In line with recent Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) directions, the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) has issued a notification announcing the formation of a State Level Committee to evaluate industrial units that adopt environmentally sustainable practices and improve their pollution performance.
This move follows CPCB’s updated guidelines under Section 18(1)(b) of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, which replace the earlier 2016 industrial categorization and aim to promote green incentives for industries reducing their Pollution Index (PI) scores.
🔍 Purpose of the Committee
The State Level Committee (SLC) will assess and validate applications from industrial units that demonstrate measurable improvements in environmental performance. Units that qualify may become eligible for incentives, including potential reclassification to lower pollution categories under the revised CPCB norms.
👥 Committee Members
The five-member Committee will be chaired by the Member Secretary, MSPCB and includes domain experts:
| Member | Role |
| Member Secretary, MSPCB | Chairman |
| Dr. Susmita Sharma, Asst. Prof., Civil Engg., NIT Meghalaya | Expert Member |
| Dr. Deepanjan Majumdar, Sr. Principal Scientist, CSIR-NEERI Kolkata | Expert Member |
| Smt. D. Syiemlieh, Sr. Environmental Engineer, MSPCB | Member |
| Shri. S. Syiem, Environmental Engineer, MSPCB | Member |
📝 Eligibility Criteria for Industries
Industries applying for evaluation must fulfill the following conditions:
- Minimum 1 year of operations with verifiable audits from a reputed institution.
- Located in a conforming area with valid:
- Environmental Clearance (EC)
- Consent to Establish (CTE)
- Consent to Operate (CTO)
- Waste authorization
- Compliance with all CPCB norms and no pending legal penalties.
- Valid groundwater usage permissions and installed electronic flow meters (if applicable).
- No accidents/incidents causing environmental damage in the past 5 years.
- Must maintain logbooks, utility bills, treatment records, etc., for verification.
🎯 Terms of Reference (ToRs) of the Committee
The committee’s mandate includes:
Scrutiny of Proposals based on:
Reduction in freshwater use via wastewater treatment and reuse.
Cleaner fuel adoption to cut emissions.
Cleaner technologies reducing hazardous waste.
Compliance with EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) and sound recycling practices.
Site Inspection & Verification:
Sample collection and analysis.
Logbook checks, mass balance analysis, system audits.
Real-time environmental data submission verification.
Recalculation of Pollution Index (PI):
Using CPCB’s methodology for water/air/waste scores.
Final report submission to MSPCB for incentive decisions.
🧾 Note: Expert members will receive sitting fees equivalent to Consent Committee members.
🗓️ Annual Reporting & Transparency
The MSPCB will:
- Publish a separate list of qualified units on its website.
- Submit an annual report to CPCB by 30th June each year.
📌 Why This Matters
This initiative promotes proactive industrial compliance, cleaner production practices, and incentivizes businesses that go beyond baseline environmental norms. It reflects Meghalaya’s commitment to sustainable development and aligns with India’s national environmental goals.