The State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) is a statutory organisation (institution) established by state governments under Section 4 of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. It was created in 1974 to provide a uniform legal framework to address the problem of increasing pollution in rivers, lakes, and groundwater caused by industrial effluents and sewage. The SPCB's core function is to prevent, control, and abate environmental pollution within its jurisdiction.
The SPCB's primary mechanism for control is the Consent regime. Under Section 25 of the Water Act and Section 21 of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, any industry or operation must obtain prior written consent from the SPCB, typically in two stages: Consent to Establish (CTE) and Consent to Operate (CTO). The boards set standards, monitor compliance through inspection and sampling, and can institute legal action against defaulters. They are empowered to issue directions, including the closure or regulation of an industry, under Section 31A of the Air Act.
The SPCB is connected to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), which supervises and coordinates its activities. While initially focused on water, the SPCB's mandate expanded when the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, conferred parallel functions, and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, delegated functions related to hazardous, biomedical, and other wastes. This augmentation of responsibilities under subsequent laws is the main change, but the SPCB's foundational structure under the 1974 Act remains the same. Decisions of the SPCB can be appealed to the National Green Tribunal (NGT).