Entrepreneurs seeking to set up industries in the national capital will now be able to apply online for environmental clearance by Delhi Government.

Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit launched an online system for environmental approval by Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC).

Environment department officials said DPCC has become the first such state pollution control agency to introduce such a facility in the country.

The DPCC will not only receive application online but also provide approval through the electronic system. Even processing fees can be paid online by the applicants, they said.

To operate an industry, one has to get approval from the DPCC under the provisions of Water Prevention and Control of Pollution Act 1974 and Air Prevention and Control of Pollution Act, besides approval under Authorisation under Hazardous Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1989.

At present an applicant has to submit a detailed manual application form and it was observed that industrialist face lot of problems and many a time information given in application is either not complete or incorrect which further delay the processing, the officials said.

"To overcome the problem DPCC has developed a software for online application and submission of fees besides processing and grant of consent," they added.

The payment gateway portal has been integrated with Axis Bank and portal enables applicant to make payment through credit card (Master and VISA card) and online banking (only Axis Bank).

Use of online system will provide zero interface of public with DPCC besides ensuring transparency.