State Pollution Control Board Approval, Consent & NOC : What Every Business Needs to Know

Pollution is one of the major problems for any state or country in the world. There are many causes responsible for different types of pollution, and amongst them, some businesses, projects, and factories are responsible for causing pollution in huge amounts in the form of hazardous waste such as chemical waste, medical waste, smoke emissions, etc. To control the pollution in a state or country The government formed an authorized body named The STATE POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD to grant permission and licenses for the establishment and operation of any businesses or projects that generate the different kinds of pollution, like air pollution, water pollution, noise pollution, etc. If anyone is planning to start a business, factory, or project that may generate pollution, then he or she must obtain a pollution certificate from SPCB (State Pollution Control Board).

HOW TO GET AN AIR, WATER, AND NOISE POLLUTION CERTIFICATE/LICENSE FOR YOUR PROJECT:

To obtain the certificate or license to start a project or business, there are two important steps involved in this process, which are consent to establish and consent to operate. First for the construction of the project and second to operate when the project is ready to start after the establishment of the project.

Steps to get the Pollution Licence for your Project:

1. CTE (Consent to Establish):

At First Consent Certificate, known as CTE (Consent to Establish), is required before the establishment of the project. It is obtained from the SPCB of the concerned location of the project. SPCB (State Pollution Control Board) has the authority to grant certification.

2. CTO (Consent of Operation):

After CTE, the project under CTE certification has to obtain the Consent of Operation (CTO) Certification before the running of the project. SPCB has the authority and power to allow or permit the project to run.

3. CATEGORIES OF THE LICENSE:

There are different types of projects, industries, and businesses, which are divided into 4 different categories according to the pollution level.

1. Red Category: Industries with a pollution index of 60 or above fall into the Red Category. Large manufacturing businesses, multi-specialty hospitals, and other factories that release hazardous chemicals, emissions, and other pollutants come under the Red Category.
2. Orange Category: Those industries or projects that release fewer pollutants and have a pollution index between 41 and 59 fall into the orange category. Medical supply companies, automobile service companies, or food processing plants belong to this category.
3. Green Category: Industries with a lower pollution index from 21 to 40 come under the Green Category. Leather footwear factories, flour mills, and small bakeries belong to the green category.
4. White Category: Industries that release negligible or no pollution come under the White category. This kind of industry does not have to obtain the pollution license/CTO/CTE. CFL bulbs, cotton, woollen, and electric lamp manufacturing companies belong to this category.

The industries belonging to the red category cannot operate in forest-protected and ecologically sensitive areas. Industries that belong to the green and orange categories can apply for the CTO or pollution certificate.

Procedure to Get Certificate/License for Establishing Projects:

1. Open the online portal of the concerned State Pollution Control Board.
2. Enter the personal details in the online portal and get registered.
3. Generate and confirm password through OTP confirmation.
4. Go to the Home Page of the Portal and Login with your ID password generated.
5. Fill out the application and prescribe the project under which it comes.
6. Confirm the certificate applying for and confirm the unit of the project and government department (SPCB), and also confirm the service 'CTE,' and submit the form.
7. After this, the payment page will open and pay the required fees.
8. After this, the application will go to the concerned officials, and an inspection will be conducted. An objection will be raised to the project proponent, and approval or rejection of the application will be made.
9. A time period of 4 months may be taken for approval or rejection of the application and certificate generation.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED:

• Copy of sale deed/lease deed or ownership details
• Copy of MOA and AOA
• A cover requisition letter stating the status of the project and activities clearly.
• Project structural layout and the additional equipment being used, outlet location, location of boiler, generator, waste storage, etc.
• Schematic Diagram Showing Location of Roads Around, Water Bodies, Residential Area, Monuments, and Religious Location, and Agricultural Land Located Around 2 km from the Site of the Project.
• Flowchart for submission of manufacturing of the products.
• Means and procedure for the disposal of waste and management of water and other important management.
• A certificate granted by an authorized body of government for use of land classification.
• Auditors' certificate along with details and mentioning the financial provisions for pollution control measures.
• Details of the consent fee paid to the board as per the AIR and WATER Act 
• Water Clearance Certificate.
• SPG (Sewage Treatment Plant) Details.

Additional Procedure for the Air, Noise, and Water Consent:

• Comply with the rules and regulations mentioned in the Air Act and laws relating to the Water Act.
• Comply with the clause relating to the Air Act.
• Regular reporting and monitoring of emissions.
• Reports, analysis, and auditing of wastewater and effluents.
• Reports and checking of water treatment plants.

Procedure to get a certificate/license for operation of the projects:

• Open the State Governed SPCB Portal.
• Enter your personal information and get registered.
• Password generation and OTP confirmation.
• Open the home page and put in the login credentials in the portal.
• Fill in your personal information required in the application and confirm your unit.
• Select the option and apply for the NOC/certificate, select the project category and department, and then click on proceed and submit the application.
• Open “Pay Your Consolidation Fee’” and pay the application fee.
• After the successful submission, the application will go tothe regionall office of the state, and any question will be raised within 7 days, and the application will be forwarded as per the acceptance or rejection of the state department.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED:

• Status and activities of the project with the demand letter shall be submitted.
• Details of the capacity and measured production capacity of the project along with the unit under which it comes.
• Details of changes made in theproject name,, management boards of directors of the company, and changes made in production, waste management, and disposal facilities.
• Report analysis of the sewage, noise level, stack monitoring, trade effluent, and AAQ of the project.
• Hazardous waste Compliance Conditions
• A biomedical waste authorization was issued against the unit.
• Updated audit and balance sheet of the project.
• Water Cess bill payment details.
• Details of zero liquid discharge through the project Complying with the Water Act.
• Details of the system installed for monitoring the system of emission and effluent being generated from the project