Consent fee for generators cut

 As per the new rules, the Consent Fee (also called license fee) will be charged based on the capacity of generator sets used by each industrial unit. The hitherto followed slab system for fee collection has been done away with. The Department of Forest, Ecology and Environment has on July 5, 2009 amended the Karnataka Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Rules, 1983, to revise the fee.

The Consent Fee is imposed on air pollution or emission caused by DG sets. The Government’s move is expected to be a major relief to nearly 35,000 industrial units, including manufacturing and software companies, which are badly-hit by the economic downturn. Majority of industries are using DG sets due to erratic power supply in the State.

The Government, according to the new rules, has fixed the rate of fee based on KWA  rating of DG set. For this, DG sets are classified into five categories -- between 1 KVA to 1,001 KVA capacity. “The fee has been fixed for each of these categories, which is far too less compared to the previous slab system,” M N Jayaprakash, Senior Environment Officer, KSPCB, told Deccan Herald.

Under the old system, the KSPCB had classified industries into 16 categories, based on their capital investment. Besides, industries were also bifurcated into Red, Orange and Green ones. Separate fees were fixed for each of the categories. Industries falling in this
bracket used to pay accordingly.