PANAJI
In a major step toward improving the Ease of Doing Business, the Goa State Pollution Control Board has announced a simplified and expedited process for issuing Consent to Establish (CTE) and Consent to Operate (CTO) certificates for industrial units and various projects across the State.
The Board in a circular issued on July 11 has introduced self-certification for consent to establish and consent to operate certificate and Third Party inspection instead of departmental inspections for industries having capital investment up to Rs 50 lakh.
It also speaks about auto renewal of CTE and CTO for a period of three years for all categories of industries.
“In order to reduce compliance burden and deregulation of Ease of Doing Business and also to ensure timely disposal of Consent Applications for issue of CTE and CTO certificates, the Board has decided to introduce a new simplified process with immediate effect,” Board member secretary Sanjeev Joglekar said.
To obtain CTE and CTO for industries having capital investment up to Rs 50 lakh, the project proponent will have to submit online application form and self-certification. For third party inspection, the Board will have an empanelled list of agencies or environmental auditors.
The Board has proposed auto renewal of CTE for a period of three years for projects irrespective of any capital investment of the project. The auto renewal will be done subject to online submission of Requisition letter by the project proponent. The renewal will be done free of cost.
As far as auto renewal of CTO is concerned, the project proponent will have to pay the renewal fee.
“In the case of closure order of a court case pending before NGT or any judicial authority, the provisions of auto renewal will not be applicable till disposal of the court case or satisfactory compliance,” Joglekar said.
