Defence Industries, Projects and Hospitals, Atomic Energy units, Nuclear Power Energy units, and BARC hospitals no more required to pay Bank Guarantees and 12% interest as penalty 

 

Considering the national security and importance, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has exempted defence establishments in the State from submitting Bank Guarantees (BGs) and 12% interest as a penalty for non-submission of BGs within the stipulated time. MPCB issues Combined Consents under the provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974; the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution), Act, 1981; and Authorisation under Rule 6 of the Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016 to all industries and various establishments in Maharashtra.

 

These consents are granted with condition of BGs to ensure compliance with the respective consent conditions. In line with the ‘Polluter Pays Principal’, the Board has implemented a system of obtaining BGs from industries, healthcare establishments, local bodies, and other relevant entities. MPCB observed that a number of Central Government establishments, particularly, Central Government’s Defence Industries, Projects and Hospitals, Atomic Energy units, Nuclear Power Energy units, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) hospitals are facing procedural difficulties in submitting BGs in accordance with the provisions of the Central Government guarantee policies.

 

The Board has also received requests to waive off submission of BGs and 12% interest as applicable along with documents in the past with the Government Guarantee Policy, 2022 issued by Ministry of Department of Economic Affairs Budget Division, New Delhi and all such cases are pending with the Board for non-submission of BGs. Therefore, the Board decided to waive off the BGs and 12% interest of all defence establishments in the State during its 182nd Board meeting held last year.