What types of pollution data does CPCB maintain, and are all of them accessible through RTI?

CPCB maintains an extensive range of environmental data. On air quality, CPCB operates the National Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP) and a network of Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) that measure PM2.5, PM10, SO2, NO2, CO, ozone, and other pollutants at hundreds of stations across the country. On water, CPCB monitors river water quality through the National Water Quality Monitoring Programme at over 2,500 stations. On industrial pollution, CPCB maintains records from the Consent to Operate system (managed by State Pollution Control Boards with CPCB oversight), effluent monitoring data from industries in critically polluted or severely polluted areas, and inspection reports from CPCB's own field visits. All of this data is held by a public authority — CPCB is clearly a public authority under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act — and is therefore subject to disclosure. Some data may be withheld if it falls under a narrow Section 8 exemption (for instance, ongoing enforcement proceedings under Section 8(1)(h)), but factual monitoring data and historical inspection records cannot generally be withheld.

Can citizens use RTI to verify whether a nearby factory is polluting within legal limits?

Yes, and this is one of the most effective uses of RTI in the environmental context. A factory operating in India under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 must obtain a Consent to Operate (CTO) from the relevant State Pollution Control Board (SPCB). The CTO specifies the effluent discharge standards and stack emission limits that the factory must comply with. CPCB oversees SPCBs and, in certain industries and zones, conducts its own monitoring. Through RTI you can obtain: (a) the CTO granted to the factory, including the prescribed emission and discharge limits; (b) the factory's most recent self-monitoring reports submitted to the pollution control board; (c) any CPCB or SPCB inspection report for the factory; and (d) whether the factory appears on CPCB's list of Grossly Polluting Industries (GPIs) or Severely Polluted Areas. Comparing the factory's actual discharge or emission data with its CTO limits tells you directly whether it is polluting within legal bounds.

Is real-time air quality data from CPCB's CAAQMS network accessible via RTI?

CPCB makes much of its continuous ambient air quality monitoring data publicly available on its website and the Sameer app. However, if you need historical data for a specific station, specific pollutants, or a specific time period that is not readily downloadable, RTI is the appropriate mechanism. Under Section 4(1)(b) of the RTI Act, public authorities are required to proactively disclose categories of information they hold, and CPCB's real-time monitoring data falls squarely within this obligation. If the CAAQMS data for a particular station and period is not available publicly, file an RTI requesting the specific dataset. CPCB cannot legitimately refuse to provide factual ambient air quality monitoring data on national security or commercial confidentiality grounds — this data relates to the quality of the outdoor air breathed by the public, and its disclosure serves the public interest unambiguously.

CPCB says the information I want is held by the State Pollution Control Board, not by CPCB. What should I do?

This is an important distinction to understand. The Consent to Establish (CTE) and Consent to Operate (CTO) system is administered by the respective State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) or Pollution Control Committee (PCC) in each state, not by CPCB directly. Routine inspection of individual factories is also typically done by the SPCB. CPCB's role is primarily at the national level — it sets standards, monitors compliance in critically polluted areas, reviews SPCB performance, and steps in when state-level enforcement fails. If CPCB transfers your RTI to the relevant SPCB under Section 6(3) of the RTI Act, the SPCB is legally required to respond. You should simultaneously file a parallel RTI application directly with the SPCB — for example, with the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB), or the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) — as they will hold the primary records on individual factory consents, inspections, and local complaint status. A combined RTI approach to both CPCB (for national-level data, Grossly Polluting Industries lists, NAMP data) and the relevant SPCB (for factory-level CTO details and local inspection reports) is most effective.

How do I escalate if CPCB takes no action on a pollution complaint I filed with them?

If you have filed a pollution complaint with CPCB and received no response or inadequate action, you have two parallel paths. First, use RTI under Section 6 of the RTI Act to formally ask CPCB for the status of your complaint — the RTI response creates a paper trail and forces CPCB to acknowledge receipt and document any action taken or not taken. Second, if CPCB's RTI response is unsatisfactory or no response is received within 30 days, file a First Appeal under Section 19(1) with the First Appellate Authority (FAA) at CPCB within 30 days of the date of decision or expiry of the 30-day response period, whichever is applicable. If the First Appeal is also not resolved to your satisfaction, file a Second Appeal with the Central Information Commission (CIC) under Section 19(3). The CIC can direct disclosure of records and, under Section 20 of the RTI Act, impose a penalty of up to ₹25,000 on the CPIO for non-compliance. For the underlying pollution complaint itself — separate from the RTI — you may also approach the National Green Tribunal (NGT) or the jurisdictional High Court if administrative action remains absent.

