Introduction

Depending on the laws and regulations of the area or nation in question, different industries may be exempt from obtaining a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Pollution Control Board. Nevertheless, many small businesses are often left out or lack improved methods for obtaining NOCs. These exclusions are typically based on factors such as company size, the nature of the activities, and the degree of natural influence.

What Is A Pollution Control Board Noc?

To ensure legal compliance with laws such as the Air and Water Acts, an industry or project must obtain a Pollution Control Board (PCB) NOC (No Objection Certificate), also known as Consent to Establish (CTE) (to build) and Consent to Operate (CTO) (to run). Applying to the State PCB and confirming compliance with environmental regulations before setup and operation are essential for every organisation that produces waste or uses substantial resources.

Table of Contents

Introduction
What Is A Pollution Control Board Noc?
Types Of Industries Exempted From Obtaining Noc From The Pollution Control Board
Reasons For The Exemption Of Industry From Noc Requirement
Conditions For Exemptions From Obtaining Noc
List Of Industries Exempted From Obtaining Noc From The Pollution Control Board
Conclusion

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Types Of Industries Exempted From Obtaining Noc From The Pollution Control Board

Industries such as the following may be exempt from or have simplified procedures for obtaining NOC from the Pollution Control Board-

Small-scale industries: The Pollution Control Board may not issue NOCs to small-scale businesses with low pollution potential or those operating within specific boundaries.
Cottage industries: NOC requirements may not apply to cottage businesses that engage in traditional and non-polluting activities.
Certain agricultural activities: Some agricultural activities, such as cultivation and animal husbandry, may not be covered by NOC requirements, depending on the size and kind of operations.
Non-polluting industries: NOC requirements may not apply to companies classified as non-polluting or with minimal environmental impact, such as software development, IT services, and consulting.
Renewable energy projects: Businesses engaged in environmentally friendly power projects, such as solar or wind energy, may have developed systems to acquire NOCs because these are harmless to the ecosystem.

Reasons For The Exemption Of Industry From Noc Requirement

The following are some common reasons why an organisation or individual cannot obtain a NOC from the Pollution Control Board:

Statutory Exemptions: Certain regulations or guidelines may explicitly state exclusions from NOC prerequisites for specific actions or substances, these exclusions are typically based on the nature of the action or the situation with the element in question.
Governmental or Diplomatic Immunity: Government organisations, strategic missions, and their personnel may be excluded from NOC requirements due to the authority status and the standards of discretionary invulnerability.
Emergency or Urgent Situations: To ensure the seamless operation of basic administration some exceptions may be permitted in crises or urgent situations when obtaining an NOC would create significant obstacles or impede basic tasks.
Pre-approved Projects or Activities: Due to predetermined criteria, such as low natural effects or minimal risk to public safety, some jurisdictions may pre-approve projects or activities that are exempt from NOC requirements.
Small-scale or Low-risk Operations: Exercises or operations with a narrow scope that pose little harm to the environment, public health, or security may be excluded. It is done to reduce administrative burdens on low-risk enterprises and streamline regulatory processes.
Population safety: To ensure the welfare of the general population, public safety services are essential. These services cover a wide range of tasks, including emergency medical care, fire department services, police enforcement, and related services. They are intended to keep people safe and stop potentially dangerous situations.
Quick response: During emergencies, exemptions are essential for enabling prompt reactions. They guarantee quick emergency response by enabling emergency responders and other critical personnel to act without delay.
Continuity: To ensure essential services continue during emergencies, critical functions must remain operational. Sustaining these services guarantees that people have access to the resources they require and helps avert future crises.

Conditions For Exemptions From Obtaining Noc

Industries established in the demarcated Industrial estates.
Sectors that do not have more than 1 crore rupees in plant and machinery.
Industries that do not have more than Rs 2 Crore in machinery for hosiery units.
Industry will not discharge any air pollution, including noise, into the atmosphere.
Industry will not discharge any toxic or hazardous waste that could cause water pollution.

