West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB) - Overview
Immediately after the enactment of India's first federal environmental regulation, the Water (P&C of Pollution) Act, 1974, the Government of West Bengal formed the WB P&C of Water Pollution Board. After the introduction of the Air (P&C of Pollution) Act, 1981, the Board formed under the Water Act was held responsible for implementing the norms of the Air Act within the state, and the said Board was renamed the West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB). The State Board issues WBPCB consent certificates to the industries and operations in the state.
Moreover, the WBPCB is the regulatory authority to implement the Water (P&C of Pollution) Act, 1974, the Air (P&C of Pollution) Act, 1981, the Environment (Protection) Act (EPA), 1986 and the norms under these Acts.
Although the main objective of the Board is the proper implementation of the norms of various environmental legislations, orders, notifications and office memorandums published by the Government of India (GoI) and the Government of WB within the territorial jurisdiction of the state, the ultimate goal is to offer a cleaner and greener environment for the people of this state, now and in the future. The constant efforts of the WPPCB have been to implement the pro-development and pro-environment requirements. In addition to fair and diligent enforcement of environmental regulations, the Pollution Control Board is also developing consciousness among civil society members and guaranteeing their active participation in environmental protection.
WBPCB CTE
As per norms of the Water (P&C of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (P&C of Pollution) Act, 1981, all new intending projects (Developmental and Industrial) must obtain "Consent to Establish" (popularly termed as WBPCB NOC) from the Board. Based on industrial activities' pollution and hazard potential, the industries are classified as Red, Orange, Green, White and Exempted. There are siting limitations for these industries. Prospective entrepreneurs must consider these limitations while selecting land for their proposed industries.
The power to grant WBPCB CTE for industries is given below :
CTE (WBPCB Consent NOC) for new units
[To be applied before establishing industry and for upgradation/expansion of the industry]
|
Category |
NOC issuing authority |
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Green (Industries having capital investment up to Rs.5 crore) [except for industries located within Calcutta Leather Complex] |
GM, DIC, Officer-in-Charge, Sub DIC |
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Green (Industries with capital investment greater than Rs.5 crore up to Rs.10 crore and industries located within Calcutta Leather Complex with capital investment up to Rs.10 crore) and |
Regional Offices of WBPCB |
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Orange and Red (Industries with capital investment up to Rs.10 crore) [other than Environmental Clearance (EC) attracting industries], |
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Healthcare units (up to 50 beds) |
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All (Red / Orange / Green) industries with capital investment greater than Rs.10 crore [other than Environmental Clearance (EC) attracting industries], |
O&E Cell of WBPCB at Head Office |
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Healthcare units (above 50 beds & up to 200 beds) |
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Healthcare units (more than 200 beds) |
Bio-medical Waste Management Cell of WBPCB at Head Office |
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All EC-attracting units |
EIM Cell of WBPCB at Head Office |
- To obtain WBPCB CTE, the entrepreneurs must apply online (https://silpasathi.wb.gov.in/) / ( https://wbocmms.nic.in ).
- WBPCB NOC is granted validity for seven years.
- CTE application fee depends on the project's Gross Capital Investment in building, land and plant machinery.
- Payment of fees for WBPCB services must be made via the online payment gateway only.
Documents Required For WBPCB Consent NOC:
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Consent to Establish (CFE) [for GREEN Category Industries processed by District Industries Centers (DIC)] |
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Consent to Establish (CFE) |
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WBPCB Consent to Operate
As per norms of the Water (P&C of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (P&C of Pollution) Act, 1981, all operating facilities and the units starting operation after establishing according to the NOC issued by the Board must obtain "Consent to Operate" (WBPCB CTO) from the Board. Based on industrial activities' pollution and hazard potential, the industries are classified as Red, Orange, Green, White and Exempted. There are siting limitations for these industries. The West Bengal Pollution Control Board, considering compliance with environmental laws by the industry, grants CTO to the industry.
[WBPCB CTO must be renewed periodically. A renewal application must be submitted 120 days before the expiry of the previous certificate].
|
Category |
Consent to Operate issuing authority |
|
Green (Industries having capital investment up to Rs.5 crore) [except for industries located within Calcutta Leather Complex] - Fresh and Renewal |
GM, DIC, Officer-in-Charge, Sub DIC |
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Green (Industries having capital investment greater than Rs.5 crore up to Rs.10 crore and industries located within Calcutta Leather Complex with capital investment up to Rs.10 crore) - Fresh and Renewal, |
Regional Offices of WBPCB |
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Orange & Red (Industries having capital investment up to Rs.10 crore other than EC attracting industries) - Fresh and Renewal, |
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Renewal of all industries with capital investment greater than Rs.10 crore (including EC-attracting industries). |
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Health care units (up to 50 beds)- Fresh and Renewal |
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ll category EC attracting industries - Fresh application |
O&E Cell of WBPCB at Head Office |
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All category industries with a capital investment of more than Rs.10 crore- Fresh application, |
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Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) - Fresh and Renewal |
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Health care units (above 50 beds & up to 200 beds)- Fresh and Renewal |
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Health care units (more than 200 beds) - Fresh and Renewal |
Bio-medical Waste Management Cell of WBPCB at Head Office |
- To obtain WBPCB CTO, the entrepreneurs must apply online [https://silpasathi.wb.gov.in/]/[https://wbocmms.nic.in/].
- The CTO application fee depends on the project's Gross Capital Investment in building, land and plant machinery.
- Payment of fees for WBPCB services must be made through the online payment gateway only.
- Application Fee for WBPCB CTO to be submitted at a time for
- Green category - 7 years
- Orange category - 5 Years
- Red category - 5 Years
Documents for WBPCB Consent NOC
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Consent to Operate [for GREEN Category Industries processed by District Industries Centers] |
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Consent to Operate |
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Other relevant documents, such as Health Licenses, Disposal of Bio-medical Waste, Fire Licenses, Forest Licenses, etc., are applicable for units to be provided.
Frequently Asked Questions
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1. What are the functions of the West Bengal Pollution Control Board?
The main functions of the WBPCB under the norms of the Water (P&C of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (P&C of Pollution) Act, 1981, are:
- To advise the State Government on any matter regarding controlling, preventing, or reducing water and air pollution.
- To plan a comprehensive programme for controlling, preventing and reducing water and air pollution.
- To collect and disseminate information regarding water and air pollution and the prevention, control or reduction.
- To inspect sewage and trade effluent treatment facilities for their effectiveness and review plans and specifications for corrective measures.
- To inspect industrial plants or manufacturing processes and control equipment and to give instructions to take steps to control, prevent, or reduce air pollution.
- To inspect air pollution control areas for the assessment of the quality of air therein and to take measures for the control, prevention, or reduction of air pollution in such areas.
- To develop the best economically viable treatment technology for sewage and trade effluents.
- To set up, alter or annual effluent standards for the trade effluents and sewage and for releasing air pollutants into the atmosphere from industrial plants and automobiles or the discharge of any air contaminants into the atmosphere from any other source.
- To coll
- aborate with Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in organising the training of persons involved or to be involved in programmes relating to prevention, control or reduction of water and air pollution and to manage mass education programmes.
- To perform such other functions as may be stated by the State Government or CPCB.
- To collect samples of trade effluents and sewage and emissions of air pollutants and to analyse the same for particular parameters.