Air Pollution Complaint Guide India — CPCB SAMEER, NGT (2026)

A Delhi-NCR resident watches AQI cross 450 day after day in winter 2026, with factory emissions in Sahibabad and unauthorised plastic burning in Loni feeding the haze. In 2026, air pollution complaint enforcement has powerful tools — CPCB SAMEER mobile app, NGT direct filing, state PCB closure orders, Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act 1981, Environment Protection Act 1986, National Clean Air Programme — but most citizens don't know how to use them. This page is the operational complaint + recovery playbook.

Citizen Crisis Response Network — air pollution complaint checklist
Photograph + GPS the source → file on CPCB SAMEER app + state PCB portal → file before NGT under NGT Act 2010 for stay/compensation → FIR under EPA §15 + BNS §270 (public nuisance) for persistent violations → RTI to state PCB for emission-monitoring data → for systemic enforcement failure, High Court Article 226 writ + PIL.

To complain about air pollution in India: (1) use the CPCB SAMEER mobile app (app.cpcbccr.com) to report point sources + locate; (2) file with the state Pollution Control Board — KSPCB Karnataka, MPCB Maharashtra, DPCC Delhi, etc.; (3) file before NGT at greentribunal.gov.in for stay + compensation; (4) FIR under EPA §15 + BNS §270 (public nuisance) + §271 for persistent violations; (5) for industrial sources, demand consent-to-operate revocation under Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act 1981 §31A; (6) RTI under §6(1) RTI Act 2005 to state PCB for emission-monitoring data; (7) for systemic enforcement failure, High Court Article 226 writ + PIL. Penalty: ₹10,000-₹10 crore + closure / shifting + compensation.

• What counts as air pollution
• Statutory framework — Air Act + EPA + NCAP
• CPCB SAMEER + state PCB
• The 7-day complaint escalation
• NGT — your fastest enforcement
• Sample complaint + FIR + NGT petition
• Filing an RTI to PCB
• FAQ
• Myth vs reality

• Industrial smoke / fumes from factories.
• Vehicle emissions beyond standards.
• Construction dust / debris.
• Garbage burning (waste, plastic, leaves).
• Diesel generator emissions.
• Crematorium / brick-kiln smoke.
• Power plant fly-ash.
• Crop / stubble burning.
• Domestic burning (wood, coal).
• Petrol pump / fuel storage emissions.
• Crematorium without filtration.
• Aircraft / helicopter emissions.

• AQI > 200 sustained at the source.
• PM2.5 > 60 µg/m³ (24-hour mean).
• PM10 > 100 µg/m³ (24-hour mean).
• NOx > 80 µg/m³.
• SO2 > 80 µg/m³.
• O3 > 100 µg/m³ (8-hour mean).

National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) 2009 — defines limits.

• §16 — State Pollution Control Boards' powers.
• §21 — consent to operate; without consent = illegal operation.
• §31A — power to give directions / closure.
• §37 — penalty up to 7 years imprisonment + ₹1 lakh.

• §3 — Central Govt powers to prevent pollution.
• §5 — closure / prohibition orders.
• §15 — penalty up to 7 years + ₹1 lakh; ₹5,000/day continuing.

132 cities identified for action plans. State-level commitments to reduce PM2.5/PM10 by 20-30% by 2030.

For Delhi-NCR: established 2021. Direct enforcement powers in NCR.

Each state has Air Pollution Control Plan + AQI Monitoring Stations.

• Free download: Play Store + App Store.
• Reports: garbage burning, industry, vehicle, dust.
• GPS-based.
• Direct route to state PCB.

• Karnataka KSPCB — kspcb.karnataka.gov.in
• Maharashtra MPCB — mpcb.gov.in
• Delhi DPCC — dpcc.delhi.gov.in
• UP UPPCB — uppcb.com
• Tamil Nadu TNPCB — tnpcb.gov.in

CPCB AQI portal: app.cpcbccr.com/AQI_India/

1. Day 0: SAMEER app + state PCB portal + photographs.
2. Day 1-3: Site inspection by PCB inspector.
3. Day 7: Email PCB Member Secretary if no action.
4. Day 14: NGT online filing.
5. Day 21: Consumer / civil court if landlord/RWA related.
6. Day 30: High Court writ / PIL for systemic.

greentribunal.gov.in → File a Case → category Air Pollution.

• Photographs / videos of source.
• AQI readings.
• State PCB complaint copy.
• FIR copy.
• Health-impact statements.
• Property damage (if applicable).

• Stay on operations within 24-48 hours.
• Compensation per affected household.
• Closure / relocation / scrubber installation.
• Penalty up to ₹10 crore.
• Personal liability of directors.

