“Industries in Uttar Pradesh to Pay 2 to 2.6 Times Higher Fees for Pollution NOC”

The Uttar Pradesh government has approved a significant revision in the fee structure for obtaining No Objection Certificates (NOCs) related to industrial pollution control. Industries, local bodies, and residential projects will now be required to pay 2 to 2.6 times higher charges for securing pollution-control approvals from the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB).

 

The proposal was cleared after the state cabinet approved amendments to the Uttar Pradesh Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Rules, 2025 (Third Amendment) and the Uttar Pradesh Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Rules, 2025 (Fourth Amendment). These revised rules introduce a new classification and fee framework aimed at strengthening environmental compliance across the state.

 

Revised Fee Structure and Key Changes

According to the updated regulations, the state government is now empowered to revise pollution-control fees by up to 10% every two years. The changes are aligned with the guidelines issued by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change as part of a nationwide review of pollution-related fee policies.

 

Under the new structure, the UPPCB has categorized fee slabs into seven distinct groups, covering a range of industrial and municipal activities. Facilities such as industrial clusters, municipal bodies, effluent treatment plants (ETPs), and sewage treatment plants (STPs) will all fall under these revised categories.

 

Amendments have also been made to the fee structures for activities such as establishment and operation of treatment plants, waste management infrastructure, and related pollution-prevention systems. For industries, this means a considerable increase in both water and air consent fees under the respective Acts.

 

Rationale Behind the Revision

Officials stated that the restructuring aims to modernize the fee regime, improve environmental governance, and ensure adequate financial support for pollution monitoring and regulatory operations. The revisions are expected to make compliance more robust and bring uniformity across categories handling industrial emissions and wastewater discharge.

 

The Union government has also directed state pollution boards to streamline and classify fee structures for different levels of pollution loads—red, orange, green, and white categories—ensuring greater transparency and accountability.

 

UPPCB Empowered for Implementation

With the amendments now in place, the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board has been fully authorized to enforce the revised charges. This step marks a major move toward enhancing pollution control mechanisms across the state and ensuring that industries adhere to stricter environmental standards.

 

The fee hike, though substantial, is projected to contribute to improved environmental protection infrastructure and support ongoing efforts toward sustainable industrial development in the state.