The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), on June 23, 2025, issued a circular directing all Board officials to implement the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) revised classification of industrial sectors into Red, Orange, Green, White and Blue categories, as notified by CPCB on February 12, 2025 under Section 18(1)(b) of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. The earlier categorisation issued on March 7, 2016 and subsequent directions stand withdrawn.
The circular provides that all pending and future applications for Consent to Establish (CTE) and Consent to Operate (CTO) shall be processed in accordance with the revised categorisation. The updated classification of 419 industrial sectors/sub-sectors shall also be used for consent management, inventorisation of units, siting criteria, determination of environmental surveillance frequency, calculation of environmental compensation and other regulatory purposes. Existing delegation of powers for consent management shall continue to apply.
The MPCB has instructed all regional and sub-regional offices to implement the revised categorisation with immediate effect, publicise the changes among industrial associations, and ensure necessary updates to the Board's online portal and website for seamless implementation.
[Circular No. BO/MPCB/MS Section/B-23]