The Member Secretary
[State] Pollution Control Board

Sub: Complaint of air pollution at [Address]

I, [Name], submit:

1. The [factory / construction / garbage-burning /
   generator / brick-kiln] at [Address] is emitting
   [smoke / dust / odour / fumes] continuously since
   DD-MM-2026.

2. Photographs + videos at Annexures A, B.

3. Site AQI readings (CPCB SAMEER app):
   - DD-MM-2026 HH:MM: AQI _____ (PM2.5 _____,
     PM10 _____)
   - DD-MM-2026 HH:MM: AQI _____
   These are sustained > 200, far exceeding NAAQS.

4. The source's "consent to operate" status is unclear
   — I have filed RTI for the same.

5. Health impacts in our colony: respiratory issues,
   eye irritation, school children with asthma flares.

I request:
  (a) Immediate site inspection by your inspector.
  (b) Closure / "consent to operate" revocation
      under Air Act §31A.
  (c) Stop-work / scrubber installation order.
  (d) Penalty + compensation.

Filed concurrently:
  (i) FIR under BNS §270 + §271 + EPA §15.
  (ii) NGT petition.

[Name, address, contact]
DD-MM-2026

IN THE NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL, [Bench]

Application No. _________ of 2026

[Applicant Name]                            ... Applicant

vs.

1. [Polluting Source]                       ... Respondent
2. State Pollution Control Board            ... Respondent
3. CPCB                                     ... Respondent
4. District Magistrate                      ... Respondent

PETITION UNDER NGT ACT 2010 §14 + §15

[Pleadings — facts, environmental damage, health
impact, prayer for stay, closure, compensation.]

Annexures:
  A — AQI / SAMEER app reports
  B — Photographs/videos
  C — Health impact statements
  D — State PCB complaint
  E — FIR copy

DD-MM-2026

PIO, [State] Pollution Control Board

Sub: Application under §6(1) RTI Act 2005

Please furnish:

1. Whether [source/establishment] at [Address] holds
   consent to operate under Air Act 1981 §21,
   and the date and validity of such consent.

2. Latest emission-monitoring report (PM2.5, PM10,
   NOx, SOx, CO).

3. Number of complaints received against this source
   in the last 24 months and action taken on each.

4. Whether any closure / penalty / show-cause notice
   has been issued.

5. The State PCB inspection schedule for this source
   for 2024-25 + 2025-26.

A reply is requested under §7(1) within 30 days.

[Name, address, contact]
DD-MM-2026

M.C. Mehta v. UoI (1986) 2 SCC 176 — landmark air pollution + Oleum gas tragedy. Subhash Kumar v. State of Bihar (1991) 1 SCC 598. Vellore Citizens Welfare Forum v. UoI (1996) 5 SCC 647. In Re: Air Quality Management (CAQM 2024) — Delhi-NCR enforcement framework. In Re: Stubble Burning (NGT 2024).

• CPCB — cpcb.nic.in
• CPCB SAMEER app
• State PCBs
• NGT — greentribunal.gov.in
• CAQM (Delhi-NCR) — caqm.nic.in
• NCAP — National Clean Air Programme
• Air Act 1981 — §16, §21, §31A, §37
• EPA 1986 — §3, §5, §6, §15
• BNS 2024 — §270, §271

Useful RTI Wiki tools:

• AI RTI Drafter
• Noise pollution complaint guide
• Illegal tree cutting complaint
• RTI Act 2005 — complete guide

SAMEER allows pseudonymous reporting but requires verified mobile + email for follow-up.

Yes. Each event = ₹10,000+ penalty + criminal under Solid Waste Management Rules 2016. Filing builds the case.

If emission > NAAQS at my window, yes. State PCB can verify + issue closure / scrubber order.

Yes — RTO can de-register or fine for emission violations. Periodic Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate mandatory.

Yes — NGT can order stay/closure under §14. Multiple precedents.

Site inspection within 48-72 hours. Action within 7-30 days for simple cases.

File with CAQM Delhi-NCR + NGT + state PCB of source state. Personal compensation possible for sustained exposure.

CPCB is national. CAQM specifically for Delhi-NCR with direct enforcement powers under CAQM Act 2021.

Yes — NGT can award ₹50k-₹5L per affected individual on proof of medical impact + sustained exposure.

No. Consent has conditions; emissions exceeding limits = consent violation = revocation grounds.

Air in 2026 is a measurable, enforceable, compensable environmental matter under Air Act + EPA + NCAP + NGT jurisdiction. Defence is CPCB SAMEER + state PCB + NGT drill. AQI > 200 sustained = legal violation. Don't accept “industrial necessity” or “festival exemption.” The framework gives every citizen recourse; use it.

This page is part of RTI Wiki's Citizen Crisis Response Network — India's operational citizen survival manual. Updates tracked through CPCB advisories, CAQM orders, NGT rulings, and CIC decisions.