Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) - Background, Mission, Functions, Structure, Importance & More

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) is a statutory organization. It was established in September 1974 under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974. Additionally, it was given powers and functions under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1981. The CPCB functions as a field formation and offers technical services to the Ministry of Environment and Forests in line with the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 provisions. Its primary roles are defined in the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 198. It functions to promote the cleanliness of streams and wells in various regions by preventing, controlling, and mitigating water pollution. It also enhances air quality and preventing, controlling, or mitigating air pollution nationwide.

It is an important topic of Environment in the UPSC GS Paper 3 and prelims. This article will provide all the necessary information on the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), such as needs, functions, quality standards issues, etc.

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What is Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)?

The Central Pollution Control Board is a legally recognised organisation constituted by the Government of India in September 1974. The Air (Prohibition and Control of Pollution) Act of 1981 gave it the necessary powers and functions to promote and improve the cleanliness of streams and wells in individual state areas through prohibition, control, and subsidization of water contamination.

Background of CPCB

• The Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act of 1974 established Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) powers and functions on 23rd September 1974.
• The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, after 1981, vested the Central Board and the State Pollution Control Boards with additional duties related to controlling air pollution.
• The Environment (Protection) Act of 1986 is an umbrella legislation that has expanded the functions of the Central Board through implementing environmental protection measures and several announcements of Rules under the Act.
• It dispenses technical assistance to the Ministry of Environment and Forests under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 provisions.
• The original name of this board was the Central Board for the Prevention and Control of Pollution, and Its name was changed to the Central Pollution Control Board on 1.04.1088.
•  It is the apex organisation within the country in the field of pollution control.
• The original name—Central Board for the Prevention and Control of Water Pollution—was updated to Central Pollution Control Board in April 1988 to reflect dual responsibilities for air and water.

Legal Basis & Constitutional Backing

• Constitutional Entry: The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 was enacted under Article 252, enabling Parliament to legislate for multiple States via central law.
• Statutory Foundation: CPCB was constituted under Section 3 of the 1974 Act, as a statutory authority with regulatory powers over water pollution.
• CPCB’s scope later expanded via the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and further through the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, which serves as an “umbrella” framework.

Mission And Vision of CPCB

• The primary vision of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) is to promote the cleanliness of streams and wells in various states by preventing, controlling, and abating water pollution.
• Mission: Improving air quality and preventing, controlling, or mitigating air pollution in the country.
• Supports MoEFCC in rule-making and setting norms under the EP Act, 1986.
• Acts as the national nodal agency for environmental monitoring and inter-state coordination.

Functions of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)

According to The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1974 and The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1981, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) major functions are:

• Advise the Central Government on any matter relating to the prevention and control of water and air pollution and improving air quality.
• Plan and carry out a national programme to prevent, control, or reduce water and air pollution.
• Coordination of the State Board’s activities and resolution of disputes among them.
• Organize a comprehensive mass awareness programme on the prevention, control, and abatement of water and air pollution through the media.
• Collect, compile, and publish technical and statistical data on water and air pollution and the measures developed to effectively prevent, control, or abate it.
• Prepare manuals, codes, and guidelines for sewage and trade effluent treatment and disposal, stack gas cleaning devices, stacks, and ducts.
• Disseminate information about water and air pollution and how to prevent and control it.
• Establish, modify, or repeal stream or well standards in consultation with the relevant state governments, and establish air quality standards.
• Provide technical assistance and guidance to state boards, conduct and sponsor investigations and research on water and air pollution problems, and for their prevention, control, or abatement.
• Plan and organise training for people involved in programmes to prevent, control, or mitigate water and air pollution.
• CPCB’s powers under the Water Act (Section 4(4)) and Air Act (Section 6) are delegated to Pollution Control Committees in Union Territories, which act under its guidance.

Key Programmes & Portals of CPCB

• SAMEER app: Real-time AQI and pollution complaint platform.
• PRANA portal: Tracks implementation of NCAP across ~132 cities (physical & financial).
• NAMP/NWMP: National ambient air and water quality monitoring programmes.

Statutory Functions (Section 16, Water & Air Acts)

• Advise the Central Government on water and air pollution.
• Plan and execute national pollution-control programs.
• Provide technical assistance to State Boards and resolve inter-state disputes.
• Sponsor investigation, research, and training.
• Conduct awareness programs via mass media.
• Collect, compile, and publish pollution data and guidance manuals.
• Prescribe and revise quality standards (water & air).
• Recognize or establish pollution-control laboratories.
• Execute additional functions prescribed by the Government.

Need for Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)

• To maintain a clean Environment: Pollution control in environmental engineering refers to several methods used to limit the environmental damage caused by the discharge of harmful substances and energies.
• To keep the water clean and safe: Water contamination is the addition/presence of undesirable substances to water, such as organic, inorganic, biological, radiological, and heat, which reduces water quality so that it becomes unfit and unhealthy for use.
• To curb Industrial pollutants: Rapid industrialization in the country has increased the number of pollutants produced daily. India’s economic growth has come at the expense of environmental degradation.
• To tackle Air Pollution: It evaluates or modifies the precision of the air quality stations. It establishes the objective requirements for water and air quality. Some of India's actions to combat air pollution include strongly emphasizing expanding renewable energy, promoting electric vehicles, and supplying LPG cooking fuel to millions of households.

