Goemkarponn Desk
DELHI: The Central Government has directed the State Pollution Control Boards across Country not to grant consent to operate (COP) or Consent to Establish (CTE) to a project, unless it has valid prior environment clearance.
“Prior Environmental Clearance is a statutory requirement for project/activities covered in the schedule of the EIA Notification 2006, issued.under section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986,” the order by MoEF states.
The ministry also has said that obtaining the consents under Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 & Air (Prevention& Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 is mandatory for all industrial units in Red, Orange and Green categories..
It has been observed that this situation is arising because majority of the SPCBs/ UTPCCs are issuing CTE/CTO to projects without ascertaining the applicability. prior EC to projects/ activities, resulting in an avoidable situation of closure for even those industries also who seek to carry out their activities following due procedure.
“The grant of EC and Consents are requirements under different statutes and are not inter-dependent and can be carried out as a parallel process,” it said
The ministry said that many a times it has been observed that while industrial units are in possession of valid ‘Consent to Establish’ (CTE)/ Consent to Operate’ (CTO) issued by State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBS)/ UT Pollution Control Committees (UTPCC), however, they have not obtained the Environmental Clearance (EC), even though it was required as per provisions of EIA Notification 2006.
