Pollution Control Consent — CTE & CTO
Consent to Establish and Consent to Operate from the State Pollution Control Board
- 1CategoriseActivity mapped to CPCB category.
- 2EstablishCTE obtained before setup.
- 3OperateCTO obtained before production.
Share your details. We’ll reply on WhatsApp with the next steps and a checklist.
Pick a plan — the fee is adjusted if you hire us within 30 days.
About Pollution Control Consent — CTE & CTO
A clear overview, in simple terms — what it is, why it matters, and how we handle it.
Industries and many service units need two consents from the State Pollution Control Board under the Water Act, 1974 and Air Act, 1981: Consent to Establish (CTE) before setting up or expanding, and Consent to Operate (CTO) before starting production. The requirement depends on the CPCB category of the activity — red, orange, green or white. White-category activities are exempt from consent and only need to inform the Board.
The category drives everything: red-category industries (highly polluting) face the strictest scrutiny and shortest validity, orange and green categories progressively less. Some states issue combined consents and authorisations under the hazardous waste rules.
We confirm your category, prepare the application with the site plan, process flow, water balance and pollution control measures, coordinate with your environmental consultant for any monitoring data, and track renewals so operations aren't interrupted.
| Law | Water Act 1974; Air Act 1981 |
|---|---|
| Before construction | Consent to Establish (CTE) |
| Before operations | Consent to Operate (CTO) |
| Categories | Red, orange, green, white |
| White category | Exempt from consent; intimation only |
Who this is for
Common scenarios where this service is a good fit.
- Manufacturing units and factories
- Hospitals, hotels and large commercial buildings in some states
- Units expanding capacity or changing products
What you get
Clear deliverables so you know exactly what's included.
- Category determination
- CTE and CTO applications
- Authorisations under waste rules where needed
- Renewal tracking
Expert review before every submission — not just data entry.
Working notes and reconciliations you can rely on in future notices.
Resident Indians, NRIs, expats and cross-border businesses — all served.
Documents required
A practical checklist. We'll tell you if anything else is needed based on your case.
* This is a base checklist. After a quick pre-check, we may ask for additional items specific to your case.
Process
A simple, trackable workflow — designed to avoid back-and-forth.
Activity mapped to CPCB category.
CTE obtained before setup.
CTO obtained before production.
Get a quote
We share a clear quote on WhatsApp after a quick checklist pre-check.
- Fixed quote on WhatsApp after a short look at your facts and documents.
- Government fees, if any, are paid at actuals and shown separately.
| Factor | DIY | Indus Tax |
|---|---|---|
| Expert review | ❌ | ✅ |
| Notice risk reduction | ❌ | ✅ |
| Deduction optimisation | ❌ | ✅ |
| Audit-ready records | ❌ | ✅ |
| AIS/26AS reconciliation | ❌ | ✅ |
Share your facts and deadline. We'll reply with the right checklist and a clear quote.
Fee adjusted against our service fee if you go ahead within 30 days.
- Priority CA Call-backSkip the queue — a CA calls you within 30 minutes.₹255
- RecommendedCA Consultation (30 min)Talk one matter through properly with a CA.₹755
- In-depth CA Review (60 min)Documents reviewed before the call, written action plan after.₹1,155
Call-backs run Mon–Sat, 9 AM–6 PM IST. Booked outside these hours? We call you first thing the next working morning.
Compare the 3 plansFrequently asked questions
Answers to the most common questions we get.
Official sources
Indus Tax is a private professional services firm and is not affiliated with any government authority. Rules and fees change — we confirm current positions before filing.
