Categorization of Industrial Sectors

Red, Orange, Green and White Category by CPCB New Delhi

1. Introduction:
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) had introduced
the concept of categorization of industries as “Red”, “Orange” “Green” and “White” with
the purpose of facilitating decisions related to location of these industries in 1989. The
purpose of prohibition/ restriction of operations of certain industries to protect
ecologically sensitive Doon Valley.
Subsequently, the application of this concept which was based on Pollution Index
extended in other parts of the country not only for the purpose of location of
industries, but also SPCBs and PCCs uses the above criteria for the purpose of
Consent management and formulation of norms related to surveillance , compliance to
the stipulated standards / inspection of industries.
2. Methodology of Industries Classification & Pollution Index:
The Pollution Index, (PI) of any industrial sector is a number from 0 to 100 and the
increasing value of PI denotes the increasing degree of pollution load from the
industrial sector. Based on the discussion among CPCB, SPCBs and MoEF&CC, the
following criteria on “Range of Pollution Index” for the purpose of categorization of
industrial sectors is finalized for four categories.
PI = W + A + HW
W: Water, A: Air & HW: Hazardous Waste

Based on the score of the Pollution Index, following categorization is made:

S.no Pollution Type of Industry TSL Sites

Index
(PI) score
1 60 and Red category Integrated Steel Plants (TSJ, TSK,
above TSBSL, TSLP, All Mines, HMC, CRM
Bara), TMH
2 41 to 59 Orange category Tubes

3 21 to 40 Green category TGS, Solid Waste Storage Sites

(Galudih, Bathkunda), Air Separation
Units (ASU)
4 Up to 20 White category Medical Oxygen Plants

Source: CPCB, January 2016

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3. Conclusion
The purpose of categorization is to ensure that the industry is established in a manner
which is consistent with the environmental objectives. The new criteria have prompt
industrial sectors willing to adopt cleaner technologies, ultimately resulting in
generation of fewer pollutants.
Another feature of the new categorization system lies in facilitating self-assessment by
industries as the subjectivity of earlier assessment has been eliminated. This ‘Re-
categorization’ is a part of the efforts, policies and objective of present government to
create a clean & transparent working environment in the country and promote the
Ease of Doing Business.

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