The Control of Water Pollution (Grant, Refusal or Cancellation of Consent) Guidelines, 2025 prescribe the procedure for grant, refusal, renewal and cancellation of consent for industrial plants under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. These Guidelines were notified on January 30, 2025 and govern consent-related applications and timelines. The present amendment updates definitions, procedures, fees, inspection mechanisms, timelines, and introduces provisions relating to online portals and registered environment auditors. It also rationalises consent validity, renewal references, and deemed consent for specified micro and small units.

1. Insertion of definitions:
   • Inserted definition of “Registered Environment Auditor” as defined under the Environment Audit Rules, 2025.
   • Inserted definition of “online portal” as the unified consent and authorization management portal.
2. Form and fees for consent applications:
   • Substituted paragraph 3 to prescribe that applications for consent to establish or operate under section 25 shall be made in the Form specified in the First Schedule and be accompanied by fees as determined under paragraph 5.
3. Validity of consent to operate:
   • Consent to operate, once granted, shall remain valid until cancelled in accordance with paragraph 13.
4. One-time fee for consent to operate:
   • State Government or Union Territory Administration may determine a one-time fee for consent to operate for any period between 5 to 25 years, with additional payment required for further extensions beyond the paid period.
5. Inspection and enquiry procedure:
   • Substituted paragraph 6 to allow inspection by State Board officers or engagement of Registered Environment Auditors for verification of applications, inspections, and collection of information.
   • State Boards may engage Registered Environment Auditors under the Environment Audit Rules, 2025.
   • For micro and small units located in duly notified industrial estates or areas, consent to establish shall be deemed to be granted upon submission of self-certified Form-I.
6. Consolidated consent and authorization:
   • Introduced a single-step procedure for granting consent under section 25 along with authorization under waste management rules notified under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
7. Revised timelines for consent decisions:
   • Updated timelines for grant or refusal of consent to operate for expansion or amendment to 90, 60 and 30 days as specified in the amended table.
8. Selection of location:
   • Substituted paragraph 9 to provide that site-specific or general conditions shall be imposed by the relevant Expert Appraisal Committee or State Board, depending on whether environmental clearance is required.
9. Deletion and omission of provisions:
   • Omitted paragraph 12 entirely.
   • Removed references to renewal of consent in specified provisions, forms and schedules.
10. Online portal for implementation:
    • Substituted paragraph 16 to mandate development of an online portal by the Central Board within six months to one year, through which all consent-related processes shall be handled once operational.
    • Central Board may charge five per cent of the fee received as service fee to be credited to its fund under section 36 of the Act.
11. Schedules amended:
    • First Schedule amended to remove references to renewal of consent.
    • Second Schedule amended to clarify the meaning of “Capital Investment” and align fee-related references with paragraph 5.