Home/Guides/RTI for CPCB: Factory Pollution, Industrial Effluent & Environmental Compliance

Central Government

RTI for CPCB: Factory Pollution, Industrial Effluent & Environmental Compliance

File RTI with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to access factory pollution complaint status, industrial effluent discharge records, air quality monitoring data, consent to operate details, and CPCB inspection reports.

Updated 1 Jun 2026

Quick Facts

MinistryMinistry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

Address RTI ToCentral Public Information Officer, Central Pollution Control Board, Parivesh Bhawan, East Arjun Nagar, Delhi

Application Fee₹10 under RTI (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005. Free for BPL cardholders.

Response Time30 days (48 hours for life/liberty matters)

File Online Athttps://rtionline.gov.in

All information on this page is based on the Right to Information Act, 2005 (Act No. 22 of 2005) and the RTI (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005. First Appeal: Section 19(1). Second Appeal to CIC/SIC: Section 19(3).

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) is India's apex environmental regulatory authority for pollution control, established under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and operating under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. CPCB sets the national environmental standards that industries must meet, monitors air and water quality across the country, oversees the performance of State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs), and directly intervenes in cases involving cross-state pollution, critically polluted areas, and large-scale industrial violations. For citizens living near industrial zones, threatened by river pollution, or breathing hazardous air near factories, RTI is the most powerful legal tool to compel CPCB to disclose what it knows — and what it has done — about environmental violations in their vicinity.

Understanding CPCB's Role and Why It Matters for RTI

CPCB is a public authority under Section 2(h) of the Right to Information Act, 2005. It receives public funds, exercises statutory regulatory powers, and is accountable to Parliament through the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Every record CPCB generates — inspection reports, monitoring datasets, consent review records, defaulter lists, and enforcement orders — is subject to disclosure under the RTI Act unless a specific, narrow exemption under Section 8 applies.

CPCB vs. State Pollution Control Boards: A Critical Distinction

Before filing RTI, it is essential to understand the division of responsibilities between CPCB and the State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs):

SPCBs (e.g., Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, Delhi Pollution Control Committee) are the primary licensing and enforcement authorities for individual factories. They issue Consents to Establish (CTE) and Consents to Operate (CTO), conduct routine factory inspections, and take enforcement action against non-compliant units at the state level.
CPCB operates at the national level — it sets standards, audits SPCB performance, monitors ambient air and water quality through national networks, publishes Grossly Polluting Industries (GPI) lists, and steps in for cross-state or nationally significant pollution crises. CPCB also directly exercises enforcement powers in certain Union Territories and in cases where the Supreme Court or National Green Tribunal has directed central-level intervention.

If you are seeking information about a specific factory's consent status or a local inspection report, you may need to file RTI with both CPCB and the relevant SPCB. If CPCB transfers your RTI application to the relevant SPCB under Section 6(3) of the RTI Act, the SPCB is legally bound to respond to you directly.

What CPCB Holds That SPCBs Do Not

CPCB uniquely holds:

National Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP) and Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) data for hundreds of monitoring locations
Grossly Polluting Industries (GPI) lists for rivers including the Ganga, Yamuna, and other critically polluted water bodies
Severely Polluted Areas (SPA) and Critically Polluted Areas (CPA) designations with associated industrial assessments
National level effluent monitoring data from large and hazardous industries submitted under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
Reports and directions issued by CPCB field offices during central-level inspections
Records of directions issued to SPCBs and compliance of SPCBs with CPCB directives
Correspondence with the Supreme Court, National Green Tribunal, and MoEFCC on specific industrial pollution matters

Key Information You Can Obtain Through RTI

Factory Inspection Reports

CPCB and its regional offices conduct inspections of industries in critically polluted areas, along polluted river stretches, and in response to specific complaints or court directions. An inspection report contains: the names and credentials of the inspecting officers, the date and scope of inspection, findings on effluent treatment plant (ETP) operation, stack emission measurements, waste disposal practices, compliance with consent conditions, specific violations identified, and directions issued to the factory.

