Govt to fast-track nod for green industry

Jaipur: Entrepreneurs with smaller investments can set up a green industry with more ease. Following the new order, Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board (RSPCB) has reduced the deadline for disposal of applications for green category industries to seven days for those with capital investment of Rs 5 crore and 15 days for those with capital investment of more than Rs 5 crore.The previous deadline was 120 days.
As per provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, e-waste (Management) Rules, 2016 and Hazardous and Other Waste (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016, the statutory timeline for disposal of consent for setting up industries and authorisation applications received at State Pollution Control Board is within 120 days.
In order to attract more investment in the state, RSPCB has reduced the timeline for disposal of consent to establish applications in industries not only on green category but also of red and orange category as well from 120 days to within 60 days.
“Currently, the statutory timeline for disposal of consent and authorisation applications is within 120 days as per provision of various environmental laws. It is implicit that an entrepreneur has to obtain series of clearances from various departments to set up an industry. After detailed deliberation, the state board, with a perspective to rationalise and ensure expeditious disposal of applications, has decided to dispose the applications at its head office and regional offices within the reduced timelines,” said Naveen Mahajan, chairperson, RSPCB.
Every month, around 1,800 consent and authorisation applications are received at the state board under various environmental Acts and rules.
Mahajan said that the initiative has been taken in keeping spirit of ease of doing business and shall facilitate entrepreneurs to establish their investment projects.
After consent for setting up industry, the owner has to take another consent to operate, when he starts the production or operation of the unit.
In case of the first application by entrepreneurs from red and orange category industries for consent to operate, it has been decided that the applications shall be disposed within 75 days at regional office level.