How to File RTI with DPCC Delhi (Delhi Pollution Control Committee) — NOC, Complaints, Air Quality

The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) is the State Pollution Control Board equivalent for the National Capital Territory of Delhi. It is constituted under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and discharges functions under both the Water Act and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. DPCC is the primary regulatory body in Delhi for industrial emissions, effluent discharge, ambient air quality, construction dust, and noise pollution.

DPCC is a public authority under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act, 2005, and is fully subject to the Act. Citizens — whether factory owners awaiting consent approvals, residents living near polluting industries, or researchers tracking air quality — can use RTI to compel DPCC to disclose information it holds. RTI is often the most effective tool to get a written, accountable response from DPCC on matters it may otherwise handle opaquely.

What Can You Achieve with RTI to DPCC?

• Get the current status of a CTE or CTO application — whether it has been granted, refused, or is pending, and the reasons for any delay
• Verify whether a specific industry or construction site holds a valid Consent to Operate (CTO) as on a particular date
• Find out the pollution category (Red, Orange, Green, or White) assigned to a specific industry and the basis for that classification
• Get the action taken on a pollution complaint — inspection date, findings, and directions or penalties issued
• Obtain ambient air quality monitoring data (PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, CO) for specific CAAQMS stations for a given time period
• Know whether an industrial unit is in compliance with effluent discharge standards based on DPCC's latest inspection or sampling
• Get details of show cause notices, closure orders, or penalties issued to a specific industry
• Obtain environmental NOC or consent records related to a construction project

Where to File: The Right Authority

DPCC is headquartered at 4th Floor, ISBT Building, Kashmere Gate, Delhi – 110 006. All RTI applications for information held by DPCC should be addressed to the Public Information Officer (PIO), Delhi Pollution Control Committee.

File online at rti.delhi.gov.in — select "Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC)" from the department list. You can also submit the application by post or in person at the DPCC headquarters.

Note on Section 4(1)(b): DPCC is required under Section 4(1)(b) of the RTI Act to proactively publish categories of information including consent orders issued. Before filing, check the DPCC website (dpcc.delhigovt.nic.in) — CTE/CTO orders, environmental inspection reports, and some penalty orders may already be publicly accessible. If the specific data you need is not there, RTI is the right route.

How to File: Step by Step

Step 1: Gather Your Details

• The name and full address of the industry, factory, or construction site you are asking about
• The DPCC consent or application number (if you have it — it is not mandatory but helps narrow the query)
• The complaint reference number from DPCC (if you are following up on a pollution complaint)
• The name of the air quality monitoring station and the time period for which you want data
• The date of your original application or complaint with DPCC (if any)

Step 2: Draft Your Application

Be specific about what you are asking. DPCC handles multiple functions — consent approvals, inspections, air quality monitoring, enforcement — so your query should clearly indicate which function it relates to. Avoid combining too many unrelated queries in a single RTI; it is better to file separate applications for consent matters and air quality data if they are unrelated. The sample draft above covers the most common scenarios — adapt the specific questions to your situation.

Step 3: File Online

File at rti.delhi.gov.in, select Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) as the department, and pay ₹10 online. BPL cardholders are exempt from the fee — attach a copy of the BPL card. You will receive an acknowledgement with a registration number — save it for tracking and appeals.

Step 4: Appeals

If there is no response within 30 days, or the response is incomplete or unsatisfactory, file a First Appeal under Section 19(1) of the RTI Act with the First Appellate Authority (FAA) — a senior officer at DPCC — within 30 days of the date of decision or expiry of the 30-day period, whichever is applicable. If the First Appeal is also unanswered or unsatisfactory, file a Second Appeal with the Delhi Information Commission (DIC) under Section 19(3) within 90 days. The DIC is Delhi's State Information Commission established under Section 15 of the RTI Act 2005.

Important: Because DPCC is a Delhi State body under GNCTD, all second appeals go to the DIC — not the Central Information Commission (CIC). Filing with the CIC will result in your appeal being returned as not maintainable.

What Specific Information Can You Ask For?

CTE / CTO status for an industry:

1. Current status of CTE/CTO application Ref. No. for the unit at address — granted, refused, or pending; if pending, reason for delay and expected decision date
2. Whether the unit at address holds a valid Consent to Operate as on date; if yes, the consent number, validity period, and conditions attached
3. The pollution category (Red/Orange/Green/White) assigned to the unit at address and the basis for this classification

Environmental NOC for construction:

1. Whether DPCC has issued an environmental consent or NOC for the construction project at address/site name; if yes, provide the reference number, date, and conditions
2. Whether any complaint regarding construction dust at address has been received and what action was taken

Pollution complaints — air, water, noise:

1. Action taken on complaint Ref. No. dated DD/MM/YYYY — date of inspection, officer who conducted the inspection, findings, and any directions/notices/penalties issued
2. Number of complaints received against the unit at address in the last period and a summary of action taken on each

Air quality monitoring data:

1. Daily average PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, and CO readings at Station Name monitoring station for the period DD/MM/YYYY to DD/MM/YYYY
2. Whether the Station Name CAAQMS was operational throughout period; if not, the dates of downtime and reason

Industrial effluent and water discharge:

1. Date of the most recent effluent sampling or inspection of the unit at address; findings of the inspection and whether the unit was found in compliance with prescribed discharge standards
2. Whether the unit at address has been issued any show cause notice, direction under Section 33A of the Water Act, or closure order in the last period; provide copies of such orders