The Forest, Environment & Climate Change Department (FE&CC), Odisha, on November 15, 2025, issued a notification prescribing a revised framework for annual consent fees under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the amended Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. The notification aligns State procedures with the Control of Water Pollution (Grant, Refusal or Cancellation of Consent) Guidelines, 2025 and Control of Air Pollution (Grant, Refusal or Cancellation of Consent) Guidelines, 2025 issued by MoEF&CC.
The notification introduces a structured, formula-based annual fee system for “Consent to Operate” (CTO) covering industrial plants, mining projects, infrastructure and residential projects, aquaculture activities, and DG sets. For industries, the CTO fee is based on capital investment, scale factor, pollution index factor, and a state-specific factor. Mining projects are charged based on consented capacity, mineral type, mining area and mining method, while infrastructure and residential projects are charged based on sewage generation. Aquaculture fees depend on leased area, and DG-set-only establishments are assigned fixed fees by generator rating.
Additionally, the order states that the fee for "Consent to Establish” (CTE) shall be twice the annual fee for CTO. The State Pollution Control Board, Odisha, must follow all other provisions of the 2025 MoEF&CC guidelines without deviation. The notification comes into immediate effect.
[Notification No. FE-ENV1-ENV-0033-2025/32301]
