Overview of Consent for Operation (CFO) from SPCB

Consent for Operation (CFO), also known as Consent to Operate (CTO), is a mandatory approval granted by the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) or the Pollution Control Committee (PCC) under the following legal provisions:

1)       Section 25/26 of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974

2)       Section 21 of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981

Industries classified under green, orange, and red categories that may potentially pollute air and water must apply for CFO before starting operations. Some states maintain an exempted list (white category) of industries that do not require this consent but must comply with local site clearance regulations.

Once the industrial unit is established with appropriate pollution control equipment, it must obtain CFO, which is granted for a specific period and requires timely renewal to continue operations.

Consent for Operation (CFO) Approval Procedure :

1)      Submission of Online Application through OCMMS

a.       Applications for new consent and renewals are submitted via the Online Consent Management and Monitoring System (OCMMS) to facilitate ease of business.

b.      Certain industries handling specific waste types (e.g., plastic, hazardous, e-waste, biomedical) may require additional authorization.

c.       Some states offer Consolidated Consent and Authorization (CC&A) for streamlined processing.

2)      Application Scrutiny

a.       The Section Officer reviews the application and forwards it to a supervising officer (Senior Scientific Officer/Environmental Engineer) for examination and recommendations.

3)      Site Inspection

a.       An Inspecting Officer visits the facility, analyzes the site, inspects pollution control systems, and prepares a report.

4)      Issuance/Rejection of CFO

a.       Based on the inspection report and recommendations, the approving authority (Chairman/Member Secretary) either grants or rejects the CFO.

Inspection During Consent for Operation (CFO)

Industries must install all necessary pollution control equipment and ensure compliance with pollutant discharge standards before applying for CFO. Key areas of inspection include:

1)      Air Emissions:

a.       Regulation of pollutants such as PM10 and NOx from chimneys, exhausts, and vents.

2)      Wastewater Discharge:

a.       Testing and regulating effluents based on parameters like pH, TSS, TDS, BOD, COD, and oil & grease.

3)      Noise Levels:

a.       Monitoring ambient and operational noise levels during daytime (6 AM-10 PM) and nighttime (10 PM-6 AM).

Documents Required for Consent for Operation (CFO)

Under Air Act:

1)       Index/Site Plan and Topo Map

2)       Detailed Layout Plan with Emission Points

3)       Process Flow Sheet

4)       Air Pollution Control Device Details

5)       Ambient Air Quality Report (if available)

6)       Copy of Consent to Establish (CFE)

7)       Raw Material List with Quantities (MT/M)

8)       MSDS for Chemical Industries

Under Water Act:

1)       Water Pollution Control Device Details

2)       Manufacturing Process Flow Diagram

3)       Site Map and Clearance from Local Authority

4)       Water Usage Breakdown and Balance

5)       Boiler/Steam Generation Certificate

6)       Raw Material List with Quantities (MT/M)

7)       Third-Party Analysis Report (for consent renewal)

Validity of Consent for Operation (CFO)