Central regulation

State PCB Consent to Operate (CTO)

After completing construction, the unit must obtain Consent to Operate from the State PCB before commencing production. Validity: 5 years (Red), 10 years (Orange), 15 years (Green) — renewable.

Definition

After completing construction, the unit must obtain Consent to Operate from the State PCB before commencing production. Validity: 5 years (Red), 10 years (Orange), 15 years (Green) — renewable.

What it means in practice

State PCB Consent to Operate (CTO) is administered by State Pollution Control Board. The obligation is grounded in Water Act 1974 Sec 25; Air Act 1981 Sec 21; CPCB Consent Management Guidelines (Sec 25 (Water), Sec 21 (Air)).

Renewal application should be filed 120 days before expiry. State PCBs vary in portal — MPCB (Maharashtra), KSPCB (Karnataka), TNPCB (Tamil Nadu), HSPCB (Haryana) etc.

Triggers (applicability predicates)

These predicates are evaluated by Compliance Radar's applicability engine against a business profile to decide whether this rule applies.

Deadlines and penalty

Cadence: periodic

Penalty for default: Operating without CTO: closure + fine up to Rs 1 lakh + 6 years imprisonment.

Citations