If you plan to start a business that may generate potentially hazardous waste or pollutants, you must obtain a pollution certificate from the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB). The pollution license or certificate is written consent to establish or operate a business.
Environmentally hazardous wastes such as chemical wastes, medical wastes, fly ash, smoke emissions and detergent remains are referred to as trade effluents. If your factory discharges any of these trade effluents into the environment, contact SPCB and obtain the pollution license.
The online documents required for pollution certificate for factory operations can be obtained from the official website of the State Pollution Control Board. The website varies depending on the state in which you wish to establish a business. See the table in the end for the official websites for each state:
What is a Pollution Certificate?
A pollution certificate, often referred to as an emission certificate or pollution control certificate, is a document issued by regulatory authorities to vehicles, industries, or establishments to certify that their emissions of pollutants into the environment are within the permissible limits set by environmental regulations.
How to Obtain the Pollution Certificate/License for Business?
Follow these steps to get the pollution license for your business:
- Step 1: Before getting a pollution license to start a business, you must get a consent certificate called CTE (Consent To Establish).
- Step 2: CTE is to be obtained before participating in any activities before business initiation. After obtaining this consent certificate, you can construct the building where you intend to carry out the core business activities.
- Step 3: After constructing the building, get a CTO (Consent To Operate) which is also known as pollution license/certificate. Both these consent certificates are to be obtained from the State Board Pollution Control Board.
- Step 4: Once you obtain the pollution certificate, it remains valid for up to 5 years. This duration may vary as per the state in which you plan to conduct the business.
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Eligible Industries for Obtaining Pollution License
Different types of industries are classified into four categories according to their pollution index. These categories include:
Red Category
The industries that release severe types of pollutants (pollution index of 60 or above) fall into the red category. Large manufacturing businesses, international hotels, multi-speciality hospitals, and other industries that release effluents, hazardous chemicals, emissions and other pollutants fall into this category.
Orange Category
The industries that release relatively lesser pollutants (pollution index falls between 41 to 59) fall into the orange category. Food processing plants, medical supplies or pharmaceutical companies, car servicing companies, etc. belong to this category.
Green Category
The industries that have a lower pollution index (from 21 to 40) fall into the green category. Small bakeries, flour mills, sawmills, poultries, leather footwear companies, etc. belong to this category.
White Category
The industries that release no or negligible pollutants fall into the white category. Companies that manufacture CFL bulbs, cotton or woollen hosiery, electric lamps, etc. fall into this category.
The industries that belong to the white category do not have to obtain the pollution licence/CTO and CTE. Yet, they must inform the SPCB before initiating any construction on the site or starting the business operations.
Due to the formation of the white category and its associated benefits, it is better to start a business that creates a minimum impact on the environment.
Industries that belong to the green and orange categories can apply for the CTO or pollution certificate. The industries belonging to the red category cannot operate in forest-protected and ecologically sensitive areas.
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Application Process to Get Pollution License
Follow these steps to obtain the online pollution certificate for factory operations:
- Step 1: First, get the CTE (Consent To Establish) or NOC from the SBPC. NOC is to be acquired from the SBPC’s regional officers.
- Step 2: After obtaining the NOC/CTE, fill out the application form with all the details regarding site location, business, industry registration, etc. Submit the application form along with some specific documents to the regional officer of SBPC.
- Step 3: Alternatively, you can also log in to your respective SBPC’s official website and get the online pollution certificate for factory operations.
List Of Documents Required For Pollution Certificate For Factory
The documents required for the pollution certificate are listed below:
- Project location’s detailed layout
- Project location’s satellite image
- A project report with all the relevant details of raw materials and manufacturing processes
- Environmental Statement
- Investment proof
- NOC compliance report
- Effluent treatment plant’s completion certificate
- Compliance with environmental clearance criteria
Apart from the above-listed documents, the following documents are to be submitted to the regional officer:
- A detailed pollution control proposal
- PAN and Aadhaar Card copies of the proprietor/directors/partners
- Land ownership documents (sales deed)
Some additional documents may be required including:
- Ambient air quality reports
- Site plans or index presenting the surroundings
Visit the official site of your respective SBPC to check the complete list of documents to be submitted along with the application form.
| Serial Number | State | Official Website |
| 1 | West Bengal | https://www.wbpcb.gov.in/ |
| 2 | Uttar Pradesh | http://www.uppcb.com/ |
| 3 | Uttarakhand | https://ueppcb.uk.gov.in/ |
| 4 | Tripura | http://trpenvis.nic.in/ |
| 5 | Telangana | https://tspcb.cgg.gov.in/ |
| 6 | Tamil Nadu | https://tnpcb.gov.in/ |
| 7 | Sikkim | https://skocmms.nic.in/ |
| 8 | Rajasthan | http://environment.rajasthan.gov.in/ |
| 9 | Punjab | http://www.ppcb.gov.in/ |
| 10 | Odisha | http://ospcboard.org/ |
| 11 | Nagaland | https://npcb.nagaland.gov.in/ |
| 12 | Mizoram | https://mpcb.mizoram.gov.in/ |
| 13 | Meghalaya | http://megspcb.gov.in/ |
| 14 | Manipur | http://manipur.spcb.co.in/ |
| 15 | Maharashtra | https://mpcb.gov.in/node |
| 16 | Madhya Pradesh | http://www.mppcb.nic.in/ |
| 17 | Kerala | https://www.keralapcb.nic.in/ |
| 18 | Karnataka | https://kspcb.karnataka.gov.in/ |
| 19 | Jharkhand | https://www.jspcb.nic.in/ |
| 20 | Himachal Pradesh | https://hppcb.nic.in/ |
| 21 | Haryana | https://hspcb.gov.in/ |
| 22 | Goa | http://goaspcb.gov.in/ |
| 23 | Chattisgarh | https://enviscecb.org/ |
| 24 | Bihar | http://www.bspcb.bih.nic.in/ |
| 25 | Assam | http://pcbassam.org/consent.htm |
| 26 | Arunachal Pradesh | https://eservice.arunachal.gov.in/ |
| 27 | Andhra Pradesh | https://pcb.ap.gov.in/content-management-cfe.aspx |
Conclusion
The long list of documents and processes to obtain a pollution license may complicate the process, especially if you are a newbie entrepreneur. Seek expert help to get a better understanding of the environmental compliances and documents.
As an entrepreneur, your focus must be on minimizing waste production and managing industrial waste. These things will help you get quick approvals from the State Board For Pollution Control.
FAQs
How to get a pollution certificate license for business in India?
Here’s a simpler version:
- Get a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) or Consent to Establish (CTE).
- Fill out an application form with information about your site, your plans to control pollution, and any industry registration papers.
- Take your application to the regional officer of your state’s pollution control board.
- You can also apply online through your state’s pollution control board website.
Does MSME require pollution certificate?
Yes, Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in India may require a pollution certificate depending on the nature of their operations and the specific regulations in their region. The requirement for a pollution certificate is typically linked to the type of industry and the scale of its operations.
MSMEs engaged in activities that have the potential to generate pollution, such as manufacturing, processing, or chemical production, are likely to need a pollution certificate. This certificate ensures that the emissions from their operations meet the environmental standards set by regulatory authorities.