Page 9 - Plastics News May 2021

FROM THE EDITOR'S PEN

Self Certification-The Best Way To Address The ‘Trust
Deficit’

arlier this fortnight, the ministry released a user manual for online submission of an
Eundertaking on no increase in pollution load due to expansion. Accordingly the environment
ministry has allowed companies operating in several industries to expand capacities on the basis
of a self-certification. The notification itself claimed the environment ministry has received
several requests from processing, production and the manufacturing sector for permitting
increase in production capacity without having to go through the entire environmental
clearance process again.
The 2016 and 2020 amendments in EIA (environmental impact assessment) introduced the
principles of “no increase in pollution load” and exemption from seeking environment clearance
if resultant increase of production capacity was less than 50%. This applied to a change in
product mix, change in quantities within products, or number of products within the same
category of industry.
However, many of our environmentalist friends in the society seems to be disappointed by
the Governments initiatives for according to them it’s creating the room for potential mis-
declaration (and misuse), especially in light of a traditionally poor monitoring regime. Some Mr. Rajiv B.Tolat
independent experts said this could mean benefitting most polluting industries that may
already have a very large pollution footprint.

I would like to advise all such friends to not jump on to the conclusion and give a fair chance to
the industry. For, Industries will also have to upload a “no increase in pollution load certificate”
from an environmental auditor or institutions empanelled by the State Pollution Control Board
or Central Pollution Control Board or Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Also,
such an exemption will be applicable only if the industry installs Online Continuous Monitoring
System (OCMS) with at least 95% uptime, connected to the servers of the CPCB or SPCBs.
If on verification, the CPCB or SPCB, after giving the project proponent the opportunity of
being heard, holds that such expansion or modernisation results in increase in pollution load,
the exemption claimed under the clause shall become invalid.
I think this is one of bold move by the government in the recent times to give industries an
opportunity for self-governance ,adhering the system of self discipline and work towards
reducing the Trust-Deficit especially between them and environmentalists.
Alternately I shall like to mention that AIPMA has been playing major role during COVID 2019
till date serving the industry with various support systems, including real-time assistance for
essential specific movement. Moreover, under the guidance of Mr. Kailash B Murarka, Chairman,
PlastivisionIndia 2023 and Mr Chandrakant Turakhia, President, AIPMA , the PlastivisionIndia
2023 Team had arranged for Free and Priority COVID Vaccination drive exclusively for AIPMA-
PVI Members and Exhibitors across India serving the larger cause, setting new standards. I
am sure most of you, by now, shall have been benefited by this drive. We thank Mr Kailash B
Murarka for this initiative and leading it from front.

Rajiv B.Tolat
Hon. Editor
publication@aipma.net

9 May 2021 Plastics News