New Delhi, Oct. 13 -- The Union environment ministry has proposed to exempt common municipal solid waste management facilities and Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) from obtaining prior environmental clearance. In separate draft notifications published on October 3 and October 1, the ministry proposed to exempt these sectors because of their low pollution potential. The draft notifications state that the expert appraisal committee has observed that environmental essential services (EES) projects such as solid waste management facilities are governed under the provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. "The regulatory regime under these statutes are stringent and comprehensive, providing for regular monitoring, periodic inspections, and mandatory reporting by the state pollution control boards (SPCBs) and the Central pollution control board (CPCB). Further, Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, issued by the central government include criteria such as site selection for such projects etc. and whereas, the sectoral expert appraisal committee also observed that the CPCB has introduced a new 'blue category' to classify industries providing essential environmental services (EES) like municipal solid waste management facilities etc," the notification said. Given the regulatory coverage and robust oversight under existing environmental laws, and to encourage EES, the sectoral expert appraisal committee has recommended that a considered view may be taken by the ministry for exempting such EES from the requirement of prior environment clearance (EC), under the EIA Notification, 2006, it added. The recommendations of the expert appraisal committee were later referred to the expert advisory committee for examination. In an office memorandum, dated November 17, 2017, the Centre had previously clarified that only the common municipal solid waste management facility (CMSWMF), which included a landfill site, required prior EC. "In this regard, after due deliberation the expert advisory committee was of the considered view that all CMSWMF may be exempted subject to environmental safeguards to be implemented. CMSWMF are basically essential environment services which play a vital role in protecting the environment and human health. These facilities may also bring value addition by producing various byproducts such as secondary raw material, compost, energy, etc. and promote circular economy and sustainable development by converting waste into wealth," the notification added. In the case of CETPs, a substantial transformation has taken place across various industrial clusters in recent years, particularly in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, paints, chemical fertilisers, electroplating, textiles and allied industries, the official notification said. These sectors, which were earlier heavily dependent on CETPs, have progressively upgraded their infrastructure in order to comply with increasingly stringent environmental requirements. Such technological improvements have enabled industries to manage their effluents with far greater precision, operational efficiency, and accountability, it added The notification also said that a growing trend towards the adoption of Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) systems has been observed across several sectors. Further, ZLD systems ensure that no untreated or partially treated wastewater is released into the environment. "Based on the recommendations of the expert appraisal committee and the expert advisory committee, the central government is of the view that CETPs may be exempted from the requirement of prior Environmental Clearance under the EIA Notification, 2006, subject to implementation of environmental safeguards to be enforced by state pollution control boards through the consent mechanism," it said. Experts said noted that facilities, such as CETPs, need to be properly assessed before they are operationalised as they deal with hazardous materials "CETP deals will liquid waste from small scale industries full of heavy metals and toxic chemicals. The process generates sludge which is again hazardous which needs proper storing and disposal. Common solid waste management facility handles all types of waste which also includes hazardous. They will also have waste-to-energy plants. These facilities need proper impact assessment before they are allowed to operate," said Nivit Yadav, programme director, industrial pollution, Centre for Science and Environment. Hindustan Times had reported on April 7 that the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has directed state pollution control boards to adopt a revised classification of industries with a new category, blue, for so-called "essential environmental services" such as those engaged in maintaining landfills or biomining. "The new category of the EES will be termed 'Blue Category sector' and as an incentive for the essential services an additional two years validity for consent to operate (as per the Pollution Index) will be provided," the Central pollution control board had said in a letter to states and Union Territories....