These draft rules are an attempt to rationalise and standardise procedures. So far, each state board or committee has its own rules on which industry may operate in its area and on which development activity will be allowed. It left industries, particularly those who have operations in various states, grumbling about the lack of a level playing field. Finally, the authorities have decided to act.

The Central Pollution Control Board had formed a committee to frame guidelines on a uniform consent procedure that the state pollution control boards and committees could follow. Nearly a year after CPCB gave its report, the MEF has now decided to go ahead with such a procedure by notifying and inviting objections to draft rules aimed at bringing up decision-making and providing a base to regulate investment for sustainabledevelopment.

The draft rules aim at more transparency and expeditious decision-making in the functioning of state pollution control boards (SPCBs) and pollution control committees (PCCs) of the union territories, in the implementation of water and air pollution control laws as well as management of hazardous waste.

The notification, issued under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, will bring in uniformity in the process of grants and renewal of consent by the SPCBs and PCCs and will provide a level playing field to the industries.The new proposals provide for a combined application form for obtaining consent, which includes aspects of water and air pollution and hazardous waste management and handling.

According to a ministry official, the new draft rules will greatly simplify procedures. For instance, there will be a combined application form for consent, which will take into account aspects of water and air pollution as well as hazardous waste handling and management.

In the case of industriesthat do not generate hazardous waste, a statement to this effect will be enough for the consideration of the application and no further authorisation will be required.

For speedy clearance, applications will be cleared in two stages and within specified time frames. New project proposals, for instance, will have to be given consent within 60 days. Consent periods will be uniform, too.

According to the notification, SPCBs and PCBs are required to issue consent order valid for a period which ahs been classified into red (two years), orange (three years) and green (five years) categories.

The pollution control bodies have also been given the responsibility of preparing a list of non-polluting industries in the category of small, cottage and tiny sectors for the purpose of granting a simplified consent for a period of 10 years.

The notification also stipulates that for the inspection of industries, the boards and committees should visit large and medium industries at least once in three months and smallindustries at least once a year.