Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) that comes under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate in India works for checking the air, water, and noise pollution by ensuring the quality is maintained. It also issues guidelines for the same. In India, every state has its own Pollution Control Boards. In the capital, the Delhi Pollution Control Board has the jurisdiction for issuing the pollution NOC.
As per the Water (Pollution & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Air (Pollution & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 every industry, operations or commercial activities which may result in the discharge of sewerage into the environment has to take the pollution board NOC.
A No objection certificate must be obtained before the commencement of such activities. There are some categories in which it is required to take the pollution NOC. The categorization of industries as Red, Orange, Green and White is now accepted to the whole country. The categorization extends to not only the location of industries but also for the Consent Management, granting NOC and formulation of guidelines. The concept of categorization of industries continues to evolve.