Pollution board begins process to simplify business clearances

Panaji: In line with the directives of the de-regulation commission set up by Central govt to promote ease of doing business, the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has initiated the process of de-regulation to simplify procedures and facilitate single-window clearances. The board has taken steps to improve the overall regulatory environment and make business operations smoother by introducing fewer inspections and extending the validity of consents.

To achieve this, the board has set specific compliance milestones. Officials said that GSPCB will implement a graded fee structure for granting consent to establish and operate for MSMEs in Goa, and will also adopt a system of self-certification for these consents.


At its recent meeting, the board decided to introduce a uniform validity period for both consent to establish and consent to operate for MSMEs. It will also adopt an auto-renewal system for such consents.

The board further decided to engage third-party agencies to inspect MSMEs for the purpose of granting consents and to conduct pre-inspection checklists. Surveillance audits of MSMEs will also be undertaken.

“The office has prepared a plan of action to meet the milestones, and the same will be done keeping in mind the effective regulatory mandate of the board. A meeting will be convened with institutes such as Goa University, Goa Engineering College, NIT, IIT, and other engineering colleges, where the criteria for third-party empanelment will be decided along with the fees payable by the project proponent to such empanelled institutions. The format for inspections, etc., will be as approved by the board,” said an official.

The main objective of these de-regulation measures and policy changes is to reduce bureaucratic hurdles, ease the compliance burden on businesses, and attract more investment. The new approach seeks to address these challenges by simplifying and streamlining procedures.