GPCB INDUSTRIAL CATEGORIZATION (CTE/CTO REQUIREMENTS)

Our group of diversied professionals assists the industries in focusing on their core competency of manufacturing while being rest assured that their environmental compliance will be taken care of in a completely procedural, environment friendly and legal manner.

Clearances from GPCB/SPCB/CPCB such as CTE (NOC), CTO (CC&A), etc.
Environmental & CRZ Clearances including Environmental Site assessment.
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), Social Impact Assessment (SIA) including R & R Studies.
Ground Water Clearance from CGWA & Rainwater harvesting systems.
Solid Waste/Hazardous Waste/Plastic Waste Management including design of waste treatment facilities.
Energy Management Services.
Safety Consulting Services.

Red Category

RED CATEGORY – High Pollution Potential

These industries have a significant environmental impact. They must strictly follow GPCB norms and often require Environmental Clearance along with CTE & CTO.

✅ CTE & CTO Mandatory
📑 Environmental Statement Filing, Hazardous Waste Return, Online Monitoring (for many)

Typical Red Industries:

Chemical Manufacturing (organic/inorganic)
Pharmaceutical Manufacturing (Bulk drugs)
Cement Plants
Distilleries, Tanneries, Pulp & Paper
Dye & Dye Intermediates
Paint Manufacturing
Steel Rolling/Foundries (with furnaces)
Lead-acid Battery Units
Fertilizer Manufacturing
Petrochemical Units

Orange Category

ORANGE CATEGORY – Moderate Pollution Potential

These industries cause moderate pollution and are required to take CTE & CTO but with relatively easier compliance than Red Category.

✅ CTE & CTO Mandatory
⚠️ Annual Returns, Monthly Patrak, and Hazardous Waste Returns (if applicable)

Typical Orange Industries:

Automobile Servicing/Repair
Printing Press with Solvent Ink
Bakery with Chimney
Plastic Moulding
Textile (without dyeing/bleaching)
Cold Storage with Ammonia
Engineering Workshops
Aluminum & Brass Components
RO/DM Water Plants
Biogas Plants (small scale)

Green Category

GREEN CATEGORY – Low Pollution Potential

These industries have limited emissions or waste and require basic documentation for GPCB CTE & CTO.

✅ CTE & CTO Mandatory
📝 Minimum documentation, quicker approval, less monitoring

Typical Green Industries:

Mineralized Water Bottling
Rice Mills / Flour Mills
Cotton Ginning
Plastic Products (without chemical processing)
Ice-cream or dairy processing (small scale)
Furniture Manufacturing (mechanical only)
Assembly of electrical products
Small Garment Units

White Category

WHITE CATEGORY – Practically Non-Polluting

These industries do not require Consent from GPCB but must submit an intimation online. No NOC or license is needed.

❌ No CTE/CTO Required
✅ Just declaration/intimation on GPCB XGN Portal

Typical White Industries:

Solar Equipment Assembly
Electric Bulb/CFL/LED Assembly
Organic Manure (dry process)
Manual Laundry/Ironing Services
Chalk Manufacturing
Packaging of Tea (no processing)

Blue Category

BLUE CATEGORY – Low Pollution & High Monitoring Need

This unofficial but locally applied category includes industries that are non-polluting or mildly polluting but need monitoring due to high water/energy consumption, volume of operations, or resource-sensitive zones.

✅ CTE & CTO Required
🔍 Moderate documentation + Tracking of Water Use / Energy Use

Typical Blue Category Examples:

RO Plants
Ice Manufacturing Units
Bottled Drinking Water Units
Non-Alcoholic Beverage Units
Ready Mix Concrete Plants
Bakery with High Steam Use
Large Cold Storage Units
Warehousing Units with Diesel Generators
Industrial Canteens

Final GPCB Industry Category Summary

Category	Pollution Level	CTE/CTO	Monitoring Intensity	Examples
🟥 Red	High	✅ Yes	🔴 High	Chemicals, Cement, Pharma
🟧 Orange	Moderate	✅ Yes	🟠 Moderate	Auto Service, Printing
🟩 Green	Low	✅ Yes	🟢 Light	Food Processing, Garments
🟦 Blue	Marginal	✅ Yes	🔵 Conditional	RMC, RO Plants, Warehouses
⬜ White	Negligible	❌ No	⚪ None	Solar Assembly, Organic Manure