These reports are factual regulatory records and cannot be withheld on commercial confidentiality grounds. An industry's pollution performance is a matter of public interest — not a trade secret — especially when it affects air, water, and land in surrounding communities.

Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Data

CPCB maintains one of Asia's largest ambient air quality monitoring networks. Under the NAMP, over 900 manual monitoring stations across approximately 300 cities measure SO2, NO2, and particulate matter (PM10). The CAAQMS network of automatic stations provides real-time data on PM2.5, PM10, SO2, NO2, CO, ozone, and benzene. While much of this data is available on CPCB's website and the Sameer app, specific historical datasets, station-wise reports, or analysis reports linking air quality to industrial sources can be sought through RTI if not publicly available in the required format or time period.

The CTO is the legal authorisation under which a factory discharges effluents or emits pollutants. It specifies the maximum permissible limits for parameters such as pH, BOD, COD, suspended solids (for wastewater discharge) and SO2, NO2, particulate matter, and specific toxic pollutants (for stack emissions). Obtaining a factory's CTO through RTI — whether from CPCB directly or from the SPCB to which your application is transferred — allows you to benchmark the factory's self-monitoring data against what is legally permissible.

Grossly Polluting Industries (GPI) Lists and Defaulter Lists

CPCB publishes lists of Grossly Polluting Industries — particularly those discharging into major river systems — along with their compliance status. If a factory near you is on this list, it means CPCB has already identified it as a significant polluter. RTI can be used to obtain the current and historical GPI lists, the compliance status of each industry on the list, and the directions issued by CPCB to the SPCB for taking action against them.

Action Taken on Pollution Complaints

Citizens and residential welfare associations frequently file pollution complaints directly with CPCB. RTI is an effective mechanism to formally establish what CPCB has done with a complaint — whether it was forwarded to the SPCB, whether an independent inspection was conducted, and what the outcome was. A complaint whose status is established through RTI creates a clear accountability record that can be used in subsequent legal proceedings before the NGT or High Court.

How to File RTI with CPCB

Online Filing (Recommended)

Visit rtionline.gov.in and click Submit Request
Under Ministry / Department, search for Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Select Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) as the public authority
Address the application to the Central Public Information Officer, CPCB, Parivesh Bhawan, East Arjun Nagar, Delhi
State your questions clearly — specify the factory name, location, reference numbers, and the period for which information is sought
Pay ₹10 online. BPL cardholders are exempt — attach a copy of the BPL card
Note the registration number for tracking

Offline Filing

Send your application by post or in person to: Central Public Information Officer, Central Pollution Control Board, Parivesh Bhawan, East Arjun Nagar, Delhi – 110032. Enclose an Indian Postal Order (IPO) or demand draft for ₹10. Retain a copy of your application and proof of dispatch.

Tips for Effective RTI Requests to CPCB

Be specific: Name the factory, its registration or consent number (if known), the industrial area, and the exact time period for which information is sought. Vague requests invite partial or evasive responses.
Cite monitoring station names: For air quality data, mention the specific NAMP or CAAQMS station by its official designation, not just the city name.
Request copies of documents, not summaries: Ask for "a copy of the inspection report" rather than "details of the inspection" — the Act entitles you to copies of documents held by the authority.
File parallel RTIs: For factory-level data, file simultaneously with CPCB and the relevant SPCB. The Section 6(3) transfer mechanism can cause delays if you rely on a single application.

Your Rights Under the RTI Act: Key Provisions

Section 6: Right to submit an RTI application; no reason needs to be given for seeking information.
Section 7(1): CPCB must respond within 30 days of receipt of your application.
Section 7(1) proviso: If the information sought concerns the life or liberty of a person — for example, information about an acute industrial toxic release or contamination of a drinking water source — CPCB must respond within 48 hours.
Section 19(1): File a First Appeal with the First Appellate Authority (FAA) at CPCB within 30 days of the date of decision or expiry of the 30-day response period, whichever is applicable, if the response is absent, incomplete, or unsatisfactory.
Section 19(3): File a Second Appeal with the Central Information Commission (CIC) if the First Appeal is not resolved satisfactorily. CPCB is a Central Government body — all second appeals go to the CIC, not any State Information Commission.
Section 20: The CIC may impose a penalty of ₹250 per day (up to ₹25,000) on the CPIO for unjustified refusal or delay in providing information, and may recommend disciplinary action.

