The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has invited applications from reputed research and academic institutions in the Delhi-NCR region to inspect and certify pollution control systems in Red category industries, according to a notification issued on Monday. The move comes amid concerns about Delhi’s air and water pollution levels, calling for stronger oversight of polluting units, as reiterated by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) as well. Red category industries are identified as having a very high pollution potential and typically include heavy chemical processing, hazardous waste operations, metallurgical units, and large-scale combustion or manufacturing with toxic emissions, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Under the environmental regulatory framework established by the Centre, such units are required to obtain permissions, including establishing and operating consents from DPCC, and must undergo periodic scrutiny and monitoring. Recently, the DPCC issued uniform guidelines to conduct such inspections. The DPCC notice on Monday stipulated that the selected institutions will be responsible for inspecting these units, collecting and analyzing samples, and submitting "adequacy reports". These reports will assess whether the pollution control measures in place meet the required standards. The evaluations will cover aspects such as water usage, emissions, treatment methods, and waste management. All analyses must be conducted at approved or National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL)-accredited laboratories, in accordance with the norms set by the Environment Ministry, CPCB, or DPCC, the notice said. The adequacy reports must include water requirements, wastewater generation, sources of water and air pollution, emission control mechanisms, and hazardous waste management, among other elements. According to DPCC, eligible institutions must have been operating for at least five years, possess a postgraduate engineering programme, and have adequate technical staff. The principal investigator or team lead must hold a Master’s degree in environmental or civil engineering or have a rank of at least Assistant Professor. Private research bodies must also meet specified a turnover threshold. The empanelment will enhance DPCC’s capacity to monitor a large number of units more efficiently. Applications are invited until October 28.
