Centre: Units in approved industrial estates don’t need separate green nod

The Environment Ministry has now clarified that if an industrial complex has already obtained environmental clearance, individual projects located within that complex need not require environmental clearance.

According to a memorandum issued by the ministry, “Those industrial complexes that produce similar products and those with a “pre-defined set of activities” obtain environment clearance, individual industries including proposed industrial housing within such estates/complexes will not be required to take prior environmental clearance.”

Under the pre-defined set of activities, the government has now defined that information regarding various categories of projects, activities proposed to be set up in the industrial complex, including their categorisation into red, orange, green, blue and white categories, and details about the effluent treatment plant would be needed for a comprehensive environment assessment.

There is also no requirement for amendment in the environment clearance for industrial estate/complex if there is no increase in pollution load of the industrial estate or complex.

A project proponent that proposes, develops and has legal responsibility for the development of industrial complexes has to take the responsibility of constructing common infrastructure like effluent treatment plants, green belt within the stipulated time period.

The present industrial estates will have to submit details about the type of individual projects functioning and are proposed to be set up within the estates to obtain the amended environment clearance.

Moreover, 13 categories of projects that include manufacturing of air coolers, bicycles, baby carriages, bailing of waste paper, bio-fertilizer, biscuit trays, blending/packing of tea, block making of printing, chalk making, compressed oxygen gas, cotton and woollen hosiery, diesel pump repairing, electric lamp and CFL, electrical and electronic items will not require environment clearances.