SHIMLA: In a key move to accelerate industrial growth and simplify operations, the Himachal Pradesh government under Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has introduced a ‘one-time’ consent certificate system through the State Pollution Control Board.
Under the new arrangement, 12,500 registered industrial units in the state—which previously had to seek frequent no-objection certificates (NOCs) from the pollution board—will now receive a ‘one-time’ consent certificate. The validity period of this certificate will range from 5 to 25 years, offering significant relief to local businesses.
Chief Minister Sukhu stated that the initiative aims to advance the concept of ‘Speed of Doing Business’ while reinforcing ‘Ease of Doing Business’ and ‘Ease of Living’. With powers now delegated to subordinate offices, entrepreneurs will no longer need to make repeated visits to board headquarters.
Addressing past operational issues, the Chief Minister noted that power supply to industries was occasionally disconnected over minor shortcomings, impacting productivity. The new decision is expected to put an end to such disruptions.
The state government has also simplified the process for issuing NOCs by categorizing industries based on their operational capacity. Fixed timelines have been set for issuing certificates according to these categories, with strict accountability measures established for officers failing to meet deadlines.
Financial and regulatory powers have also been delegated to regional officers to streamline administration. Himachal Pradesh has become a leading state in the country to implement this ‘one-time’ consent certificate mechanism.
Furthermore, improvements to the online portal are underway to prevent red tape from obstructing business operations. The board estimates that the system will reduce clerical workload by 70 percent, allowing manpower to be redeployed to other critical operational areas.
