CHANDIGARH, Oct. 10 -- In a major relief to nearly 20,000 existing industrial units operating in non-conforming zones across Punjab, the state government has extended their exemption from the provisions of Section 79 of the Punjab Regional and Town Planning and Development Act, 1995, until September 30, 2027. Ludhiana alone accounts for around 10,000 of these units.

The exemption is subject to compliance with pollution-control norms prescribed by the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) and obtaining a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the board.

Non-conforming zones are areas where existing industries or other activities do not conform to the land-use designations prescribed under an approved master plan. For instance, an industrial...