Introduction: State Pollution Control Board Consent

CTO refers to Consent to Operate, before carrying out any action at the industrial plant/activity/project, the entrepreneur is required to obtain consent to operate (CTO) from the State Pollution Control Board to operate an outlet u/s 25 of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and to operate an industrial plant u/s 21 of the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.  For all categories of Industries and Projects, The Punjab Pollution Control Board has prescribed a composite proforma for obtaining consent to operate, The Delhi pollution board has also prescribed the same consent to operate.

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The process to apply for Pollution NOC

Siting criteria

• The Punjab Pollution Control Board will grant consent to operate to all the industries/projects/ establishments in the areas/zones, where such industry/project/establishment is allowed to establish.
• For the facilitation of industries, the Punjab Pollution Control Board will accept the analysis results of the National Accreditation Board for testing and calibration laboratories (NABL) accredited private laboratories for the purposes of grant of consent/ authorization.

Fee structure For State Pollution Control Board

Fee for NOC as prescribed by the State Pollution Control Board may vary from project to project depending on the formula – Fixed Cost + Current Cost – Current Liabilities.  The fee also depends on the category of the business applying for renewal of Consent. For more details, visit

Documentation required for CTO/CTE from Punjab State Pollution Control Board

Application for Consent to operate under Water Act, 1974/ Air Act, 1981 for Red/Orange Category - Fresh Case

• Consent Conditions or Compliance Report of NOC in illustrative form
• Completion certificate of Effluent Treatment Plant or Add-on pollution control
• devices along with Dimensional Drawing
• Plan showing the location of the Effluent Treatment Plant or Add-on pollution control
• devices and all outlets and various channels/pipes/sewers with requisite colors as mentioned below:
• Fresh Water -  Blue Colour
• Effluent Channel- Red Colour.
• Recirculation Water Channel - Green Colour.
• Storm Water - Orange Colour.
• Domestic Sewer - Dotted Black ink.
• CA's certificate regarding the un-depreciated value of the fixed assets of the industry at the end of the last financial year.

Application for the industry which is already established / operational, the following additional documents is also required to be uploaded.

• Location Plan or Site Plan of the industry
• Proof of date commissioning of the Industry ( Registration of the industry/ Electricity bill /Sales Tax no )
• Manufacturing process details along with the process flow chart
• The latest granted NOC/CTE/CTO, if obtained offline, then a copy of NOC/CTE/CTO granted to be uploaded
• Analysis report of treated emission from Punjab Pollution Control Board/ waste effluent / Approved Lab
• Documents regarding designation of area/compliance with specific guidelines:

(Any one of the following)

• Allotment letter of the Allotting Authority, if the site of the project is located in the designated Industrial Area/  Industrial Estate/ Focal Point.

Or

• Certificate from the Designated Authority to the effect that the site of the project/industry is located in the designated Industrial zone/ area of the notified/ draft Master Plan in which the establishment of such industry/ project is permissible. The undertaking shall clearly indicate the revenue entries I.e. Hadbast Number, khewat /khatauni number, and Khasra numbers.

   Or

• Certificate of the Revenue Authorities (SDM/DC/ADC) indicating the distance of the site of the industry from the Municipal Corporation Limits Lallakir /Phirni of the nearest village, in case, the industry is to be established at a plot other than the plot in the industrial estate /industrial zone/ industrial area of the draft master plan / industrial zone of the notified master plan.         

   Or

• For industry-specific guidelines, certificates/ documents as mentioned in the said guidelines (In case of Rice Sheller/Saila Plant/Stone Crusher/Brick Kiln/Hot Mix plant/Cement Grinding units, etc.)

Application for Consent to operate under Water Act, 1974/ Air Act, 1981 for Green Category - Fresh Case

• Compliance report of NOC / Consent Conditions in annotated form
• CA's certificate regarding the un-depreciated value of the fixed assets of the industry at the end of the last financial year

Application, where the industry is already established / operational, the following additional documents, are also required to be uploaded

• Location Plan or Site Plan of the industry
• Proof of date commissioning of the Industry (Registration of the industry/ Electricity bill /Sales Tax no. )
• Manufacturing process details along with the process flow chart.
• The latest granted NOC/CTE/CTO, if obtained offline, then a copy of NOC/CTE/CTO granted to be uploaded.
• Documents regarding designation of area/compliance of specific guidelines (Any one of the following):
• Allotment letter of the Allotting Authority, if the site of the project is located in the designated Industrial Area/ Industrial Estate/ Focal Point.

      Or

• Certificate from the Designated Authority to the effect that the site of the project/industry is located in the designated Industrial zone/ area of the notified/ draft Master Plan in which the establishment of such industry/ project is permissible. The undertaking shall clearly indicate the revenue entries I.e. Hadbast Number, khewat /khatauni number, khatta number and Khasra numbers.

      Or

• Certificate of Revenue Authorities (DC/ADC/SDM) indicating the distance of the site of the industry from the Municipal Corporation Limits / Lallakir/Phirni of the nearest village, in case, the industry is to be established at a plot other than the plot in the industrial area / industrial zone/ industrial estate of the draft master plan / industrial zone of the notified master plan.

Important Note from State Pollution Control Board:

• In case the NOC was not granted online, you requested to submit a copy of NOC granted, a copy of the Project Report and Feasibility Report submitted at the time of obtaining NOC
• The application shall be accompanied by CTO fee  as per the un-depreciated fixed assets of the industry

Validity Period Of Consent To Operate Granted By Punjab Pollution Control Board

All the industries will be granted consent to operate for a period of  5 years except in the case of industries, falling in green category, where the consent would be for a period of 10 years. However, the culminating period of consent to operate shall be as under:

After obtaining the consent of the Punjab Pollution Control Board, the industry will intimate the concerned Regional Office of the Pollution Control Board that it’s ETP/ APCD has stabilized and shall make a request to the said Office within 3 months to carry out performance study/sampling of pollution control devices. If the industry does not convey to the Pollution Control Board, then it will be the responsibility of the Regional Office to visit the industry for carrying out monitoring after 3 months but not later than 6 months. In case, the industry is found violating the conditions of consent, the industry would be liable for action under the provisions of the environmental laws including revocation/cancellation of consent granted to it.