PCB Chairman reviews ‘Consent Mechanism of Board’

JKPCB Chairman Suresh Chugh chairing a meeting on Monday.
JKPCB Chairman Suresh Chugh chairing a meeting on Monday.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 25: The Online Consent Management and Monitoring System (OCMMS) of the Pollution Control Board was today reviewed by the Chairman, JKPCB, Suresh Chugh, here at a meeting.
He said that main objective of taking review meetings regularly is to expedite the processing of on line cases under consent mechanism, so as to give boost to young entrepreneurs, who are establishing new industries as per the New Industrial Policy of the Government viz Start-up, make in India etc.
The Chairman directed the Regional Directors of Pollution Control Board, Jammu / Kashmir and other officers to ensure Zero Pendency in dealing with the consent cases and lapse in this regard or delay shall be construed as hindrance in the implementation of the Government policies. He advised the Member Secretary and the Regional Directors to provide sufficient staff in the divisions, where there is influx of new industries and directed them for early disposal of consent cases.
The Chairman was also apprised that from January 2017 to December, 2020, 10019 applications were received for Consent to Establish/Operate/ Establish (Renewal)/Operate (Renewal) by the Board and the consent were granted to 7723 during the period, which is 77% of successful disposal of consent cases. The Board rejected 1925 applications for certain shortcomings which is 19% of total applications received by the Board. He appreciated the increase in the disposal and advised all the officers to continue working with diligent, as per expectation of the Government.
He said that PCB has been front runner in BRAP (business Reforms Action Plan) under EoDB ( Ease of Doing Business) and will continue to do so to provide better services to the public.
Member Secretary, JK PCB, B.M.Sharma, while appreciating the officers for promptness in disposal of the consent cases, advised the Regional Director, PCB, Jammu / Kashmir to make clear cut recommendations while dealing with the cases of Stone Crushers, Brick Kilns and other industries, as ambiguous recommendations lead to delay in timely disposal of cases.
He also advised the Regional Directors to immediately send replies to the complaints received from LG Grievances Cell, as the same are being monitored for prompt disposal by the Government.
The other officers, who attended the meeting included Dr. Nadeem Hussain, Regional Director, PCB, Jammu; M.M.Shah, Legal Advisor; J.N.Sharma, Environmental Engineer; Dr. Bilquees Ara, I/c Scientist C and Rekha Sharma, Computer Assistant (I/c Website),PCB, Jammu.
The Regional Director, PCB, Kashmir Rafi Ahmad Bhat and Dr. Sabina Sultan, I/c Scientist C attended the meeting through Video Conference.