The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has amended the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), approved by the government, to promote businesses (TGE 29 June). The new procedures are: (1) A tatkal system whereby industries can obtain Consent to Establish/Operate without a site inspection. For this, a 50% additional fee would be charged, along with the submission of ownership documents, statutory approvals, self-certification and an affidavit. (2) Coastal projects need to comply with CRZ rules, but GCZMA approval is not required (this seems to be contradictory). (3) Existing units could renew Consent to Operate without registered land deeds, a conversion certificate or valid lease/licence documents. Thankfully, an NOC from the concerned Panchayat is mandated for all consent applications. (4) Small eateries with 20 seats are exempted from GSPCB clearances.
It is shocking to read that site visits by GSPCB officers are not necessary and business units can operate without registration, conversion certificates or valid documents. This means that units can operate without critical permissions and inspections, and no one dares to question or take them to task. On the one hand, people dissect environmental degradation, groundwater and air pollution, climate change, dead fish in waterbodies, etc., but on the other hand, the authorities do whatever they wish.Sridhar D’Iyer, Caranzalem
