## Policy Analysis Report: Environmental Clearance for Rerolling and Cold Rolling Units
**1. Executive Summary:**
This report analyzes a notification from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India, published on July 20, 2022. The notification addresses the requirement of prior Environmental Clearance (EC) for standalone rerolling and cold rolling units. It provides a one-year window for existing units with valid Consent to Establish (CTE) and Consent to Operate (CTO) to apply for EC. Key findings include a streamlined application process with standard Terms of Reference (ToR) and exemption from public consultation, aiming to bring these units into the EC regime following observations by the National Green Tribunal.
**2. Introduction:**
The purpose of this report is to provide an informative overview of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change notification dated July 20, 2022, regarding Environmental Clearance requirements for rerolling and cold rolling units. The analysis is based solely on the information provided within the notification text.
**3. Policy Overview:**
This is a *new policy* clarification and implementation guideline, rather than an amendment.
* **Core Objective(s):** The primary objective, as inferred from the text, is to bring existing standalone rerolling and cold rolling units under the purview of the Environmental Clearance regime, following observations by the National Green Tribunal. This aims to ensure environmental compliance within the secondary metallurgical processing industry.
**4. Background and Rationale:**
* The policy addresses a situation where a large number of cold rolled stainless steel manufacturing industries were operating with only Consent to Establish (CTE) and Consent to Operate (CTO), but *without* the required prior Environmental Clearance (EC). The National Green Tribunal (NGT) recognized this discrepancy and directed that these units be provided an opportunity to obtain EC. The policy also acknowledges the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, presumably as a factor influencing the timeline and implementation approach. The Central Government views steel rerolling operations as falling under the secondary metallurgical processing industry which mandates prior Environmental Clearance for units with capacities greater than 5000 tonnes/annum (TPA).
**5. Key Provisions / Changes:**
* All standalone rerolling and cold rolling units in existence and operation as of July 20, 2022, with valid CTE and CTO, are directed to apply online for Terms of Reference (ToR) followed by Environmental Clearance.
* These units will be granted Standard Terms of Reference as per item 3a of notification S.O. 1533 E, dated the 14th September, 2006 (related to Metallurgical Industries Ferrous and Nonferrous), meaning they fall under category B if they have capacities greater than 5000 tonnes/annum TPA.
* These units are explicitly *exempted* from the requirement of public consultation, streamlining the EC process.
* There is a deadline: the application for ToR must be made within one year from the date of the notification (i.e., by July 20, 2023).
**6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:**
The primary target audience is:
* Standalone rerolling units.
* Standalone cold rolling units.
Specifically, those units that:
* Are already in existence and operating as of July 20, 2022.
* Possess valid Consent to Establish (CTE) and Consent to Operate (CTO) from the relevant State Pollution Control Board or Union Territory Pollution Control Committee.
Other stakeholders include:
* State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) and Union Territory Pollution Control Committees.
* Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
* National Green Tribunal.
**7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):**
* **Responsible agency/bodies:** The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is the primary governing body. State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) and Union Territory Pollution Control Committees are responsible for ensuring compliance at the state/territory level.
* **Timelines:** A critical timeline is the one-year window (until July 20, 2023) for existing units to apply for Terms of Reference (ToR).
* **Procedures:** Units must apply *online* for ToR, followed by Environmental Clearance. The Standard Terms of Reference will be based on the existing notification S.O. 1533 E, dated September 14, 2006. Public consultation is explicitly waived.
**8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:**
* The primary intended outcome is to bring all eligible rerolling and cold rolling units into compliance with Environmental Clearance requirements.
* The streamlined process (standard ToR, no public consultation) is likely intended to facilitate quicker and smoother compliance.
* The policy aims to address the environmental concerns raised by the National Green Tribunal regarding the operation of these units without prior EC.
* Ultimately, this policy seeks to improve environmental standards within the secondary metallurgical processing industry.
**9. Conclusion:**
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change notification of July 20, 2022, provides a mechanism for existing standalone rerolling and cold rolling units to obtain required Environmental Clearances. By offering a one-year window, streamlining the application process, and waiving public consultation, the government aims to ensure compliance with environmental regulations following the directives of the National Green Tribunal. The notification represents a significant step towards bringing these industries into the environmental clearance regime and mitigating potential environmental impacts. Compliance with the one-year application deadline is critical for affected industries.
Key Entities Referenced
National Green Tribunal: An Indian tribunal that addresses environmental protection and conservation issues.
Gajubha Jesar Jadeja vs Union of India Ors.: A case (Original Application No. 552019 WZ) brought before the National Green Tribunal.
