Blue tag for biogas, waste plants to ease pollution norm compliance

Time of India

a day ago

Gurgaon: In a significant regulatory shift, there is an addition of the "blue" category to the existing list of industries — red, orange, green and white. Haryana has adopted a new industrial classification framework introduced by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), adding the fifth category.
Under CPCB's new system, certain industries are now classified as essential environmental services and moved to the blue category, which is more lenient.
This new category is specifically for essential environmental services (EES) such as waste-to-energy plants, landfill maintenance, biomining operations and some compressed biogas units, utilities considered crucial for managing domestic and municipal waste.
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The rationale behind this move is to distinguish environmental clean-up and waste-handling operations from conventional industries that generate pollution.
An HSPCB official said, "These units are essential for managing growing urban waste, landfill overflow and sustainable energy production. Their inclusion in a separate category allows for easier regulatory handling without diluting scrutiny."
Less paperwork
As per the guidelines, these services are now eligible for an extended two-year consent-to-operate validity under the Water and Air Acts, based on their Pollution Index.
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That means fewer renewals, less paperwork and reduced compliance burden.
Earlier, waste-to-energy plants and certain biogas units were in stricter pollution categories (like orange or red).
Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) chairman Vineet Garg issued orders on Aug 1 to align with this classification and begin granting the extended clearances.
These services, though industrial in structure, are central to reducing pollution loads from other sources and preventing environmental degradation from domestic waste.
CPCB said in a letter to all states, "The new category of the EES will be termed 'blue category sector', and as an incentive for the essential services, an additional two years validity for consent to operate will be provided."
CPCB first wrote to all State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) in Feb, directing adoption of the new classification. A follow-up letter in March expanded the list to include select compressed biogas units.
Haryana is among the early adopters, formalising the update ahead of several others.
Until now, such facilities were classified under conventional pollution-risk categories, limiting their operational leeway despite their public utility role. By carving out a distinct category, the regulator has recognised that some industrial units actively mitigate, rather than create, environmental harm.
No compromise
Officials say the move aims to fast-track operations of such utility units without compromising environmental safeguards. The move could streamline approvals for key public health and sanitation infrastructure and reduce bureaucratic delays.
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