These 172 Gujarat firms operating without environmental clearance

The Gujarat Government’s Forest and Environment Ministry stated that 172 private companies have been operating in the state without environmental clearance certificates in the last three years. The highest number of such companies are in Porbandar district.

According to the report of New Indian Express, The information came to light in response to a question raised in the Gujarat Assembly on September 14 by C.J. Chavda, Congress MLA from Vijapur. The government data also showed an increasing trend in complaints of violations year by year.

In the fiscal year 2020-21, 987 complaints were received against industries in the state for breaking environmental standards. In 2021-22, 1241 complaints were received, and in 2022-23, 1597 complaints were received.

According to statistics released by the Gujarat government, 35 companies were operating without environmental permission in 2020-21, 25 companies in 2021-22, and 19 companies in 2022-23 in the Porbandar district. While 73 companies were functioning without environmental authorization in 2020-21, 49 in 2021-22, and 50 in 2022-23 in other districts of Gujarat.

Around 1535 show cause notices have been given to enterprises that had violated environmental regulations, with 791 notices of direction issued, and 455 directions issued. Additionally, 15 legal notices were issued, and 1391 applications have been deemed unnecessary in the last three years.

However, environmentalists disagree with the government’s data. They claim that the number of companies that truly affect the environment is higher than the figures reported. Mahesh Pandya, an environmental activist, blames the government saying, "These figures are based on people’s complaints but the question is, does the government not know how such companies operate?"

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