Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Issues Gazette Notification: Exempts Industries from Dual Approvals – EQ

In Short : The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has issued a Gazette notification exempting industries from obtaining dual approvals for environmental clearances. This move aims to streamline regulatory processes, reducing bureaucratic delays and promoting industrial growth. The exemption applies to certain industries, simplifying compliance with environmental norms while ensuring environmental protection remains a priority.

In Detail : The Government of India has accepted long-standing demand of industry to remove dual compliance of Environmental Clearance (EC) and Consent to Establish (CTE) for setting up of new industries. Now, non-polluting white category industries will not be required to take CTE or Consent to Operate (CTO) at all. The industries who have taken EC will not be required to take CTE. This will not only reduce compliance burden, but also prevent duplication of approvals. Notifications to this effect have been issued by MoEFCC under the Air Act and Water Act.

The notification effectively integrates these two approvals and a Standard of Procedure has also been issued in this regard to take into account the issues considered during CTE process, in the EC itself. State Pollution Control Boards will be consulted during EC process. Further, the CTE fee shall be required to be paid by the industry, so that there is no loss of revenue to the States.

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