The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) on November 25, 2025, issued the notification regarding the Clarification with respect to 'Specific Condition' in Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006.
The following has been stated namely: -
• The Ministry received representations seeking procedural facilitation for setting up Industrial Estates/Complexes under the Specific Condition of the EIA Notification, 2006, to avoid separate ECs for individual units.
• Once an Industrial Estate/Complex with homogeneous industries or a pre-defined set of activities obtains EC, individual units (including industrial housing) need not obtain separate ECs, subject to conditions.
• While homogeneous industries are clearly defined in the Notification, the Ministry noted the need to clarify the meaning of “pre-defined set of activities” for comprehensive appraisal.
• “Pre-defined set of activities” means all essential information required for a comprehensive environmental appraisal by EAC/SEAC, adhering to the precautionary principle.
• Such information must include types and numbers of proposed industries/activities, their EIA categorization, CPCB colour classification, and details of non-scheduled activities.
• Details of common infrastructure (CETP, STP, TSDF, CBWTF, greenbelt, utilities, roads, water supply, waste management, timelines, etc.) and a clear layout plan must be provided.
• After EC is granted to the Industrial Estate/Complex, no separate EC is required for individual units (including expansion or modernization), which will instead be regulated through CTE/CTO by SPCB/PCC.
• No amendment in EC is required for layout or unit changes without increase in overall pollution load, but any increase in pollution load or addition of new categories requires fresh appraisal.
• Certain 13 categories of projects do not need separate EC if they were included during the original appraisal; otherwise, separate appraisal is mandatory.
• The project proponent of the Industrial Estate/Complex is legally responsible for common environmental infrastructure and EC compliance, while individual units are responsible for compliance at their unit level, with strict timelines and restrictions on EC transfer.
[Notification No. IA-Z-11/4/2025-IA-II(IND-I)]
