Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)

Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) is a statutory organisation that controls various types of pollution and issues guidelines and standards regarding it. In this article, you will learn what is CPCB, meaning of central pollution control board, powers, functions and compositions, providing key insights for GS Paper-III Environment and Ecology section of UPSC IAS Exam.

Table of Content

• What is Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)
• Powers and Functions of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)
• Functions of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) at the National Level:     
• Functions of the Central Board as State Boards for the Union Territories:
• Organisational structure:             
• Composition of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)  
• Air Quality Monitoring of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)               
• Water Quality Monitoring of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)        
• Urban area initiatives (EcoCity Program)
• Categorization of industries by CPCB as per the waste generated:              
• Municipal Solid Waste management rules             
• Noise Pollution/Rules:   
• Environmental Data Statistics:   
• Conclusion         
• Frequently Asked Questions       
• Reference           

What is Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)?

• The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) is a statutory organisation established in 1974 under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.
• The Central Pollution Control Board comes under the Ministry of Environment and Forests.
• The headquarters or head office of Central Pollution Control Board is in New Delhi.
• The CPCB has seven zonal offices and 5 laboratories across India. 
• The Zonal offices of CPCB are located at Bengaluru, Kolkata, Shil long, Bhopal, Lucknow, Vadodara, Chandigarh, Pune and Agra.

Powers and Functions of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)

• The CPCB is assigned powers and functions under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
• The CPCB serves as a field organization and provides technical services to the Ministry of Environment and Forests under the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
• The functions of Central Pollution Control Board as envisaged by the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, are:
  • To promote the cleanliness of streams and wells in different regions of the states by preventing, controlling, and reducing water pollution.
  • To enhance the quality of air and prevent, control, or reduce air pollution throughout the country.
• CPCB establishes the Water Quality Standards for various purposes including drinking water, fisheries etc.
• The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) also frames guidelines for biomedical waste management that includes provision for biomedical waste incinerator.
• Earlier issues guidelines includes: E- Waste (Management) Rules, 2022, Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977 etc.

Functions of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) at the National Level:

• The Central Government should be advised on matters related to preventing and controlling water and air pollution or how to improve air quality.
• A nationwide program should be planned and executed by CBCB to prevent, control, or reduce water and air pollution.
• The CBCB coordinates the activities of the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB), and any disputes among them should be resolved by it.
• Technical assistance and guidance should be provided by the CBCB to the State Boards by carrying out investigations and research to address water and air pollution issues and help them find solutions to prevent, control, or reduce them.
• Training programs should be organized by CBCB for individuals involved in water and air pollution prevention, control, or reduction.
• Manuals, codes, and guidelines sewage treatment plant or for treating and disposing and industrial effluents, and for cleaning devices, stacks, and ducts, should be prepared by CBCB.
• It helps Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) and National Green Tribunal to control the pollution in Capital.

Functions of the Central Board as State Boards for the Union Territories:

• CBCB should provide guidance and norms to the administrations of Union Territories regarding the suitability of any premises or locations for establishing any polluting industries near streams, wells, or the one that causes air pollution.
• CBCB should establish standards for the treatment of sewage, trade effluents, and emissions from vehicles, factories, and other sources of pollution.
• CBCB should develop methods for land disposal of sewage and trade effluents, and explore reliable and economically feasible techniques for treating them and controlling air pollution.
• CBCB should identify specific areas within Union Territories as air pollution control zones to be designated under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
• CBCB should evaluate the quality of ambient water and air, and conduct inspections of wastewater treatment facilities, air pollution control equipment, industrial plants, and manufacturing processes to assess their performance and take necessary measures for preventing, controlling, and reducing air and water pollution.
• The CPCB has been delegated its powers and responsibilities related to Union Territories and local administrations under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977, and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
• The Central and State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) together are responsible for implementing laws related to environmental pollution prevention and control.

