NEW DELHI: The Delhi government has done away with mandatory consent from pollution control committee and 'trade licence' from the municipal authority for projects that fall under the category of small and medium enterprises. The Arvind Kejriwal-led government said these steps were taken to increase 'ease of doing business' in Delhi.
However, doing away with pollution certificates at a time when the National Capital is on international radar as among the most polluted city in the world is sure to raise eyebrows.
The industries department has "decided to do away with requirement of consent from Delhi Pollution Control Committee and Municipal Corporation of Delhi Trade Licence for issue of acknowledgement under provisions of the Micro, Small & Medium Enterprise Development (MSMED) Act 2006, which was a major stumbling block in ease of doing business in Delhi for traders," noted a statement on Tuesday.
However, as Aishwarya Madineni, air pollution campaigner of environment non-profitGreenpeace said, this does not bode well. "Currently, particulate matter pollution levels in Delhi are three-four times more than Indian standards. If we go by WHO or US standards, it would be even more. In such a scenario, doing away completely with consent to operate and consent to establish is not a good sign," she said. Madineni also said small industry could mean anything from brick kiln to glass manufacturing, which pollute substantially.
A senior official explained, "It does not mean the right to pollute. DPCC can conduct checks after the enterprise has been set up. A copy of acknowledgment issued under MSMED Act will also be sent to it for ensuring compliance with environment laws. Delay in granting consents increases transaction costs."
