No pollution control permits for ‘white category’ sectors now

These permissions known officially as ‘consent to establish’ (CTE) and ‘consent to operate’ (CTO) are granted to regulate industries that discharge effluents or emit pollutants into the environment.

The ministry has also proposed to do away with the CTE permit for “projects/activities” that require prior environmental clearance (EC).

Those industries which are practically non-polluting and categorised under the ‘white category’ by the Central Pollution Control Board will now not require prior permission of the state pollution control boards to establish and operate under the Air Act, 1981 and Water Act, 1974, according to two separate draft notifications of the Environment Ministry.

These permissions known officially as ‘consent to establish’ (CTE) and ‘consent to operate’ (CTO) are granted to regulate industries that discharge effluents or emit pollutants into the environment. The ministry has also proposed to do away with the CTE permit for “projects/activities” that require prior environmental clearance (EC).

The CTE is granted by the state pollution control board concerned carrying either standard or specific conditions to be adhered to for complying with pollution norms. Now, with the draft notification proposing to do away with the CTE permit, these conditions could be merged with the environment clearance granted by the Ministry of Environment.

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As per the Water Act, 1974, and Air Act, 1981, the CTE or a NOC is required before the commencement of the construction activities and CTO before starting operation of units like individual establishments from the state pollution control boards concerned.

Explained

White category industries

Wind and solar power projects, assembly of air coolers, bicycle assembly are some of the projects and activities that come under the white category and are exempted from CTE and CTO permits. After recategorisation by CPCB in 2016, industrial sectors with a Pollution Index score including and up to 20 come under the category. The PI of any industrial sector is a number from 0-100.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has brought out two separate draft notifications, which are notified under the Air Act, 1981, and Water Act, 1974, respectively. It has sought comments and objections on these notifications within 60 days.

White category industries, exempted from the CTO and CTE permit regime, would have to inform the state pollution control boards about their operations through self-declarations, the draft notifications said.

Nikhil Ghanekar

An award-winning journalist with 14 years of experience, Nikhil Ghanekar is an Assistant Editor with the National Bureau [Government] of The Indian Express in New Delhi. He primarily covers environmental policy matters which involve tracking key decisions and inner workings of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. He also covers the functioning of the National Green Tribunal and writes on the impact of environmental policies on wildlife conservation, forestry issues and climate change. Nikhil joined The Indian Express in 2024. Originally from Mumbai, he has worked in publications such as Tehelka, Hindustan Times, DNA Newspaper, News18 and Indiaspend. In the past 14 years, he has written on a range of subjects such as sports, current affairs, civic issues, city centric environment news, central government policies and politics. ... Read More

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