THE GOAN NETWORK
PANAJI
In a major overhaul of its consent mechanism aimed at promoting ease of doing business, the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has approved a series of relaxations, including grant of pollution consents without physical inspection, removal of mandatory Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) approval at the Consent to Establish (CTE) stage and renewal of consents for units lacking land ownership documents.
The amended Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), approved by the State government, introduces a "Tatkal" system under which industries and commercial establishments can obtain Consent to Establish or Consent to Operate under Air and Water Act without inspection by Board officials by paying an additional 50 per cent fee. Applicants will be required to submit ownership documents, statutory permissions, a self-certification and an affidavit in the prescribed format, following which the consent can be processed without a site visit.
In another significant decision, the Board has done away with the requirement of submitting GCZMA approval while applying for Consent to Establish, although projects located in coastal regulation zones will have to comply with applicable laws separately. At the same time, the Board has made a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the concerned Village Panchayat a mandatory document for all consent applications.
The Board has also relaxed norms relating to land ownership documents in cases involving existing establishments. Units that have been carrying out activities for several years but are unable to produce registered land deeds, land conversion certificates or valid lease or leave-and-licence agreements due to various reasons will now be eligible for renewal of Consent to Operate.
Fresh consents in disputed land cases, however, will be considered only on a case-to-case basis where the applicant demonstrates continuous, peaceful and undisturbed possession of the land or premises for at least 12 years. Such applicants will have to furnish an indemnity bond, with the Board reserving the right to revoke the consent if the declaration is later found to be false.
To expedite disposal of applications, the Board had constituted a Consent Committee comprising a Scientist 'D', Law Officer, concerned Taluka Assistant Environmental Engineer and Environmental Engineer to scrutinise all consent applications.
Official data shows that between February 1 and May 31 this year, the GSPCB granted 1,721 consents under the Water and Air Acts, including permissions for new industries, renewals and expansion projects. These included 416 new Consent to Operate approvals under the green category, 10 under the red category and 53 under the orange category. The Board also granted 16 new Consent to Establish approvals for red-category industries and 36 for orange-category units.
