Centre Proposes Environmental Clearance Exemption for Waste Units

13 Oct 2025 CW Team

The Union Environment Ministry has proposed exempting common municipal solid waste management facilities and common effluent treatment plants (CETPs) from obtaining prior environmental clearance, according to two draft notifications issued in early October. One notification, released on 3 October, covers CETPs, while the second, issued on 6 October, relates to solid waste facilities. Both propose exemptions based on recommendations from the sectoral Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC).

The EAC highlighted that solid waste management facilities and CETPs are regulated under the Water Act, 1974, and the Air Act, 1981, with strict and comprehensive compliance requirements. Consequently, the draft notifications propose removing entries for these facilities from the list of activities requiring prior environmental clearance under the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006.

The notifications will be open for public comment, objections, or suggestions for a period of 60 days. The Infrastructure-II panel of the EAC, responsible for appraising projects from airports to waste and hazardous disposal plants, recommended the exemption.

Regarding solid waste facilities, the EAC noted that, under the Central Pollution Control Board’s updated industrial categorisation, these facilities qualify as “essential environmental services.” They contribute to the circular economy by producing by-products such as compost, secondary raw materials, and energy, while promoting sustainable development.

Equipment

12 Dec 2025

Schwing Stetter India Unveils New Innovations at Excon 2025

Schwing Stetter India unveiled more than 20 new machines at Excon 2025, marking one of its most significant showcases and introducing several India-first technologies to the construction equipment sector. The company launched the country’s first 56-metre boom pump designed and manufactured in India, the first fully electric truck mixer, the first CNG mixer variant and the first hybrid boom pump. Executives said the launch portfolio was engineered to support India’s move toward faster, greener and more vertically oriented infrastructure through advanced engineering, clean-energy solutions a..

SEPC Resolves Hindustan Copper Dispute, Wins Rs 725 Mn Order

Engineering, procurement and construction firm SEPC Ltd has recently settled a dispute with Hindustan Copper Ltd (HCL) and secured a mining infrastructure order valued at Rs 725 million from the state-owned company. SEPC informed the stock exchanges that it has executed a settlement deed with HCL, bringing closure to all inter-se claims and counterclaims arising from arbitration proceedings. As part of the settlement, SEPC will receive Rs 304.5 million as full and final payment, marking the resolution of all pending disputes between the two entities. The company also stated that Hindustan Co..

20% Ethanol Blending Cuts India’s CO2 Emissions by 73.6 Mn Tonnes

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari recently said that India has reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 73.6 million metric tonnes due to the adoption of 20 per cent ethanol blending in petrol. He made the statement while replying to supplementary questions during the Question Hour in the Lok Sabha. Describing ethanol as a green fuel, the minister said it plays a key role in reducing pollution while also supporting higher incomes for farmers. He underlined that ethanol blending contributes both to environmental sustainability and rural economic growth. Nitin Gadkari also po..