List Of Industries Exempted From Obtaining Noc From The Pollution Control Board

S. No.
1	Aggarbatti and other cosmetic products are manufactured by blending (Dry Process)
2	Air conditioners, Water Coolers, Room Coolers & heaters without wet process
3	All types of toys and doll-making equipment without the wet process
4	Aluminium utensils from aluminium circles (without any wet process)
5	Aluminium, Stainless Steel, and Brass Vessels are marked with only the processes: spinning without buffing, polishing, pickling, washing, Hot/Cold rolling, annealing furnace, and anodising.
6	Assembling the door closer and the rings
7	Assembly of air coolers and conditioners, repairing and servicing
8	Assembly of the bicycles, baby carriage and other small non-motorised vehicles
9	Assembly of computers, Computer Software, and Computer peripherals.
10	Atta Chakki and Millet grinding.
11	Audio, Video, and consumer electronic equipment assembly only.
12	Automobile Bodybuilding without the wet process.
13	Automobile Repair Workshop. (without any wet process)
14	Ayurvedic and Homoeopathic medicine (without boiler)
15	Baling (hydraulic press) of waste papers (without any wet process)
16	Beauty Parlour
17	Beekeeping
18	Belt Fastener units without a wet process
19	Bindi making units
20	Bio-gas
21	Biscuit trays from a rolled PVC sheet (using an automatic vacuum forming machine)
22	Biscuits, Pastries, Cakes, Confectionery, Bread, Bakery up to 100 kg/day
23	Black Smithy Shop
24	Blending and packaging of Tea
25	Block making for printing without a foundry (excluding the wooden block making)
26	Block making, Printing, Offset Printing
27	Book Binding
28	Brass & Bell metal utensils manufacturing from a circle (without a re-rolling facility)
29	Brush making units with fibre/plastic wire
30	Candle manufacture
31	Carpentry & furniture units without Seasoning
32	Carpentry and wooden furniture manufacturing (excluding sawmills) with the help of electrical (motorised) machines such as electric wood planners, steel saw cutting circular blades, etc.
33	Carpet weaving
34	Cement products (without using Asbestos), such as pipes, pillars, Jafri, well rings, blocks/tiles, etc., should be produced under a covered shed to control fugitive emissions.
35	Ceramic colour manufacturing (not using a boiler and a wastewater recycling process)
36	Chewing Tobacco
37	Coated electrode manufacturing
38	Cotton Belts and Tapes/Cotton Nilwar etc.
39	Cotton cloth Knitting
40	Cotton quilt and mattresses making
41	Cotton socks-knitting
42	Crown cork-making units
43	Dairy farming (Rural Area, points periphery of half KM)
44	Decoration of ceramic cups and plates by the electric furnace
45	Diesel Generator sets up to 15 KVA.
46	Diesel pump repairing & servicing
47	DPC coating of copper and aluminium wire without any wet process.
48	DPC coating of copper and aluminium wire without any wet process.
49	Dry Grinding of spices.
50	Electrical & electronic items assembling
51	Electrical Switches, accessories making, and the Panel Board without the wet process.
52	Electrical/electronic testing and measuring instruments without a wet process.
53	Electronic Components without the use of chemicals
54	Embroidery
55	Engineering good mfg. Units without a wet process
56	Engineering Workshops, Machine Shop, Press Shop, Sheet Metal fabrications, including steel furniture, rolling shutters, grinding, fabrication (without foundry, pickling, electroplating, galvanising, and without any discharge of water/oil)
57	Fabrication units connected with animal-drawn vehicles, trailers without any heat treatment, furnace use, i.e., with no emissions
58	Finished leather goods, conversion of finished goods without the wet process
59	Fish Ponds
60	Flavoured bettle nut production/grinding
61	Floor Polish, Nail Polish, Tooth Powder, Hair Oil, Shampoo, and Tooth Paste with blending only.
62	Fountain pen manufacturing
63	Garments manufacturing without the wet process
64	General Wire Industries like wire drawing, barbed wire, Chain links, making units without a wet process
65	Glass ampoules & vials made from glass tubes.
66	Gold/Silversmithy shops with no water or chemical use
67	Gold/Silversmithy shops with no water or chemical use
