Sri Vijaya Puram, Sept. 14: The Andaman and Nicobar Pollution Control Committee (ANPCC) has extended the deadline for industrial units that were established without prior pollution clearance to regularize their operations. In its XXXIV meeting held in May 2025, the committee decided to allow such units to apply for Consent to Operate (CTO) directly-without obtaining prior Consent to Establish (CTE)-till 31st October, 2025.
As per the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, no industry is permitted to be established or operated without obtaining CTE and CTO from the State Board. Furthermore, under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, compliance with these regulations is mandatory.
The ANPCC has observed that several industrial units in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have been set up and are operational without acquiring the necessary pollution consents. This constitutes a violation of the aforementioned Acts. While a previous compliance window was provided to such units, the committee continues to receive CTO applications without prior CTE, prompting the extension. The CTO will be issued only if the industrial unit meets all applicable environmental norms. The ANPCC emphasized that no CTO applications will be entertained after October, 31, 2025 from units that failed to obtain CTE prior to establishment.
All stakeholders and industrial entrepreneurs are reminded that it is a statutory requirement to obtain CTE before establishing an industry and CTO before commencing operations. Applications for both consents must be submitted online via the portal: www.anocmms.nic.in. Failure to comply within the extended timeline will invite strict action under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.