The environment is the most important factor when it comes to standards of living and life in general. A living being needed an adequate environment to be healthy and productive.
In India, due to pollution, the productivity of an average worker declines by 8-10 percent, and during the high peak of pollution, this increases to 20%. This not only means health loss but also decreases the output of a worker and loss of opportunities.
India is a developing nation and requires a lot of carbon emissions to be released into the environment to become a developed nation.
Right from the production of goods or services to infrastructure development requires a lot of pollution to be released, it cannot be stopped however, but it can be managed and reduced.
Ethically, every business is required to follow the environment-friendly method of production but sometimes, they do not follow this o cut costs and damage the environment.
As a citizen of India, you are by law entitled to the right to life hence, anything that damages your life can be prevented and you can file a complaint against such activity.
In this article, we will discuss how to file a complaint against a business/person engaging in pollution in CPCB, police, Court, and Green Tribunal of India.
How to File a Complaint for pollution in Police?
If you see someone polluting the environment or any business engaging in polluting activity then you can immediately call the police.
According to Section 268 of IPC, the police must register an FIR (First Information Report) for public nuisance against that person or entity.
The IPC Code section 268 states that-
A person is guilty of a public nuisance who does any act or is guilty of an illegal omission which causes any common injury, danger or annoyance to the public or to the people in general who dwell or occupy property in the vicinity, or which must necessarily cause injury, obstruction, danger or annoyance to persons who may have occasion to use any public right.
A common nuisance is not excused on the ground that it causes some convenience or advantage.
Indian Penal Code, Section 268
How to File a Complaint for pollution in the Central or State Pollution Control Board?
The central government and State Governments have their dedicated pollution control board where individuals can file their complaints regarding pollution.
The following are the steps that you should follow to file a complaint for pollution in the Central or State Pollution Control Board-
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)
- You can visit the official website of the Central Pollution Control Board online portal by visiting this link- https://cpcb.nic.in/query-form.php
- Now, fill out the form with details like name, mobile number, location, email ID, etc.
- Make sure to also attach a photograph of the incident to strengthen your case
- Now, solve the captcha and click on the submit button
- You’ll receive an SMS and email with a complaint number for tracking purposes
State Pollution Control Board
Every state has its pollution control board where you can file your complaint. The process will be the same and on the safer side, you should always take photographs or videos of the incident for reporting.
You can find the list of State Pollution Control Board list below-
| S.NO. | STATE POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD | WEBSITE |
| 1. | Andhra Pradesh State Pollution Control Board | https://pcb.ap.gov.in/UI/Home.aspx |
| 2. | Arunachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board | http://pollutioncontrolboard.com/state/arunachal-pradesh-pollution-control-APSPCB.html |
| 3. | Assam State Pollution Control Board | http://www.pcbassam.org |
| 4. | Bihar State Pollution Control Board | http://bspcb.bih.nic.in |
| 5. | Chhattisgarh Environment Conservation Board | http://www.enviscecb.org |
| 6. | Goa State Pollution Control Board | http://goaspcb.gov.in |
| 7. | Gujarat State Pollution Control Board | http://gpcb.gov.in |
| 8. | Haryana State Pollution Control Board | http://hspcb.gov.in |
| 9. | Himachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board | http://hppcb.nic.in |
| 10. | Jammu & Kashmir State Pollution Control Board | http://jkspcb.nic.in |
| 11. | Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board | http://www.jspcb.org |
| 12. | Karnataka State Pollution Control Board | https://kspcb.karnataka.gov.in |
| 13. | Kerala State Pollution Control Board | http://www.keralapcb.nic.in |
| 14. | Madhya Pradesh State Pollution Control Board | http://www.mppcb.nic.in |
| 15. | Maharashtra State Pollution Control Board | http://mpcb.gov.in |
| 16. | Manipur State Pollution Control Board | |
| 17. | Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board | http://megspcb.gov.in |
| 18. | Mizoram State Pollution Control Board | https://mpcb.mizoram.gov.in/ |
| 19. | Nagaland State Pollution Control Board | http://www.npcb.nagaland.gov.in |
| 20. | Odisha State Pollution Control Board | http://ospcboard.org |
| 21. | Punjab State Pollution Control Board | http://www.ppcb.punjab.gov.in/ |
| 22. | Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board | http://environment.rajasthan.gov.in/content/environment/en/rajasthan-state-pollution-control-board.html |
| 23. | Sikkim State Pollution Control Board | http://sikenvis.nic.in/ |
| 24. | Tamil Nadu State Pollution Control Board | http://www.tnpcb.gov.in |
| 25. | Telangana State Pollution Control Board | http://tspcb.cgg.gov.in/default.aspx |
| 26. | Tripura State Pollution Control Board | http://tspcb.tripura.gov.in |
| 27. | Uttar Pradesh State Pollution Control Board | http://www.uppcb.com |
| 28. | Uttrakhand State Pollution Control Board | http://ueppcb.uk.gov.in |
| 29. | West Bengal State Pollution Control Board | http://www.wbpcb.gov.in |
Pollution Control Committee
| S.No. | State Control Committee | Website |
| 1 | Delhi Pollution Control Committee | http://www.dpcc.delhigovt.nic.in/indexdup.php |
| 2 | Puducherry Pollution Control Committee | https://ponocmms.nic.in/ |
| 3 | Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee | http://chandigarh.gov.in/dept_cpcc.htm |
| 4 | Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli Pollution Control Committee | http://www.pccdaman.info |
| 5 | Andaman & Nicobar Islands Pollution Control Committee | http://andssw1.and.nic.in/swc/depts/pcc/ |
| 6 | Lakshadweep Pollution Control Committee |
How to File a Complaint for pollution in National Green Tribunal
National Green Tribunal is a tribunal established in 2010 under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 to review all the matters relating to the protection of the environment and conservation of the forest and natural resources.
This tribunal provides citizens with speedy decisions and environmental protection along with reducing any burden on the higher courts.
You can reach the National Green Tribunal for any complaint against environmental polluters and gain justice. You can also file your complaint with National Green Tribunal online.
The following are the steps using which you can file a complaint for pollution in National Green Tribunal online-
- Visit the official website of the National Green Tribunal and click on the e-Fillings followed by clicking on the registration button
- Now, you’ll have to signup by filling in your details like name, address, email, phone number, etc.
- After filling out the application form, you’ll have to verify your phone number and email ID by entering the OTP followed by clicking on the Submit button
- After successful submission, you’ll receive an SMS or Email with the login details using which you should login to your account followed by changing the password
- After that, you should start filling out your complaint by providing details as per the form and you can also attach any photographs to support your case
- You’ll receive details of the hearing and you are also required to send a copy of the complaint notice to the opponent
- Both parties will have to go to the tribunal and make arguments and thereon the case will be carried by the lawyers of both sides
How to File a Complaint for pollution in Court?
If your matter is not in your favor or the environmental disaster resulted in the death of any individual, then you can file a case in the Honourable Court of India. You can reach your nearest district court and file the complaint. It is advised to always file the court case under the guidance of an advocate.