Cold Rolled Stainless Steel Manufacturing Industries: Industries involved in the manufacturing of cold rolled stainless steel which, according to the National Green Tribunal, require prior environment clearance.
Consent to Establish CTE: A permit required for establishing an industrial unit, related to environmental regulations.
Consent to Operate CTO: A permit required for operating an industrial unit, related to environmental regulations.
Covid19 pandemic: The global pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, considered in the context of its impact on industries and environmental regulations.
Environment Clearance: A clearance required for certain projects to ensure environmental protection.
Ministry of Environment and Forest: The former name of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
Gazette of India: The official journal of the Government of India, publishing notifications, acts, and regulations.
Environment Protection Act, 1986: An act of the Parliament of India to protect and improve the environment.
State Pollution Control Board: A state-level agency responsible for implementing environmental regulations and controlling pollution.
Union territory Pollution Control Committee: A pollution control committee for Union territories in India, responsible for implementing environmental regulations.
Terms of Reference ToR: The first step to get Environment clearance. A document outlining the scope and approach of an environmental impact assessment.
Dr. Sujit Kumar Bajpayee: Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
New Delhi: The capital of India and the location of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
रजजस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-20072022-237385
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CG-DL-E-20072022-237385
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असाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग II—खण् ड 3—उप-खण्ड (ii)
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (ii)
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 3090] नई ददल्ली, बुधवार, जुलाई 20, 2022/आर्ाढ़ 29, 1944
No. 3090] NEW DELHI, WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2022/ASHADHA 29, 1944
पयाावरण, वन और जलवाय ु पररवतना मत्रं ालय
अजधसचू ना
नई ददल् ली, 20 जुलाई, 2022
का.आ. 3250(अ).—माननीय राष्टर ीय हररत प्राजधकरण न े मलू आवेदन संख् या 55/2019 (डब् लय ू जैड), (गजूबा
जेसर जडेजा बनाम भारत संघ और अन् य) म ें अपने तारीख 12 फरवरी, 2020 के आदिे द्वारा अन् य बातों के साथ यह
प्रेजित दकया था दक कोल्ड रोल्ड स्ट् टेनलेस स्ट् टील जवजनमााण उद्योगों के जलए पूव ा पयाावरण अनुमजत अपेजित होती ह ै लेदकन
इस तथ्य को ध् यान म ें रखत े हुए दक स्ट् थापना की सहमजत (सीटीई) और प्रचालन की सहमजत (सीटीओ) के आधार पर बृहद
संख् या म ें ऐसी जमलें संचाजलत की जा रही थीं, माननीय अजधकरण न े यह जनणाय ददया ह ै दक ऐसी इकाइयों को पयाावरण
अनुमजत व् यवस्ट् था के भीतर आने के प्रयोजन के जलए काय ा करने हते ु कम स े कम एक वर्ा प्रदान करके अवसर प्रदान दकया
जाना चाजहए;
और केन् रीय सरकार ने कोजवड-19 महामारी के कारण काररत प्रभाव को ध् यान म ें रखत े हुए, माननीय राष्टर ीय
हररत प्राजधकरण के पूवोक्त उक्त आदेि के अनरूु प जवचार जवमि ा करके जवजनश् चय दकया ह,ै जजससे ऐसी री-रोललग या
कोल् ड रोललग इकाइयों को पूवा पयाावरण अनुमजत प्राप् त करने का अवसर प्रदान दकया जा सके:
और केन् रीय सरकार का यह जवचार ह ै दक भारत के राजपत्र, असाधारण, भाग II, खंड 3, उपखंड (ii), म ें
अजधसूचना संख् यांक का.आ. 1533(अ), तारीख 14 जसतंबर, 2006 द्वारा प्रकाजित भारत सरकार के तत्क ालीन पयाावरण
और वन मंत्रालय की अजधसूचना की अनुसूची के धातुकम ा उद्योग (लौह और अलौह) स े संबंजधत मद 3(क) के अनुसार
जद्वतीय धात ु कम ा प्रसंस्ट् करण उद्योग के पररिेत्र म ें आने वाले स्ट् टील री-रोललग प्रचालन और अपेजित पयाावरण अनुमजत,
4798 GI/2022 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(ii)]
उसकी अनुसूची म ें (जजसे इसम ें इसके पश् चात् उक्त अजधसचू ना कहा गया ह)ै जजसम ें प्रवगा ख के अधीन आने वाली
5,000 टन/एनम (टीपीए) स े अजधक िमता वाली सभी गरै जवर्ैली द्वीजतय धातूकम ा प्रसंस्ट्क रण इकाइयां ह,ै समाजवष्टट
पररयोजनाओं के जलए पूवा पयावा रण अनुमजत की अपिे ा को आज्ञापक बनाती ह;ै
