Ministry expands list of industries that are minimal polluters

The Union environment ministry has expanded the list of industries under the “white category” — industries exempted from obtaining both consent to establish (CTE) and consent to operate (CTO) from state pollution control boards.

- Jayashree Nandi

The ministry, in November 2024, had announced the white category industries, which have minimal or negligible pollution potential. In a notification issued on November 12, 2024, the ministry said the exempted industries, include all industrial plants having pollution index score up to 20, subject to the condition that such plants shall inform in writing to the state pollution control boards or the Pollution Control Committees; and plants that have obtained prior environmental clearance. As per the November 2024 notification, 39 sectors were part of the white category.