Industries and sectors that have Exemption from Environment Clearance | Enterclimate

In India, an #Environmental #Clearance is required for certain industrial activities that are likely to #impact the environment significantly. Environment clearance is a prerequisite as per the EIA Notification 2006. The process is a regulatory mechanism that the MoEF&CC uses through its expert appraisal committees (EACs) and State Environmental Impact Assessment Authorities (SEIAAs).The criteria for an EC is depends on whether a project has a significant potential to impact the balance of the ecology. or have a social impact on the locals in or near the project location. The EC process includes a detailed study of the potential environmental impact of the proposed activity and a public consultation process.
The following activities require an EC under the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006:
• Mining of minerals, including opencast/underground mining, and associated infrastructure activities such as roads, pipelines, and power transmission lines.
• Power Plants :Thermal power plants, nuclear power plants, hydroelectric power plants, and transmission lines.
• Infrastructure projects such as highways, ports, airports, and railways.
• Petroleum refining, oil and gas exploration, and production activities.
• Chemical manufacturing, petrochemicals, and pesticide manufacturing.
• Large-scale industrial projects include textile mills, food processing units, and cement plants.
• Real estate projects such as housing complexes and commercial buildings.
• Waste management projects include common hazardous waste treatment, storage, and disposal facilities.
• Any other projects or activities that are likely to impact the environment significantly.
Now In 2016, the MoEF&CC introduced this colour-coded classification to streamline the environmental clearance process and exempted industries falling in the white category from the EC requirement irrespective of their size. The government has also given EC exemptions in exceptional circumstances by forgoing it entirely or for a specific period.
There have been frequent amendments from to the EIA Notification of 2006 that had made several exemptions for industries from the requirement of EC. The exemption is subject to certain conditions, such as the size of the industry, its location, the use of raw materials, and the potential to impact air, water, and soil quality. In 2016 the Ministry exempted 36 white-category industries from green clearance. In subsequent amendment in 2022, the following Projects that have been recently exempted from EC under certain conditions were exempted from Obtaining prior environmental clearance.
Highway projects of strategic and defence importance within 100 km from the Line of Control (LoC) are exempted from environmental clearance, keeping defence, strategic and security considerations in view. Also, highway projects that are strategically important in border areas and must be executed on priority won't need an EC.
Biomass Based Power Plants, including thermal power plants up to 15 MW based on non-hazardous municipal solid waste or biomass using auxiliary fuel such as coal, lignite or petroleum products up to 15% have been provided with EC Exemption - as long as the fuel mix is eco-friendly.
Ports and Harbour dealing in Fish: Fish handling ports and harbours with less pollution potential compared to others, and caters to small fishermen, are now provided with EC Exemption from environmental clearance.
Toll Plazas: Toll plazas that need more width for the installation of toll collection booths and expansion activities in existing airports related to terminal building expansion without any increase in the airport’s existing area, other than expansion of runways, etc., are also provided with EC Exemption.
Exemption for low-polluting industries: The industrial categorisation based on the pollution Index (PI) concept was introduced in 2016 as part of the government's efforts to ease the regulatory burden on small and medium-sized industries while ensuring that they comply with environmental regulations and guidelines. Categorising industries into Green, Orange, and White categories aim to facilitate the regulatory process and ensure that the environmental impact of industrial activities is minimised. The White category includes small-scale industries such as agro-based, chemical and pharmaceutical, electronic, food and beverages, leather and leather goods, plastic, and textile industries.
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