SPCB Consent (CTE/CTO) stuck? File one RTI
Short version. State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) Consent to Establish (CTE) + Consent to Operate (CTO) — mandatory under Water Act 1974 §25 + Air Act 1981 §21. Categorisation: Red, Orange, Green, White. SLA: 120 days for Red/Orange, 90 days for Green, 30 days for White under EoDB Reforms 2018. RTI to PIO of SPCB Regional Office with ₹10 fee legally forces a written reply within 30 days under §7(1) RTI Act 2005.
Real story
Karan applied for SPCB CTO (Orange) for his small unit. “Pending site verification” for 7 months.
RTI to SPCB Karnataka. 23 days later SPCB replied: site visit done; CTO issued in 14 days.
Statute
- Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act 1974 §25. - Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act 1981 §21. - Environment Protection Act 1986 + EIA Notification 2006. - §6(1) + §7(1) RTI Act.
Copy-ready RTI
To, PIO, [State Pollution Control Board] Regional Office, [Address]
Subject: §6(1) RTI Act — SPCB CTE / CTO application
Industry name : [Name]
Activity : [NIC code]
Category : Red / Orange / Green / White
Application no.: [Reference]
Application date: DD-MM-YYYY
Please provide:
1. Current status + stage.
2. Site verification date (if conducted) + report.
3. Reason for delay beyond [120/90/30] day SLA.
4. Name + designation of dealing AEE/EE.
5. Document deficiency (if any).
6. Expected consent issue date.
Citizen. Fee: ₹10 IPO/DD enclosed.
[Name + signature + address + date]
Common scenarios
- Site verification delayed. - Categorisation dispute (Orange vs Green). - Annual analysis report (effluent/emission) delays. - Renewal beyond expiry — provisional consent. - Closure consent (CTC) for shutting down.
Case law
- Vellore Citizens Welfare Forum v. UoI, (1996) — Polluter pays + precautionary principle. - CIC SPCB v. Citizen (2018) — disclosure of state-wise pendency.
FAQs
EoDB SLA enforceable?
Yes — central reform binding on SPCBs.
EC vs Consent — different?
EC under EIA Notification 2006; Consent under Water/Air Act. Both may apply.
Auto-renewal?
No — fresh CTO application required.
Conclusion
SPCB delays kill small businesses. RTI + EoDB SLA = unblock.
Sources
- Water Act 1974, Air Act 1981, EP Act 1986. - EoDB Reforms 2018. - Vellore Citizens Welfare Forum v. UoI (1996).
Last reviewed: 24 April 2026.