Environmental norms: MPCB warns erring companies of heavy fine

PUNE: The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has issued a circular to industries, stating that heavy penalty will be imposed on industries found operating without requisite permissions and not complying with environmental norms. The penaltywill be ten times more than the consent fee obtained by the MPCB forestablishment and operation of industries.Speaking to TOI, MPCB general secretary Radheshyam Mopalwar said there are many small-scale units operating without obtaining a consent for establishment."Too much isat stake for large industries, which have a position to maintain in the marketand cannot afford to violate rules. So, there aren't any large industry thathave not paid such fee. But there are disparate small-scale units, which do notobtain consent, or do not renew the consent for operation. Since the penalty isnominal, it doesn't affect them much. We have given them three months, fromFebruary to April 1, for paying up. If they fail to make the payment, they willhave to pay a penalty ten times the consent fees," said Mopalwar.Asenior MPCB official said the consent fee depends upon the investment of theindustry. "For investment of more than Rs 100 crore, the fee is 0.01 per cent ofthe capital; for Rs 50 to Rs 100 crore investment, the fee is Rs 75,000; for Rs10 to Rs 50 crore investment, it is Rs 50,000. The minimum fees are Rs 1,500 forinvestment from Rs 10 to Rs 60 lakh and Rs 500 for investment below Rs 10 lakh,"he said.Earlier, the penalty charged was 20 per cent of the consentfee, now it has been increased to ten times of the consent fee; this willcertainly discourage industries from non-renewal, Mopalwar said.Thestanding order issued to the industries states that "the board imposed penalcharges since July, 2008, from industries that established and operated withoutobtaining valid consents and authorisation, or obtained it after lapse ofcertain period, thereby creating a situation of discrimination against those whoobtained it"."The board has observed that in spite of imposition ofabove nominal penal charges, there has been a tendency of establishing andoperating industries, operations or processes without obtaining consent toEstablish and consent to Operate, thereby, not complying with variousenvironmental norms and standards, causing environmental pollution/violation inthe surrounding area." "It was also decided that the board willstart execution of the said scheme with effect from April 1, so as to give timeto all such units and thereafter, imposing 10 times penal rates as such onun-consented units, followed by filing of prosecutions and issuance ofappropriate directions, including closure and disconnection of electricity/watersupply etc," the order states. Asked how many industries or small-scale unitsare operating without obtaining consent, Mopalwar said it was difficult toarrive at a precise figure.