Frequently Asked Questions

What are the 17 Categories of the major polluting industries? Back

Aluminium Smelter Pesticides

Caustic Soda Petrochemicals
Cement Drugs & Pharmaceuticals
Copper Smelter Pulp & Paper
Distilleries Oil Refineries
Dyes & Dye Intermediates Sugar
Fertiliser Thermal Power Plants
Integrated Iron & Steel Zinc Smelter
Tanneries

What actions have been taken on the 17 categories of the industries which have come into
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operation after 1991 i.e. the Post-91 industries ?
The inventorization of the Post-91 large and medium industries of 17 categories have been completed. A total of 587 such
industries have been identified and out of these, 561 units are presently operating. Although, it was mandatory for these
units to have been allowed only if they had the requisite pollution control facilities, there latest compliance status is being
verified.
What are the details of the programme on pollution control in the Problem Areas? Back
A programme for pollution control through concerted efforts in polluted areas was started in 1989. The programme involves
identification of the polluted areas, intensive surveys of these areas for identification of polluting sources, preparation of
action plans for control of these polluting sources, and implementation of the action points by the concerned responsible
agencies/industries.

Number of Problem areas identified so far and what is their status in respect of the control
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of pollution from the industries existing in these areas?
24 Problem Areas have been identified for priority action in the country. Out of these 24 areas, the action plans
have been implemented in respect of 16 namely, Bhadravati, Chembur, Digboi, Gobindgarh, Greater-Cochin, Kala-Amb,
Manali, Nagda-Ratlam, North-Arcot, Pali, Parwanoo, Patancheru-Bollaram, Talcher, Vapi, Vishakhapatnam and Ankleshwar,
and are under implementation in the remaining 8, namely Dhanbad, Durgapur, Howrah, Jodhpur, Korba, Najafgarh Drain
Basin Delhi, Singrauli, and Tarapur
There are total of 152 large and medium polluting industries located in these areas, out of which 17 are closed and
all the remaining 134 industries have provided the requisite pollution control facilities.

What are the industrial pollution programmes existing which are based on the concept of
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sustainable development?
The industrial pollution control programmes which incorporate the concept of sustainable development are :

Environmental auditing and submission of the annual environmental statements by the industries
Conducting of EIA studies before establishment of new polluting industries
Change over to clean technologies for example mercury cell to membrane cells in chloralkali plants.
Zoning Atlas of Siting Industries; and
Eco-labeling of environment-friendly products

What are the incentives to the industries for pollution control ? Back
The steps taken by the various categories of the industries for reduction in the generation of the pollutants are as follows:

1. Commissioning of the stand-by power supply systems by chlor-alkali plants reduce mercury emission due to power
failures
2. Introduction of blending system for coal homogenisation in cement plants to ensure stable operation of the ESPs
3. Conversion of single hood to the double hood system in copper smelters to reduce the fugitive emissions
4. Biomethanation of the effluents in distillerie
5. Solar evaporation ponds in small-scale water polluting units not having CETPs in the proximity
6. Conversion of the open hearth furnaces (OHF) to the basic oxygen furnaces (BOF) and introduction of the dry system
(instead of wet) for the quenching of the hot coke in iron & steel plants
7. Commissioning of chemical recovery plants (CRPs) by pulp & paper industries; and
8. Change over the DCDA production method by sulphuric acid

What are the important Environmental Laws in the country? Back

Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974;

Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981,
Cess Act, 1977,
Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and Rules thereunder
Public Liability Insurance Act, 1981,
National Environmental Tribunal Act, 1995
National Environment Appellate Authority Act, 1997

What are the different programes/activities implemented through State Pollution Control
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Board?
State Boards are implementing following programmes:

Pollution control in 17 categories of highly polluting industries

Pollution control from industries discharging waste water into rivers and lakes.
Inventorization of pollution industries in the State and ensuring their compliance to the pollution control norms
Restoration of environmental quality in critically polluted areas
Monitoring of water and ambient air quality in the States
Hazardous waste
Bio-medical and Management of Municipal Solid Wastes

What are the projects taken up for strengthening of Pollution Control Boards with World
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Bank assistance.
With the assistance of the World Bank, following three environmental projects have been undertaken to strengthen
monitoring and enforcement capability of selected Pollution Control Boards/ Committees and to perform specific studies to
prevent environmental degradation.
Industrial Pollution Project (IPC)- Signed in 1991 and completed in 1999;
Industrial Pollution Prevention Project (IPP)- Signed in 1994 and its implementation is
in progress;
Environmental Management Capacity Building Technical Assistance Project (EMCBTA)- Signed in 1997 and its
implementation is in progress

