The Andaman and Nicobar Pollution Control Committee (ANPCC) has extended the deadline for industrial units operating without prior environmental clearance to regularize their status. As per the decision taken during its 34th meeting in May 2025, such units can now apply directly for Consent to Operate (CTO) without the prerequisite Consent to Establish (CTE), provided applications are submitted by October 31, 2025.
This extension comes amid concerns that several industrial units in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands were established and have been functioning without mandatory pollution control consents. The move aims to bring these operations into compliance with existing environmental laws, namely the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
Under these laws, no industry is permitted to be established or begin operations without obtaining both CTE and CTO from the respective state board. ANPCC officials noted that despite a previous compliance opportunity, applications for CTO continued to arrive from units that never secured prior CTE, prompting the need for another and final regularization window.
The committee clarified that CTOs will only be granted to those units that fulfill all applicable environmental norms. Moreover, it warned that no further applications will be accepted after October 31 from units that skipped the required CTE process.
Entrepreneurs and stakeholders have been reminded that obtaining CTE before establishing an industry and CTO before starting operations is statutorily mandated. Applications for both must be made via the official online portal: www.anocmms.nic.in.
Failure to comply by the extended deadline will attract action under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, the committee has cautioned. The ANPCC’s move signals a tightening of enforcement against environmental violations while offering one last chance for errant units to fall in line.