Organisational structure:

Composition of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)

• Chairman having the knowledge or practical experience in dealing with cases related to environmental protection.
  • The central government appoints the chairman of CPCB.
• Chairman acts as the Agency executives of Central Pollution Control Board.

Other Central Pollution Control Board members:

• Not more than 5 officials can represent the central government.
• Not more than 5 members can be nominated by the central government from the members of the State Board.
• Maximum 3 members can be appointed by the central government to represent the interests of agriculture, fisheries, trade or any other interest.
• 2 persons can be appointed to represent the companies or corporations owned, or controlled by the central government.
• A full-time member secretary having complete knowledge and qualification of scientific management and prevention of environmental pollution.
• Sh. Tanmay Kumar is the current chairman of Central Pollution Control Board.

Air Quality Monitoring of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)

• National Air Monitoring Programme (NAMP) was established to monitor the quality of air by assessing the current air quality status, track trends, and regulate pollution from industries and other sources that meet air quality standards.
• National Air Monitoring Programme also provides essential background data on air quality for industrial site selection and urban planning.
• The CPCB operates an automated monitoring station-Central Control Room (CCR) located in New Delhi.
• This station regularly monitors various pollutants such as Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Ozone (O3), Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), and Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM).
  • These are listed under the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQs) under its ambient air monitoring guidelines.
• The air quality information from this station is updated on a weekly basis.
• Delhi is the most polluted city in India as per Central Pollution Control Board.

CPCB’s Air quality Index (AQI):

Water Quality Monitoring of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)

• To address the issue of water pollution, the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 was enacted by the Parliament to preserve and restore the water bodies.
• The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 mandates the CPCB to gather, compile, and disseminate technical and statistical data pertaining to water pollution under its Water Quality Monitoring (WQM) programme.
• The inland water quality monitoring network is operating under a 3-tier program- Global Environment Monitoring System (GEMS), Monitoring of Indian National Aquatic Resources System (MINARS) and Yamuna Action Plan.
• CPCB releases wastewater discharge standards for various industries depending on the chemical the industry uses or produces.
• CPCB also releases standards for effluent discharge from various industries in order to curb the release of harmful chemicals in water bodies.

Urban area initiatives (EcoCity Program)

• The CPCB’s Eco City Program aims to enhance the environment in selected towns and cities through specific environmental improvement projects.
• The Centre for Spatial Environmental Planning, established at the CPCB and the GTZ-CPCB Project under the Indo-German Bilateral Program had conducted pilot studies for urban areas.
• Based on these studies, the CPCB has developed a comprehensive urban improvement system that incorporates practical, innovative, and non-conventional solutions.
• As per CPCB guidelines 33% of the total land area shall be kept as greenbelt in a newly developing area.

Categorization of industries by CPCB as per the waste generated:

Municipal Solid Waste management rules

• All municipal authorities are subject to the Municipal Solid Wastes (Management & Handling) Rules, 2000 (MSW rules, 2000).
• This rule holds them responsible for the collection, segregation, storage, transportation, processing, and disposal of municipal solid waste.
• The CPCB gathers necessary information from municipal authorities and provides them with technical assistance.
• Extended Producer Responsibility was introduced by the CPCB that envisages that plastic packaging producers and importers should take responsibility for the plastic they put into a market across its entire lifecycle.
  • The Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 was introduced that covers the concept of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).
• The Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 has also banned plastic plates, cups, glasses, Ear buds with plastic sticks, plastic sticks for balloons, plastic flags etc.

Noise Pollution/Rules:

• The CPCB is entrusted with regulating and controlling noise-producing and noise-generating sources to maintain ambient air quality standards.

CPCB noise standards:

Environmental Data Statistics:

• The CPCB manages environmental data statistics, including air quality data and water quality data.
• Air quality data includes measurements of SO2, NO2, RSPM, and SPM.
• Water quality data focuses more on the quality levels of rivers and ponds.

Conclusion

The importance of Central Pollution Control Board increases especially after India has signed the Paris agreement that aims to reduce the global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius.

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