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Environmental groups are raising alarms as the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) moves to significantly relax compliance regulations for low-polluting industries. In a recent notification, the ministry announced that 39 categories of “white industries”—deemed non-polluting or minimally polluting—are now exempt from needing Consent to Establish (CTE) or Consent to Operate (CTO) permits from state pollution control boards. The move, intended to ease the compliance burden and accelerate business setup, has drawn criticism for potentially undermining critical pollution monitoring and control measures.
The new guidelines, issued under the Air Act and Water Act, consolidate the Environmental Clearance (EC) and CTE processes, effectively reducing the layers of oversight for certain industries. However, while supporters highlight the advantages of streamlining regulations, environmental advocates caution that this may lead to weakened accountability and oversight.
Environmental Risks and Lack of Oversight
Critics point out that the exemption applies to industries with a pollution index score up to 20—a metric intended to indicate low pollution impact. However, this score does not account for cumulative pollution effects or local environmental sensitivities. Industries under the “white” category include activities like air cooler assembly, tea blending, and the production of medical oxygen, all processes that may seem benign individually but could have significant impacts when aggregated.
Under the new regulations, industries are required only to inform state pollution boards in writing before beginning operations. This passive reporting approach, environmental experts argue, is insufficient for thorough environmental management. State boards will have limited direct involvement, reducing their ability to enforce environmental standards proactively.
Concern over “Ease of Doing Business” at Environmental Expense
The government has positioned these changes as a push to simplify business processes and promote economic growth. However, critics contend that these priorities come at a steep cost to environmental integrity. They argue that India, a nation already grappling with severe air and water pollution challenges, should not sacrifice environmental safeguards in favor of business convenience.
Experts are particularly concerned about potential loopholes in the new regulations. The current notification exempts several industrial processes that, while categorized as “low-polluting,” may nonetheless contribute to localized pollution or degrade natural resources over time. Without stringent monitoring, these exemptions could lead to significant cumulative impacts.
A Setback in India’s Climate Goals?
India has made international commitments to reduce its environmental impact, including its recent pledges under the Paris Agreement. With the deregulation of CTE and CTO requirements, environmental advocates worry that progress towards these goals will be compromised.
References:
https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2073234
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