Appeals

First Appeal: If CPCB does not respond within 30 days, or the response is incomplete or evasive, file a First Appeal under Section 19(1) with the First Appellate Authority at CPCB. The FAA must decide within 30 days, extendable to 45 days with reasons in writing.

Second Appeal: If the First Appeal is also not resolved satisfactorily, file a Second Appeal under Section 19(3) with the Central Information Commission (CIC) within 90 days of the FAA's decision or the expiry of the First Appeal period. CPCB is a statutory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change — a Central Government ministry — and all second appeals lie exclusively with the CIC.

On Section 8 refusals: CPCB may occasionally attempt to withhold inspection reports or effluent monitoring data by citing Section 8(1)(d) (commercial confidence, trade secrets) or Section 8(1)(h) (impeding ongoing investigation or prosecution). Neither exemption can be applied legitimately to factual pollution monitoring data or completed inspection records. Environmental monitoring data affects the health of citizens; the public interest in disclosure unambiguously outweighs any claimed harm, as provided under Section 8(2) of the RTI Act. Challenge any such refusal in the First Appeal.

Sample RTI Application Draft

To,
The Central Public Information Officer (CPIO),
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB),
Parivesh Bhawan, East Arjun Nagar,
Delhi – 110032

Subject: Application under the Right to Information Act, 2005 — Factory Pollution Inspection Reports, Industrial Effluent Discharge Records, Air Quality Monitoring Data, Consent to Operate Status, and Action on Pollution Complaints

Sir / Madam,

I, [Your Full Name], residing at [Your Full Address], hereby submit this application under Section 6 of the Right to Information Act, 2005, to seek the following information:

Industry / Factory details (fill as applicable):
  Factory / Industry name: [e.g., XYZ Chemicals Ltd.]
  Factory / Consent Registration Number (if known): [Registration / Consent number]
  Location: [Village / Industrial Area / District / State]
  Type of industry: [e.g., textile dyeing, chemical manufacturing, cement, steel]

Information sought:

1. Please provide a copy of the most recent inspection report prepared by CPCB or its authorised officers for the above-mentioned factory / industry for the period [specify year(s), e.g., 2023–24 and 2024–25], including details of violations, non-compliances, and directions issued.

2. Please provide the ambient air quality monitoring data (PM2.5, PM10, SO2, NO2, and any other parameters measured) recorded at the monitoring station(s) located in or near [name of industrial area / district] for the 12-month period from [Month/Year] to [Month/Year], as maintained or received by CPCB under the National Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP) or Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) network.

3. Please provide the current status of the pollution complaint filed against [factory name / industrial area] bearing reference number [Complaint Reference Number, if available], including: (a) the date of receipt of the complaint by CPCB; (b) the action taken or initiated by CPCB; (c) whether an inspection was conducted; and (d) the final outcome or present status.

4. Please provide details of the Consent to Operate (CTO) / Consent to Establish (CTE) granted to [factory name] under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, including: (a) the consent number and date of grant; (b) the validity period; (c) the prescribed effluent discharge standards and emission limits under the consent; and (d) copies of the latest monitoring results submitted by the industry to CPCB or the concerned State Pollution Control Board.

5. Please provide the list of industries / factories in the state of [State Name] that appear on CPCB's defaulter list or have been identified as Grossly Polluting Industries (GPIs) or Severely Polluted Areas (SPAs) as of [current year], including: (a) the name and location of each industry; (b) the specific violation(s) recorded; and (c) the directions or penalties issued.

6. Please provide details of the action taken by CPCB on reports of excess SO2 / NO2 emissions recorded in [name of zone / monitoring station] during [specific period], including: (a) whether the source of excess emissions was identified and attributed to a specific industry; (b) directions issued to the concerned industry; (c) penalties or closure orders initiated; and (d) the present compliance status.

I am enclosing the prescribed fee of ₹10 [via online payment; Reference No.: [Payment Ref]].

I request that the information be provided within 30 days from the date of receipt of this application, as mandated under Section 7(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005.

Yours sincerely,

[Your Full Name]
[Your Complete Address]
Phone: [Your 10-digit Mobile Number]
Email: [[email protected]]
Date: [DD/MM/YYYY]

Replace all text in [square brackets] with your actual details before filing. Do not include the brackets in your submission.

Frequently Asked Questions

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