Purpose of the New Regulations:
  • The goal is to reduce the regulatory burden on environmentally friendly industries.
  • The move encourages sustainable practices by allowing industries to self-declare their operations.
  • The change is intended to reduce unnecessary red tape while ensuring compliance with basic environmental standards.

Why In News

Industries classified under the ‘white category’ by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), considered non-polluting due to their minimal environmental impact, will no longer need prior permissions—such as ‘consent to establish’ (CTE) and ‘consent to operate’ (CTO)—from state pollution control boards to operate under the Air Act, 1981, and Water Act, 1974, according to draft notifications from the Ministry of Environment. This change is expected to streamline processes and reduce regulatory burdens on industries that have a minimal environmental footprint.

MCQs about White Category Industries

  1. Which of the following industries are classified under the ‘white category’ by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)?
    A. Coal mining
    B. Wind and solar power projects
    C. Chemical manufacturing plants
    D. Steel production units
    Correct Answer: B. Wind and solar power projects
    Explanation: White category industries are those with minimal environmental impact. Wind and solar power projects are examples of such industries, as they contribute little to air and water pollution.
  2. What is the primary purpose of exempting ‘white category’ industries from obtaining prior permissions under the Air Act and Water Act?
    A. To encourage larger industries to expand
    B. To reduce the regulatory burden on non-polluting industries
    C. To allow industries to pollute more freely
    D. To improve air and water quality
    Correct Answer: B. To reduce the regulatory burden on non-polluting industries
    Explanation: The main objective of exempting white category industries from prior permissions is to reduce unnecessary regulatory procedures for industries that have a minimal environmental impact, making it easier for them to operate.
  3. What is the Pollution Index (PI) used for?
    A. To measure the effectiveness of pollution control measures
    B. To categorize industries based on their level of environmental impact
    C. To calculate the cost of pollution control technology
    D. To monitor weather changes and air quality
    Correct Answer: B. To categorize industries based on their level of environmental impact
    Explanation: The Pollution Index (PI) is a system used to categorize industries according to their environmental impact, based on factors like emissions, effluents, and resource consumption.
  4. Under the new regulations, how must ‘white category’ industries inform authorities about their operations?
    A. By submitting an environmental impact report
    B. By obtaining approval from state pollution boards
    C. Through a self-declaration
    D. By conducting an environmental audit
    Correct Answer: C. Through a self-declaration
    Explanation: White category industries no longer need prior approval from state pollution boards. Instead, they are required to submit a simple self-declaration to inform authorities about their operations.

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