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REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
The Gazette of India
CG-DL-E-07102025-266719
EXTRAORDINARY
PART II-Section 3-Sub-section (ii)
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
No. 4380]
NEW DELHI, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2025/ASVINA 11, 1947
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 1st October, 2025
S.O. 4506(E).—WHEREAS, the Central Government proposes to issue following draft notification in
exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) and clause (v) of sub-section (2) of section 3 of the Environment
(Protection) Act, 1986 (29 of 1986) and accordingly, the same is hereby published, as required under sub-rule (3) of
rule 5 of the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986, for the information of the public likely to be affected thereby; and
notice is hereby given that the said draft notification shall be taken into consideration on or after the expiry of a period
of sixty days from the date on which copies of the Gazette containing this notification are made available to the
Public;
Any person interested in making any objections or suggestions on the proposal contained in the draft
notification may forward the same in writing for consideration of the Central Government within the period so
specified to the Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Indira Paryavaran Bhawan, Jor Bagh
Road, Aliganj, New Delhi-110 003, or send it at the e-mail address: diriapolicy-moefcc@gov.in.
Draft Notification
S.O.
(E).— WHEREAS, the Central Government in the erstwhile Ministry of Environment and Forests, in
exercise of its powers under sub-section (1) and clause (v) of sub-section (2) of section (3) of the Environment
(Protection) Act, 1986 has published the Environment Impact Assessment Notification, 2006 (hereinafter referred to
as the said notification), vide number S.O.1533 (E), dated the 14th September, 2006 for mandating prior
environmental clearance (EC) for certain category of projects;
AND WHEREAS, Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) are covered under item 7(h) of the EIA
Notification 2006 and require prior Environmental Clearance (EC). The Central Government has received
representations for exemption of CETPs from the requirement of prior EC.
AND WHEREAS, in recent years a substantial transformation has taken place across various industrial
clusters, particularly in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, paints, chemical fertilizers, electroplating, textiles and allied
industries. These sectors, which were earlier heavily dependent on Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs), have
progressively upgraded their infrastructure in order to comply with increasingly stringent environmental requirements.
Such technological improvements have enabled industries to manage their effluents with far greater precision,
operational efficiency, and accountability. This paradigm shift in effluent management practices and advent of modern
technology has opened avenues for better treatment of industrial wastes. CETPs have emerged as a solution to
ensuring better self compliance on the principles of collective responsibility. Moreover, the CETPs also serve as a
cost-effective facility for treatment of industrial waste on one hand and infuse a sense of self discipline on the other,
offering better checks and balances in pollution abatement. Thus, establishment of CETPs need to be encouraged for
ensuring better compliance by enforcing collective accountability and ensuring effective monitoring at one place
instead of diffused monitoring at multiple locations.
AND WHEREAS, a growing trend towards the adoption of Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) systems has been
observed across several sectors. Further, ZLD systems ensure that no untreated or partially treated wastewater is
released into the environment. Instead, the entire effluent stream undergoes comprehensive treatment, and the treated
water is recycled and reused within industrial operations. This practice not only conserves valuable freshwater
resources but also substantially minimizes the risk of environmental pollution.
AND WHEREAS, these advancements are complemented by an already robust regulatory oversight
framework. Industrial units and their treatment facilities are governed by the provisions of the Water (Prevention and
Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. The regulatory regime
under these statutes is both stringent and comprehensive, with regular monitoring, periodic inspections, and
mandatory reporting requirements imposed by the State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) and the Central Pollution
Control Board (CPCB). These mechanisms ensure that industries are consistently held accountable for their emissions
and discharges, thereby maintaining high levels of compliance with prescribed environmental norms.
AND WHEREAS, the matter was examined by the sectoral Expert Appraisal Committee which has
recommended that, in light of the technological advancements achieved, the robust compliance mechanisms in place,
and the demonstrable shift towards sustainable water management practices, Common Effluent Treatment Plants
(CETPs) may be considered for exemption from the requirement of prior Environmental Clearance under the EIA
Notification, 2006, subject to certain environmental safeguards to be followed during construction and operation and
to be enforced by SPCB/PCC through Consent to Establish/Consent to Operate under the provisions of the Water
(Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
AND WHEREAS, the recommendations of Expert Appraisal Committee were referred to the Expert
Advisory Committee for examination. After due deliberation the Expert Advisory Committee agreed with the
recommendation of the concerned Expert Appraisal Committee and also noted that the Central Government vide
Notification dated 19.12.2018 had already amended the EIA Notification 2006 to exempt EC for CETPs setup for or
within projects or activities which do not require environmental clearance, and currently the CETPs for activities
which are already governed by the EC process only require EC. After due deliberation the Expert Advisory
Committee was of the considered view that all CETPs may be exempted subject to environmental safeguards to be
implemented as recommended by the sectoral Expert Appraisal Committee.
AND WHEREAS, based on the recommendations of the Expert Appraisal Committee and the Expert
Advisory Committee, the Central Government is of the view that Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) may be
exempted from the requirement of prior Environmental Clearance under the EIA Notification, 2006, subject to
implementation of environmental safeguards to be enforced by SPCB/PCC through the Consent mechanism.
NOW, THEREFORE, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) and clause (v) of sub-section (2)
of section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (29 of 1986), read with sub-rule (3) of rule 5 of the
Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986, the Central Government hereby makes the following further amendments in
the notification of the Government of India in the erstwhile Ministry of Environment and Forests, number
S.O.1533(E), dated the 14th September, 2006, namely: -
In the said notification,-
In the Schedule to the said notification, under heading, “Physical Infrastructure including Environmental Services",
Item 7(h) and the entries relating thereto shall be omitted.
[F. No. IA3-22/17/2025-IA.III]
RAJAT AGARWAL, Jt. Secy.
Note: The principal notification was published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary Part-II, Section 3, Sub-section
(ii) vide, number S.O. 1533(E), dated the 14th September, 2006 and last amended vide the notification number
S.O. 1223(E), dated the 17th March, 2025.
Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064
and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.
Digitally signed by GORAKHA NATH
GORAKHA NATH YADAVA YADAVA
Date: 2025.10.07 14:16:29 +05'30'