Port Blair, Sept. 23: In compliance of Section 25 of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974, no person shall, without the previous consent of the State Board, establish or take any steps to establish any industry, operation or process, or any treatment and disposal system or an extension or addition thereto, which is likely to discharge sewage or trade effluent into a stream or well or sewer or on land. Similarly, as per the Section 21 of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1981, subject to provisions of this section, no person shall, without the previous consent of the State Board, establish or operate any industrial plant in an air pollution control area.

It is the responsibility of the industrial unit to obtain Consent to Establish (CTE) from Andaman & Nicobar Pollution Control Committee (ANPCC) before establishment of the industry and also to obtain Consent to Operate (CTO) after establishment of unit. Non-compliance of this is the violation of the provisions made under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974, Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1981 and Environment (Protection) Act 1986.

It has come to the notice of ANPCC that many of industrial units including hollow blocks manufacturing unit, have been established without obtaining CTE and also started operating without CTO under Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974, Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1981, which is a violation of the aforesaid rules.

Therefore, it is informed to all the stakeholders and general public that is it statutory responsibility of all the industries or units to obtain CTE prior to establishment of any industry & CTO after establishment in Andaman & Nicobar Islands. The industrial unit/entrepreneur shall apply for CTE & CTO using the URL:www.anocmms.nic.in for the fulfillment of requirement made under Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974, Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1981 and Environment (Protection) Act 1986.

Any industrial unit which are operating the activity without obtaining CTE and CTO from ANPCC are liable for taking strict action against the industrial units/firms as the provisions of Environment (Protection) Act 1986.