The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) on February 27, 2024, issued a circular regarding the Amnesty Scheme for Penal Fees for violating the Combined Consent Regime with reference to a Circular dated July 12, 2022, for penal fees for occupiers violating the Combined Consent Regime prescribed under the Water and Air Acts.
In this regard, MPCB has received several representations from various Industrial & other Associations from time to time regarding retrospective application of penalty & waving of Penal Fees, as the Penal charges are very high & thereby making it difficult for the industries to pay the penal fees.
Therefore, to encourage the industries & to regularize their activities and for effective monitoring, it was proposed to provide an Amnesty Scheme for Penal Fees to be imposed on industries violating combine consent regime.
This amnesty scheme is not for those units/industries who have already paid the penalty. This amnesty scheme will apply to those industries that will submit online applications for combined consent within 3 months’ period from March 01, 2024, to May 31, 2024. All the applications received in this period will only be considered. Industry applying under the amnesty scheme will have to pay the penal fees at a time. Applications already pending with the Board that have not paid the Penal Fees will also be considered, provided they pay the penal fees as per the Amnesty Scheme within 3 3-month period from March 01, 2024, to May 31, 2024.
The duration of the scheme will not be extended. The Amnesty Scheme fees amount to be paid by PP through an online e-payment gateway.
[Circular No. BO/MPCB/AS(T)/Circular/B-240227 FT50039]
