Srinagar: The Federation of Chambers of Industries Kashmir (FCIK) has welcomed the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change’s (MoEF) decision to amend the Uniform Consent Guidelines under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, calling it a much-needed reform to streamline industrial approvals and ease compliance burdens.
In a statement, FCIK said the revised framework would reduce procedural delays, simplify regulatory processes and provide greater operational certainty for industrial units, while continuing to uphold essential environmental safeguards. The Federation appealed to J&K Minister for Forests, Ecology and Environment, Javid Ahmad Rana, to ensure the swift implementation of the amended guidelines in Jammu and Kashmir to restore investor confidence and support sustainable industrial growth.
The industry body also urged the Industries and Commerce Department to delink industrial incentives from Pollution Control consents, particularly for units located in notified industrial estates. FCIK said linking incentives to Pollution Control Committee (PCC) approvals and other no-objection certificates had long been a deterrent for entrepreneurs, often forcing units to forgo benefits or face prolonged delays.
According to FCIK, the amendments announced by the MoEF introduce several reforms to provisions earlier viewed by industry as cumbersome and compliance-heavy. The revised guidelines emphasise trust-based governance, reduced timelines and continuity of operations, addressing long-standing concerns related to the ease of doing business.
Under the amended framework, industrial units operating within organised industrial estates will be deemed to have obtained consent upon submission of an online application with self-certification. FCIK said this provision would significantly reduce delays and uncertainty, especially for micro and small enterprises, noting that such estates are established only after securing necessary environmental clearances.
The Federation also welcomed the removal of periodic renewals of Consent to Operate (CTO), with consents now remaining valid indefinitely unless cancelled due to violations. It said the move would provide major relief to micro and tiny units, including manufacturers of wooden fruit boxes, furniture makers, the cricket bat industry and other small-scale enterprises.
FCIK added that measures such as consolidated consent and authorisation, extended validity of consent fees from five to 25 years, a uniform definition of capital investment and the option of third-party verification through registered environmental auditors would collectively ease compliance while maintaining environmental safeguards.
The Federation has called upon its constituents and affiliated associations across all ten districts of the Kashmir Valley to widely disseminate information about the amended guidelines to ensure awareness and effective implementation.
