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Central Pollution Control Board

• The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) is a statutory organization under Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
• It was established under the Water (Prevention and Control of pollution) Act, 1974
• Subsequently, CPCB was entrusted with power and functions under the Air (Prevention and Control) Act 1981
• It provides technical services and co-ordinates activities of State Pollution Control Boards
• The CPCB conducts environmental assessment and research

State Pollution Control Board (SPCB)

• State Pollution Control Boards have been set up in all States to check and control Water and Air pollution
• Some State/ UT like Delhi has Pollution Control Committee
• SPCB issues Pollution Control Clearance Certificate or Consent to establish /operate to industry likely to discharge sewage or effluent into the environment or likely to emit air pollution in to the atmosphere, after ascertaining adequate measures taken to control these pollution
• Any industry generates, handles or disposes hazardous wastes as defined under Hazardous Wastes (Handling and Management) Rules 1989 needs to obtain clearance from SPCB
• Pollution Clearance Certificate or Consent to operate is issued for 3 to 10 years depending upon type of industries, subject to fulfillment of conditions
• The SPCB officials check the industrial units from time to time to ensure that pollution control measures are adequate

Colour Coding Categorization of Industries

Depending upon type of polluting industries or level of pollution, colour coded  categorization of industries has been done and listed Under Schedule III of the Act, as under:

• RED: Highly polluting industries such as cement, petrochemicals, fertilizer, leather, hazardous chemicals, distilleries, etc.
• ORANGE: Less polluting industries such as glass manufacturing, Aluminium, Copper extraction, fruits and vegetables and  most of the food processing industries   fall under this category
• GREEN: Less polluting industries in small scale, cottage/village industries such as Atta chakki, Dai mill, Bakery, Aluminium utensil, etc.

Water (Preventive and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Air (Preventive and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981

• The two Acts were promulgated to prevent and control water and air pollution by Water Quality Monitoring System (WQMS) and Air Quality Monitoring System (AQMS)
• The Acts are being implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Govt. of India through Central and State Pollution Control Boards

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