अत:, अब, केन् रीय सरकार, पयाावरण (सरं िण) अजधजनयम, 1986(1986 का 29) की धारा 3 द्वारा प्रदत् त
िजक्त यों का प्रयोग करते हुए यह जनदेि देती ह ै दक सभी स्ट् टैंड अलोन री-रोललग इकाईया ं कोल् ड रोललग इकाईया,ं जो इस
अजधसूचना की तारीख को यथाजस्ट् थजत, संबद्ध राज्य प्रदर्ू ण जनयंत्रण बोड ा या संघ राज्य ित्रे प्रदर्ू ण जनयंत्रण सजमजत स े
स्ट् थापन की जवजधमान् य सहमजत (सीटीई) और प्रचालन की जवजधमान् य सहमजत (सीटीओ) के साथ इस अजधसूचना की
तारीख को जवद्यमान ह ैं और प्रचालन म ें ह,ैं पयाावरण अनुमजत के अनुसरण म ें जनदेि जनबंधन (टीओआर) अनुदत्त करन े के
जलए ऑनलाइन आवेदन करेंगी और उक्त इकाइयों को उक्त अजधसूचना की मद 3(क) के अनुसार मानक जनदेि जनबंधन
अनुदत् त दकए जाएंग े और उन् ह ेंलोक परामि ाकी अपेिा स ेछूट प्राप् त होगी:
परंतु टीओआर अनुदत्त करने के जलए आवेदन, इस अजधसूचना की तारीख स े एक वर्ा की अवजध के भीतर दकया
जाएगा ।
2. यह अजधसूचना इसके राजपत्र म ें प्रकािन की तारीख स ेप्रवत्ृ त होगी ।
[फा. स.ं आईए-ज-े 11013/8/2019-आईए.II(I)]
डॉ. सुजीत कुमार बाजपेयी, संयुक् त सजचव
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 20th July, 2022
S.O. 3250(E).—Whereas, the Hon’ble National Green Tribunal vide its order, dated the
12th February, 2020, in Original Application No. 55/2019 (WZ), (Gajubha Jesar Jadeja vs Union of India
&Ors.), has inter alia observed that Cold Rolled Stainless Steel Manufacturing Industries require prior
environment clearance but, having regard to the fact that there were a large number of such mills operating
on the strength of Consent to Establish (CTE) and Consent to Operate (CTO), the Hon’ble Tribunal has
held that opportunity should be provided to such units to fall within the Environment Clearance regime by
granting a period of at least one year to operate for the purpose;
And whereas, the Central Government, keeping in view the impact caused due to the Covid19
pandemic has taken a considered decision in line with the above said order of the Hon’ble National Green
Tribunal, so as to provide a window period for such re-rolling or cold rolling units to obtain prior
Environmental Clearance;
And whereas, the Central Government is of the view that steel re-rolling operations fall under the
purview of the secondary metallurgical processing industry and require Environment Clearance as per
item 3(a), relating to Metallurgical Industries (Ferrous and Non-ferrous), of the Schedule to the notification
of the Government of India in the erstwhile Ministry of Environment and Forest, published in the Gazette
of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub-section (ii), vide notification number S.O. 1533 (E), dated
the 14th September, 2006, mandating the requirement of prior environmental clearance for the projects
covered in its Schedule (hereinafter referred to as the said notification), wherein all non–toxic secondary
metallurgical processing units with capacities greater than 5000 tonnes/annum (TPA) fall under category B;
Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 3 of the Environment (Protection)
Act, 1986 (29 of 1986), the Central Government hereby directs that all the standalone re-rolling units or
cold rolling units, which are in existence and in operation as on the date of this notification, with valid
Consent to Establish (CTE) and Consent to Operate (CTO) from the concerned State Pollution Control
Board or the Union territory Pollution Control Committee, as the case may be, shall apply online for grant[भाग II—खण् ड 3(ii)] भारत का राजपत्र : असाधारण 3
of Terms of Reference (ToR) followed by Environment Clearance and the said units shall be granted
Standard Terms of Reference as per item 3(a) of the said notification and shall be exempted from the
requirement of public consultation:
Provided that the application for the grant of ToR shall be made within a period of one year from
the date of this notification.
2. This notification shall come in to force from the date of its publication in the Official
Gazette.
[F. No. IA-J-11013/8/2019-IA.II(I)]
Dr. SUJIT KUMAR BAJPAYEE, Jt. Secy.
Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064
and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.