Almost every manufacturing or processing unit needs consent from the State Pollution Control Board before it is built and again before it operates. Consent to establish is obtained before construction; consent to operate is obtained before production begins and renewed periodically. The category assigned to your activity — white, green, orange or red — determines the documentation, the fee and the renewal cycle.
Who needs this
- Manufacturing units of any scale
- Hotels, hospitals, laboratories and educational institutions above prescribed sizes
- Warehouses, cold storage and processing facilities
- Units expanding capacity or changing product line, which requires fresh consent
Documents required
This is the usual list. Depending on your state and your specific facts, an authority may ask for more — we tell you at the scope stage rather than midway through.
- Project report with the manufacturing process and capacity
- Land documents and the approved site plan
- Details of water consumption and effluent generation
- Details of air emissions, stacks and control equipment
- Hazardous waste details, where generated
- Consent to establish, when applying for consent to operate
How we handle it
1. Categorisation
We identify the category assigned to your activity, which drives everything else — fee, documents, validity and inspection frequency.
2. Consent to establish
The CTE application is filed with the project details before construction begins.
3. Consent to operate
Once the unit is built and control equipment installed, the CTO application is filed and the inspection is arranged.
4. Renewals and returns
Consent validity and the associated returns are tracked, so renewal is applied for before expiry rather than after.
Fees and timeline
Operating without a valid consent can result in a closure direction and disconnection of power and water supply. Renewal applications must be filed before expiry — the process is materially harder once the consent has lapsed.
We quote after a short conversation rather than publishing a single number, because the honest answer depends on your state, your turnover and your category. Call +91 98999 00300 or send the details through the enquiry form.
Common questions
Which category are we in?
It depends on your specific activity as listed by the pollution board, not on your size alone. We confirm this before quoting, because the category determines the cost.
How long is a consent valid?
It varies by category and by state. Red category units are typically renewed more frequently than green or white.
We are expanding capacity. Is fresh consent needed?
Yes. An increase in capacity or a change in product usually requires an amended or fresh consent.
This page is general information, not advice on your facts. Rules, rates and due dates change. Government fees are payable to the concerned authority and are separate from our professional fees.