Dye-makers in the state on Tuesday urged the state government to expedite Environment Clearance to ensure fresh investments. They claim that certain parameters are difficult to meet and, in such cases, while efforts are underway, the government should not withhold the Clearance if most parameters are met.
The demands were presented to Jaydrathsinh Parmar, Minister of State (MoS) for Environment and Forest, at a function organised by Gujarat Dye-Stuffs Manufacturers Association (GDMA) to felicitate its past presidents. GDMA president, Yogesh Parikh told DNA that dye-makers in Gujarat have met most of the parameters for the discharge of effluents. Those still pending are investment intensive and time-consuming.
The process to meet these parameters is underway, but the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) is not giving fresh Environment Clearance till all the parameters are met. "As a result, investments worth Rs 5,000 crore are not getting realised in industrial clusters of Ahmedabad. Units are trying to meet the norms, but it is taking time. Meanwhile, the government should expedited Environment Clearance. This will infuse new investment and create new jobs," said Parikh.
In a recent move, GPCB had liberalised licenses for dye-makers. Earlier, manufacturers had to seek permission even if they wanted to change the colour of dye. Now, the permission is not required if the dye is of the same chemical group. Parikh also complained about the delay in land allotment for new landfill sites to dispose solid waste. As of now, no new site is available but getting Environment Clearance is also a bottleneck here. As there are very few sites available, operators are levying exorbitant charges, claimed Parikh.
There are nearly 11,000 units manufacturing dye-stuffs and intermediates in Gujarat, with an estimated turnover of Rs 25,000 crore and exports worth Rs 15,000 crore. The sector provides one lakh direct jobs and another two lakh indirect jobs.
