60% small industrial units in state in red zones: GPCB

SURAT: The Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) has made several relaxations for small industrial units to help them smoothly restart their activities.
Addressing industries in webinar Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI) on Friday organized by GPCB member secretary AV Shah said that there are nearly 35,898 small industrial units across Gujarat who have to comply with the norms, out of which close to 21,388 units are in various red zones.
Shah on addressing on the subject ‘Mutual Role of GPCB and Industries to Combat Corona Challenges’.
SGCCI president Ketan Desai said that industry in general has to comply with 21 laws related to environment, health and safety, and after partial lifting of lockdown, these will throw up new set of challenges for the units.
Shah stated that GPCB will not give enviromental clearance (EC) to any unit located in municipal zones which are not ‘industrial zones’ as per the corporation declared zoning of areas. “I request all industries to shift their units to industrial zones as per the SMC’s zoning criteria if they want to obtain EC from GPCB,” he said.
Shah said that in order to provide partial relief to the entitites under lockdown, GPCB has made several relaxations. Those units whose consolidated consent and authorization (CCA) certificates expires on March given extention for renewals up to June30. Units served closure notices with 15 days time limit have been given additional time till May 31 to comply with norms. “All CCA renewal applications granted extensions till September 30, 2020 without additional scrutiny. We have also extended the number of days to hold hazardous waste to 180 days provision of 90 days,” he added.
Extension of environmental audit start date from April 1, 2020 to June 1, 2020 has been given a leverage of 90 days