Green curbs on polluting firms still in place, DPCC clarifies

DPCC officials will continue to monitor parameters of pollution and ensure action is taken in case of non-compliance of existing green norms during registration, while clarifying that “consent to operate” wasn’t akin to registration.

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“This was an acknowledgment and didn’t imply a registration. Registration from the DPCC, in the cases where it is necessary, will continue along with the required checks for pollution,” an official said.

The move would benefit small enterprises which are required to obtain a “consent” from the DPCC despite it being not needed.

“Delhi was the only state where the Act required a consent from the state pollution board. This led to waste of time, bureaucratic hurdles, increase in transaction cost and corruption. For instance, someone wanting to set up a consultancy firm also needed a certificate from the DPCC. This will no longer happen,” the official said.

The decision will have maximum impact in the case of “orange” or moderately polluting enterprises, where the DPCC’s consent was given via “finding through inspections”. According to the Delhi government, small enterprises and industries are classified under three categories — green, orange and red. While “red” or the most polluting industries, aren’t present in Delhi, “green” or non-polluting industries were given instant acknowledgment by the DPCC.

According to the industries department, the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (MSMED) Act, 2006, was “voluntary” and ensured that small-scale industries received certain “incentives from the government in order to create a level-playing field for them”.

A government circular said that “a copy of EM I (Entrepreneurs Memorandum I) and EM II (Entrepreneurs Memorandum II) shall be endorsed to DPCC and MCD”.