The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), on June 09, 2026, issued a clarification to ensure uniform processing of Consent to Establish (CTE) and Consent to Operate (CTO) applications under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 for projects covered under Items 8(a) and 8(b) of the EIA Notification, 2006. The clarification has been issued pending a final clarification from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and is based on the Supreme Court's interpretation of the EIA Notification.
The Office Order clarifies that Building and Construction Projects having a built-up area of 20,000 sq. m. or more but less than 1,50,000 sq. m. shall require prior Environmental Clearance (EC) under Item 8(a). For Township, Area Development and Plotted Development Projects, prior EC under Item 8(b) shall be mandatory where the project area is 50 hectares or more and/or the total built-up area is 1,50,000 sq. m. or more. However, projects with less than 50 hectares of land and total built-up area between 20,000 sq. m. and 1,50,000 sq. m., where no individual building or plot exceeds 20,000 sq. m., will not require prior EC but must obtain Consent to Establish from the Board. If any individual building or plot within such a project has a built-up area of 20,000 sq. m. or more, that individual building or plot will require prior EC under Item 8(a).
The Board has further directed that all consents issued under this clarification shall contain a condition requiring project proponents to obtain Environmental Clearance if the MoEF&CC subsequently issues a contrary clarification. Projects that have already obtained Environmental Clearance under the EIA Notification, 2006 shall continue to comply with all conditions stipulated in the Environmental Clearance.
[Notification No.259]
