India allowing industries to expand with little scrutiny is disaster risk

The March 2021 amendment of EIA notification of 2006 reduces the scrutiny of habitually polluting units which want to increase capacity and product mix.

Recent changes in the environment clearance process for India's most polluting industries will allow them to expand their capacity and change their raw materials without seeking the central environment ministry's approval. This dilution of rules may not only worsen India's high pollution load but also result in lethal industrial disasters, experts warn.

The March 2021 amendment to the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) notification of 2006 reduces the scrutiny of habitually polluting units such as petrochemical, cement and fertiliser factories wishing to undertake critical changes in capacity and product mix. Earlier, these units could increase their capacity only up to 50%