Names of the State Pollution Control Boards/ Committees covered under the projects for
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strengthening.
Besides Central Pollution Control Board and its zonal offices, following 22 State Pollution Control Boards/ Pollution Control
Committees have been covered under the projects. These are
Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Delhi, Goa, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala,
Maharahstra, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Orissa, Pondicherry, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar
Pradesh and West Bengal.
Whether SPCBs and PCCs are getting adequate financial support from State Governments
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and what is the financial status?
SPCBs are getting only marginal/ nominal financial assistance from State Governments. In some of the State Pollution
Control Boards, State Governments are not providing budgetary grants. State Pollution Control Boards are dependent on
consent and authorization fee and cess reimbursements which they get out of cess collections.
Whether Ministry provides financial assistance to State Pollution Control Boards. Back
Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) provides financial assistance to State pollution Control Boards on specific
projects relating to prevention and control of pollution. Ministry provides financial assistance on following programmes:

Specific projects for abatement of pollution

Hazardous waste management
Management of municipal solid waste
Strengthening of Pollution Control Boards (for laboratory upgrdation)

Whether State Pollution Control Boards/ Pollution Control Committees are following
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uniform rules/ procedures for implementation of pollution control rules.
State Pollution Control Boards have framed rules as per approval of State Governments. More or less, procedure and rules
followed by State Pollution Control Boards are similar.
What are the laws enforced by of the Pollution Control Boards ? Back
The Central and State Pollution Control Boards were set up for enforcement of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution)
Act, 1974. Over the years, the Boards have been assigned additional responsibilities which include the following :

Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977.

Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981
Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and Rules made thereunder
Hazardous Waste (Management & Handling) Rules1989.
Manufacture, storage and Import of Hazardous Chemicals Rules, 1989
Bio-medical Waste (Management & Handling) Rules, 1998
Municipal Solid Waste (Management & Handling) Rules, 2000.
Plastics wastes Rules, 1999 o Coastal Regulation Zone Rules, 1991
Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991

What are the sources of fund for the Central and State Pollution Control Boards ? Back
The Central Pollution Control Board is fully funded by the Central Ministry of Environment & Forests. The State Pollution
Control Boards receive funds from the concerned State Governments and from the Central Ministry of Environment &
Forests through reimbursement of Water Cess (upto 80%) collected by the respective State Boards. In addition, the State
Boards receive fees for processing for applications from the industries for issuing consent in regard to discharge of effluent
and emissions.
What are the programmes taken up for Industrial Pollution Control ? Back
The programmes covering direct control of effluents/ emissions, and hazardous wastes from the industries taken up are as
follows:

Industrial Pollution Control along the river Ganga,

Pollution Control in 17 Categories of major polluting industries,
Industrial pollution control along the rivers and lakes,
Pollution Control in Problem Areas, and
Surprise inspection of polluting industries

 
Government of India recognizes the impact of pollution on environment and to ensure that India moves in the right
direction, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) was established.

Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) was constituted in 1974 as per the provisions of the Water (Prevention and
Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. The CPCB has been playing a key role in abatement and control of pollution in the
country by generating relevant data, providing scientific information, rendering technical inputs for information of
national policies and programmes, training and development of manpower and organizing activities for promoting
awareness at different levels of the Government and public at large.
The main function of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB as spelt out in ‘Water (Prevention and Control of
Pollution) Act, 1974’ and Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981’ are:-

1. To promote cleanliness of streams and wells in different areas of the States through prevention, control and
abatement of water pollution;

2. To improve the quality of air and to prevent, control or abate air pollution in the country;

3. Advise the Central Government on any matter concerning prevention and control of water and air pollution
and improvement of the quality of air;

4. Plan and cause to be executed a nation-wide programme for the prevention, control or abatement of water
and air pollution;

5. Coordinate the activities of the State Boards and resolve disputes among them;

6. Provide technical assistance and guidance to the State Boards, carry out and sponsor investigations and
research relating to problems of water and air pollution, and for their prevention, control abatement;

7. Plan and organise training of persons engaged in programmes for prevention, control or abatement of water
and air pollution;

8. Organise through mass media, a comprehensive mass awareness programme on prevention, control or
abatement of water and air pollution;

9. Collect, compile and publish technical and statistical data relating to water and air pollution and the
measures devised for their effective prevention, control and abatement;

10. Prepare manuals, codes and guidelines relating to treatment and disposal of sewage and trade effluents as
well as for stack gas cleaning devises, stacks and ducts;

11. Disseminate information in respect of matters relating to water and air pollution and their prevention and
control;

12. Lay down, modify or annul, in consultation with the State Government concerned, the standards for stream
or well, and lay down standards for quality of air;

13. Establish or recognize laboratories to enable the Board to perform; and

14. Perform such other functions as and when prescribed by the Government of India.

15. In addition to the above, the CPCB is empowered, on behalf of the Ministry of Environment & Forests

16. To issue directions to any industry, local bodies, or other authority for violation of the notified general
emission and effluent standards, and rules relating to hazardous waste, bio-medical waste, hazardous
chemicals, industrial solid waste, municipal solid waste including plastic waste under the Environment
(Protection) Rules, 1986
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