The Union government has amended environment-related approval processes to stipulate that industries that have obtained environmental clearance (EC) will no longer need consent to establish (CTE), a decision which he said was aimed at removing double compliance.

The EC serves as the main regulatory control point in India for new industrial and development projects, mandated by the Environmental Impact Assessment Notification, 2006. It is issued either by the central ministry or state authorities. ‘State. A CTE, on the other hand, is issued by the national pollution control boards for industrial units likely to cause air or water pollution.

“The Government of India has accepted the industry’s long-pending demand to remove dual compliance in environmental clearance and consent for setting up new industries,” the Union Environment Ministry said in a press release.

“Industries that have taken the EC will not be required to take the CTE. This will not only reduce the compliance burden but also avoid duplication of approvals. Notifications to this effect have been issued by the MoEFCC under the Air Act and the Water Act,” the statement added.

Additionally, non-polluting white category industries have been exempted from the requirement to obtain both CTE and consent to operate (CTO) from state pollution control boards.

The notification integrates both approvals and includes a procedural standard to address issues typically considered during the CTE process within the EC itself.

“State pollution control boards will be consulted during the CE process. Additionally, the CTE tax will have to be paid by the industry, so that there is no loss of revenue to the states,” the statement added.

White category industries include assembly of air coolers, air conditioners, bicycles and strollers; manufacturing of biofertilizers without inorganic chemicals; maintenance of diesel pumps; set of electric lamps; and manufacturing of fly ash bricks, among others.

The environment ministry had previously proposed in a July 19 draft notification that certain industries would be exempted from prior consent requirements, HT reported on August 5.

Environmental expert Kanchi Kohli warned against the move. “The environmental regulatory architecture is increasingly based on governance by exemption. While flexibility is important to meet economic and environmental imperatives, it must be reinforced by the question of whether it exacerbates risks,” said Kohli, an independent legal and policy expert.