PPCB issues order on extending consents to run factories

Ludhiana: The much awaited order of the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) on extending the deadlines for obtaining mandatory consent from it for operating factories have finally been issued on Friday evening, after which the path has been paved for businessmen to operate their factories till March 31, 2021, with the existing consent, which had expired some months ago.Businessmen are jubilant over the move and have thanked PPCB.
According to the orders issued by the PPCB chairman, SS Marwaha, “The lockdown, curfew restrictions due to outbreak of Covid-19 have created unprecedented conditions. Entrepreneurs were finding it difficult to comply with regulatory requirements. Therefore, the board has extended the validity of consent to establish, operate, authorisation, registration and any other mandatory regulatory clearances which come under the domain of the PPCB and have expiry on and after March 15, 2020, upto June 30, 2020. In view of the prolonged unprecedented situation created due to Covid-19 and to facilitate the industry, the board has decided that the consents and clearances which come under the domain of the PPCB and having expired on and after June 30 shall be extended to March 31st, 2021.
Welcoming the decision, Rahul Ahuja, chairperson of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Punjab chapter, said, “The notification regarding extension of deadlines of pollution control board to March 31, 2021, is a very welcome step by the Punjab government and PPCB. We are thankful to principal secretary, environment, chairman, pollution control board and member secretary Krunesh Garg for their kind efforts on this demand of ours. We expect that the state government will keep taking initiatives for the welfare of the industry.”
Kulpreet Malhotra, bicycle and parts manufacturer and trader, said, “This is a revolutionary step taken by the PPCB under which the expired consents have been extended till March next year. The entire industry was in a dilemma after expiry of the consents as it was not possible for the industry to fulfil the formalities for getting the consent renewed.”