Organizational Structure of CPCB

• The Central Government established the Central Board for the Prevention and Control of Water Pollution by The Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.
• Under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Amendment Act, 1988, the Central Board’s name was changed to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
• Chairperson (full-time, environmental expert), Member-Secretary (scientific management expertise), up to 5 central govt officials, up to 5 State Board nominees, up to 3 members representing agriculture/trade/other sectors, 2 government company representatives.
• According to The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1974 and The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1981, the primary functions of the Central Pollution Control Board are as follows:
  • To encourage the purity of streams and wells throughout the States by preventing, controlling, and reducing water pollution.
  • To better the country’s air quality and stop, manage, or lessen air pollution.
  • To grant the corresponding local governments the authority to carry out the duties set forth in the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977, and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
  • To enforce environmental pollution prevention and control legislation.

Coordination with SPCBs & Other Bodies

• CPCB coordinates with State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs); resolves disputes; guidance provider.
• Delegates functions in UTs to Pollution Control Committees.
• Works with Central and State Air Quality Management Committees (CAQM) (e.g., Delhi-NCR), NGT directives, and urban local bodies for enforcement.

About AQI

• The Air Quality Index(AQI) is a daily index for reporting air quality. It is a measurement of how quickly air pollution affects one’s health.
• The AQI aims to inform people about how local air quality affects their health.
• The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) calculates the AQI for five major air pollutants for which national air quality standards have been established to protect public health.
• The higher the AQI value, the more polluted the air is and the more serious the health concerns.
• Over the last three decades, AQI has been widely used in many developed countries.
• CPCB states that the AQI ranges from 0 to 500, with 0 denoting good air quality and 500 denoting severe air quality.
• SAMEER app provides hourly updates of AQI and enables complaint registration.
• To calculate the AQI, eight main pollutants—namely
  • Particulate matter (PM 10 and PM 2.5),
  • Carbon Monoxide (CO),
  • Ozone (O3),
  • Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2),
  • Sulfur Dioxide (SO2),
  • Ammonia (NH3),
  • Lead (Pb).

Issues and Shortcomings of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)

• Some issues with the CPCB’s current structure that require immediate attention:
• There is no time limit for the Chairperson position to be vacant, and as a result, it has been vacant for nearly two years on two occasions.
• Some key positions in the CPCB are held by IAS officers and bureaucrats who lack the necessary capabilities and expertise in pollution control management.
• The salaries offered to CPCB employees are also insufficient to attract talented people for the available positions.

Study the basics of the environment here.

Other initiatives by GOI to protect Air and Water

• The Government of India (GOI) is trying to reduce air pollution.
• The Central Government has implemented several regulatory measures to prevent, control, and reduce air pollution in the country.
• Among the major steps taken by the government to control pollution are the following:
• Promotion of public transportation networks such as metro, buses, and e-rickshaws, as well as carpooling, Pollution Control, lane discipline, and vehicle maintenance.
• Polluting vehicles will be taxed, while hybrid and electric vehicles will be subsidized.
• Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules Notification.
• Under the Ministry’s National Green Corps (NGC) programme, approximately one lakh schools have been designated Eco-clubs to reduce air pollution.
• Directions issued under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act of 1986, as well as Sections 18(1)(b) of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1974 and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1981.
• The SAMEER app has been launched, which provides public access to air quality information and allows users to file complaints about air pollution.
• Action Plans for Improvement of Air Quality
  • The Central Government established the National Clean Air Program (NCAP) to address the issue of air pollution in the entire nation. All identified 102 non-attainment cities have received approval to implement their city-specific action plans.
  • A Comprehensive Action Plan (CAP), which defines the timeline and implementing organisations for actions identified for prevention, control, and mitigation of air pollution in Delhi and NCR, was notified by the Central Government in 2018.
  • The Graded Responding Action Plan (GRAP), which outlines graded measures and implementing agencies for response to four AQI categories, was notified to prevent, control, and abate air pollution in Delhi and NCR.

National Water Quality Monitoring Programme

The water quality monitoring network comprises 4111 stations spread across 28 States and 8 Union Territories. Surface water bodies undergo monthly or quarterly monitoring. Groundwater is monitored on a half-yearly basis. Micro pollutants, including metals and pesticides, are assessed twice a year—before and after the monsoon season.

Recent Developments & Case-Based Relevance

• CPCB presented a report to NGT during Kumbh Mela on water quality of the Ganga at Prayagraj.
• PRANA portal monitors Rs X crores allocated under NCAP for city action plans.
• SAMEER app linked new CAAQMS stations (e.g., Sri Vijaya Puram) to CPCB’s national server.

Conclusion

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) should be a self-governing body independent of the MoEFCC and the Central Government. Typically, the government prioritises economic growth over environmental protection. Members of the CPCB should have in-depth knowledge of environmental issues in our country and be experts in the field for which they have been hired. In addition to granting CPCB autonomy, its current standards must be revised.

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