NACEJ raises strong objections to MoEF&CC notifications exempting industries from environmental clearances

By A Representative

The National Alliance for Climate and Ecological Justice (NACEJ), a pan-Indian initiative of the National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM), has submitted a strongly-worded letter to Ved Prakash Mishra, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), objecting to recent notifications that exempt industries from obtaining Consent to Establish (CTE) and Consent to Operate (CTO). The letter, signed by over 50 environmental activists, researchers, and organizations, demands the immediate withdrawal of the notifications, citing severe legal, environmental, and social concerns.

The notifications, G.S.R 702(E) and G.S.R 703(E), issued on 12th November 2024, exempt industries with Environmental Clearances and 39 so-called "White Industries" from obtaining CTE and CTO under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. NACEJ has criticized these exemptions as a blatant prioritization of 'ease of doing business' over environmental protection, public health, and the rights of communities.

NACEJ has raised several critical objections to the notifications. The exemptions undermine the foundational objectives of the Air and Water Acts, which were enacted to protect public health and ensure environmental sustainability. The removal of consent requirements weakens critical pollution control measures and ignores local environmental challenges. The State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs), which are responsible for monitoring industrial compliance, have been sidelined, creating a regulatory vacuum that allows industries to operate with minimal oversight and accountability.

The classification of 39 industries, including Fly Ash Bricks/Block Manufacturing, as "White Industries" is deemed unscientific and arbitrary. Fly ash, a byproduct of coal combustion, contains toxic heavy metals like arsenic, lead, and mercury, posing significant health and environmental risks. Exempting these industries from environmental scrutiny is dangerous and unjustifiable. The notifications bypass the legislative process required to amend the Air and Water Acts, rendering them potentially unconstitutional. Such executive overreach violates the principles of federalism and democratic governance. Additionally, the notifications were issued without any public consultation or engagement with affected communities, experts, or civil society organizations, violating the Pre-Legislative Consultation Policy (2014) and democratic norms.

NACEJ warns that these exemptions will exacerbate India's climate crisis and undermine its commitments under the Paris Agreement. The increased industrial activity facilitated by the notifications will lead to higher greenhouse gas emissions, hindering India's ability to meet its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

NACEJ has called for the immediate withdrawal of the notifications G.S.R 702(E) and G.S.R 703(E). They have also demanded a detailed study on the environmental, social, and economic impacts of exempting the 39 industries, which should be made publicly available and subject to public scrutiny. The alliance has emphasized the need to uphold the statutory role of SPCBs in monitoring industrial compliance and to refrain from making arbitrary amendments to the Air and Water Acts.

The letter is endorsed by prominent environmental activists and organizations, including Medha Patkar (Narmada Bachao Andolan), Soumya Dutta (MAUSAM), Himanshu Thakkar (SANDRP), and representatives from Climate Front India, Fridays for Future India, and various regional movements.

NACEJ's letter underscores the urgent need for the MoEF&CC to prioritize environmental protection and public health over industrial interests. The alliance has urged the Ministry to take corrective action and uphold India's environmental laws and commitments to climate justice.

Comments

Wave of disappearances sparks human rights fears for activists in Delhi

By Harsh Thakor* A philosophy student from Zakir Hussain College, Delhi University, and an activist associated with Nazariya magazine, Rudra, has been reported missing since the morning of July 19, 2025. This disappearance adds to a growing concern among human rights advocates regarding the escalating number of detentions and disappearances of activists in Delhi.

How community leaders overcome obstacles to protect forests and pastures in remote villages

By Bharat Dogra Dheera Ram Kapaya grew up in such poverty that, unable to attend school himself, he would carry another boy’s heavy school bag for five kilometers just to get a scoop of daliya (porridge). When he was finally able to attend school, he had to leave after class five to join other adolescent workers. However, as soon as opportunities arose, he involved himself in community efforts—promoting forest protection, adult literacy, and other constructive initiatives. His hidden talent for writing emerged during this time, and he became known for the songs and street play scripts he created to promote forest conservation, discourage child marriages, and support other social reforms.

‘Act of war on agriculture’: Aruna Rodrigues slams GM crop expansion and regulatory apathy

By Rosamma Thomas* Expressing appreciation to the Union Agriculture Minister for inviting suggestions from farmers and concerned citizens on the sharp decline in cotton crop productivity, Aruna Rodrigues—lead petitioner in the Supreme Court case ongoing since 2005 that seeks a moratorium on genetically modified (GM) crops—wrote to Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on July 14, 2025, stating that conflicts of interest have infiltrated India’s regulatory system like a spreading cancer, including within the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR).

The GMO illusion: Three decades of hype, harm, and false hope

By Sridhar Radhakrishnan Three decades of hype, billions of dollars spent, and still no miracle crop. It's time to abandon the GMO biotech fairy tale and return to the soil, the seed, and the farmer. “Trust us,” they said. “GMOs will feed the world.” Picture a world where there is plenty of food, no hunger, fields grow without chemical pesticides, children are saved from malnutrition, and people live healthily.

Sandra Gonzalez Sanabria: An inspiring life from Colombia’s Amazonian valley

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* In the village of Héctor Ramírez, known as Agua Bonita, in La Montañita, Caquetá, Colombia, a vision of peace and renewal is unfolding. In the pre-2016 period, this would have been nearly impossible for outsiders to visit, as it was the epicenter of violent resistance against state oppression. However, after the Peace Accord was signed between the Colombian government and former revolutionaries—marking the end of a 70-year insurgency that claimed over 400,000 lives until 2025, including civilians, rebel fighters, and security personnel—things began to change. Visiting Agua Bonita during the Global Land Forum in Bogotá revealed a village of hope and resilience. Former FARC revolutionaries have settled here and transformed the village into a center of peace and aspiration.

Overriding India's constitutional sovereignty? Citizens urge PM to reject WHO IHR amendments

By A Representative A group of concerned Indian citizens, including medical professionals and activists, has sent an urgent appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to reject proposed amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR) before the ratification deadline of July 19, 2025.

Indigenous Karen activist calls for global solidarity amid continued struggles in Burma

By A Representative At the International Festival for People’s Rights and Struggles (IFPRS), Naw Paw Pree, an Indigenous Karen activist from the Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG), shared her experiences of oppression, resilience, and hope. Organized with the support of the International Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self-Determination and Liberation (IPMSDL), the event brought together Indigenous and marginalized communities from across the globe, offering a rare safe space for shared learning, solidarity, and expression.

Activists allege abduction and torture by Delhi Police Special Cell in missing person probe

By A Representative A press statement released today by the Campaign Against State Repression (CASR) alleges that several student and social activists have been abducted, illegally detained, and subjected to torture by the Delhi Police Special Cell. The CASR claims these actions are linked to an investigation into the disappearance of Vallika Varshri, an editorial team member of 'Nazariya' magazine.

India’s zero-emission, eco-friendly energy strategies have a long way to go, despite impressive progress

By N.S. Venkataraman* The recent report released by OPEC’s World Oil Outlook 2025 has predicted that by the year 2050, crude oil would replace coal as India’s key energy source. Clearly, OPEC expects that India’s dependence on fossil fuels for energy will continue to remain high in one form or another.

Search This Blog