Draft rules for regulating common effluent treatment plants (CETP) were issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in January 2023.
The rules seek to regulate the responsibilities of state governments and CETP managers in meeting wastewater standards under the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986. Industries that use CETPs are required to meet the standards for primary wastewater treatment facilities specified individually, monitor wastewater quality parameters and flow rates, and submit monitoring data to the CETP operating agency in real time.
CETP operating agencies shall have the authority to access industry premises without notice to collect wastewater samples. The online continuous effluent monitoring system, if installed, shall also be accessible to the CETP operating agencies for cross-verification of the monitored values with online data.
The ministry has given powers to CETP operating agencies to take action against non-compliant member units. The rules will come into effect one year after publication in the Official Gazette.