68	Groundnut decorticating (dry)
69	Hand Tools without casting
70	Handicraft
71	Handlooms without the wet process
72	Household appliances and the kitchen equipment, without the wet process
73	Insulation and coated papers manufacturing (excluding paper or pulp manufacturing)
74	Jobbing and machining
75	Knitting cloth/Fabrics (Small Scale) Dry process.
76	Lathe and Welding sets (only electrical) without casting.
77	Leather cutting and stitching (more than ten machines, using a motor)
78	Leather footwear and leather products (excluding tanning and hide processing) (except cottage scale)
79	Manufacture of Cement Blocks/Jallies etc.
80	Manufacture of Cement Blocks/Jallies etc.
81	Manufacturing of optical lenses (using an electrical furnace)
82	Manufacturing of a shoe brush & a wire brush
83	Marketing/Industrial Consultancy/Advertising Agencies.
84	Mechanical clocks/watches, etc.
85	Medical & Surgical Instruments and equipment without a wet process.
86	of Transformers without polychlorinated Hydrocarbon
87	Mosaic tiles, cement pipes. Spun pipes manufacturing units
88	Motor and Pump Making without a foundry and wet process
89	Mushroom cultivation under controlled conditions/temperature
90	Musical instrument with no wet process
91	Non-conventional Energy items
92	Nut cracking & roasting
93	Oil extraction by kohlus or expellers without a boiler
94	Oil mill ghani & extraction (no hydrogenation/refining)
95	Optical Frames and glasses without the wet process
96	Organic manure (manual mixing)
97	Orthopaedic equipment without casting/wet process.
98	Packing and Processing of items using the Mechanized Process.
99	Packing materials manufacturing from non-asbestos fibre, vegetable fibre yarn
100	Packing of Agricultural/Forest Products under controlled Temperature (Mechanised Process).
101	Packing of powdered milk
102	Paints and varnishes (mixing and blending) (without ball mill) (without any wet process)
103	Paper Pins, ‘U’ Clips, pen Holders, pen & paper products without wet process
104	Paper Products without the wet process
105	Plastic Niwar from monofilament yarn
106	Polythene Bags from Monofilament Sheets/polythene sheets
107	Power loom Weaving (Small Scale) Dry process
108	Preparation of a photo identification card using a video camera and laser printing.
109	Puffed rice (muri) (using oil, gas, or electrical heating system)
110	RCC Bricks
111	Repairing of electric motor & generator
112	Seed Processing Units/hybrid Seeds- Mechanised process
113	Sericulture units.
114	Small restaurants, coffee/Tea shops, and Snack Bars
115	Solar Energy Panel making.
116	Spinning (Small Scale) Dry process.
117	Sports Goods without leather tanning & other wet processes.
118	STD Booth/cable TV Network/EPBAX.
119	Steel furniture without spray painting
120	Surgical and medical products not involving effluent/emission-generating processes.
121	Tailoring Shop as SSSBI
122	Tea Grading and Packing
123	Tea Grading and Packing
124	Typing Centre/Xeroxing
125	Tire retreading (only cold Processing)
126	Umbrellas, Raincoats, Tarpaulins without wet process
127	Weigh Bridge
128	Weighing machines with no wet process
129	Welding Electrodes
130	Wooden and corrugated Crates and Boxes
131	Zip Fasteners

Conclusion

In conclusion, industries that fall under the White Category or engage in low-risk, non-polluting operations with minimal environmental impact are usually free from getting a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Pollution Control Board. These exclusions promote ease of doing business, reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens, and free regulatory bodies to focus on monitoring industries with high pollution levels. To maintain sustainable and lawful operations, these companies must still comply with applicable environmental laws, local regulations, and good environmental practices. Therefore, exemption from NOC does not imply exemption from ecological responsibilities.

This portion of the site is for informational purposes only. The content is not legal advice. The statements and opinions are the expression of author, not corpseed, and have not been evaluated by corpseed for accuracy, completeness, or changes in the law.