Going hi-tech in its battle against pollution, the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board has launched an online monitoring system to regulate industries in the state.
The board announced on Friday that it will only accept online applications from businessmen for pollution clearance, and the consent letter will be issued with digital signatures through the same medium.
It also divided industries into red, orange, green and white categories – in accordance with their pollution levels. The most polluting units would be marked red, followed by orange and green. The white category, on the other hand, comprises 47 types of industries that have been exempt from the consent mechanism. This has been done to encourage industries such as the Rajasthan-specific Ava-Kajawa industry and the gems and jewellery sector.
The extended consent period for the red, orange and green categories are five, 10 and 15 years respectively.
“These measures have been taken to reduce the formalities involved in the process of giving consent to the industries. The online system of application will simplify the process, thereby saving time,” said state mines and forest minister RajkumarRinwa.
Rinwa said the authorities will step up efforts to prevent illegal mining activities in the state, and hold routine checks to ensure that industries follow regulations. “We will soon install new air pollution monitoring stations at Jaipur, Alwar, Ajmer, Bhiwadi and Kota. A team from IIT Kanpur has also been roped in to study the pollution scenario in Rajasthan. Based on their suggestions, we will introduce new laws to protect the environment,” he added.
Board chairman Aparna Arora said a mechanism to measure noise pollution in Jaipur was also on the cards. “The equipment will be installed in another two to three months,” she added.
