Assam Stone Crushers Get 5-Year Validity for CCA, CTO and Environmental Authorization

Good news for stone crushing units in Assam. Until now, most stone crushers had to renew their environmental approvals every single year. This included going through the process of filing fresh paperwork and applications every year, which led to renewed tension every twelve months.

That has now changed. The Assam Pollution Control Board (APCB) has, by an office order dated 17 June 2026, allowed eligible units to renew their CCA, CTO and Authorization for a period of one year or five years. 

In this article, we will understand what these certificates mean and what has changed to apply for them.

What are CCA and CTO Certificates?

In India, any factory, crusher, or industry has to take permission from the state pollution control board to start functioning. This is often called a pollution NOC or a pollution license.

There are three main approvals:

• Consent to Establish (CTE): Permission taken before you build the unit. The CTE pollution certificate basically gives approval to the applicant to set up in the location. People also call it a pollution NOC certificate.

• Consent to Operate (CTO): Permission taken after construction of the factory or unit. CTO certificate refers to approval needed to run the machines.

• CCA (Consent to Continue Activity) and Authorization: These permissions refer to the renewals and waste-handling permissions that keep the unit legally running.

Together, these form your pollution control board license. Without them, running a crusher is illegal, and the unit can be shut down.

Read More How to Obtain CTE CTO from PCB Lucknow?

What the Pollution Control Board Assam Notification Changed?

The June 2026 order modifies two earlier orders (dated 17 December 2022 and 27 May 2024).

Here are the key points:

1. Five-year validity is now possible. Stone Crushing Units and LAMC Bee Hive Coke Oven / Crushing Units can apply for renewal of CCA, CTO, or Authorization for either one year or five years.

2. Validity is not automatic, as whether you get one year or five years depends on your compliance record. Units that have followed the rules properly are far more likely to get the longer validity. Units with a history of violations may still be kept on a one-year cycle with regular inspections.

3. GST No Dues Certificate has been added as a new yearly compliance requirement. Even if you hold a five-year approval, stone crushing units must submit a GST No Dues Certificate for the previous financial year every June. Air Pollution Control Board (APCB) collects this certificate, but it does not audit your GST. 

The Board has clearly said it will not verify GST records or certify anyone as GST-compliant. That job stays with the GST authorities.

Why This Matters (and Who Should be Careful)

Compliant crushers, construction companies, contractors, and road/bridge projects that depend on steady stone supply will benefit from this change. It brings less paperwork, better long-term planning, and lower renewal costs to the system.

Who must be careful:

Units with pending GST dues, small or informal operators, and units with a weak environmental track record need to be careful of violations. 

Remember that a five-year approval is not a five-year holiday. You must still follow the Air Act, Water Act and Environment (Protection) Act throughout. APCB can inspect, and in serious cases, revise or cancel the approval before it expires.

How to Apply or Renew CCA, CTO, and Other Approvals Online?

Assam, like most states, has moved to a PCB online consent management system. The general flow for online pollution renewal follows this process:

1. Complete your pollution control board online registration on the APCB portal and create a login.

2. Choose the correct application between consent to establish, consent to operate, CCA, or Authorization renewal.

3. Upload documents: unit details, site papers, machinery list, emission and dust control arrangements, monitoring records, and the GST No Dues Certificate.

4. Pay the applicable fee online.

5. Track the file and respond quickly if the Pollution Control Board Assam Regional Office raises a query or schedules an inspection.

A practical tip: Apply 3 to 6 months before expiry. Last-minute applications are the single biggest reason renewals get delayed.

How Much is the Fee Charged?

Fees to apply for Consent to Establish are not one fixed amount. They are calculated on the basis of your unit's category (Red, Orange, Green, White) and its capital investment, and they are revised from time to time. So, do not rely on numbers quoted on random websites and instead check the current fee schedule on the official APCB portal or ask your regional office directly.

Read More CTE & CTO Registration Process in India

Your Quick Compliance Calendar

To help maintain compliance with the new notification change, follow the table below:

FAQs

Is one-year renewal still allowed? 

Yes. The Assam Pollution Control Board (APCB) now allows eligible Stone Crushing Units and LAMC Bee Hive Coke Oven/Crushing Units to renew their CCA/CTO/Authorization for either one year or five years, subject to compliance with the Board's prescribed conditions. The five-year validity is an additional option, not a replacement for one-year renewal.

Does this apply to all industries in Assam? 

No. Specifically, the June 2026 notification amends the renewal framework for Stone Crushing Units and LAMC Bee Hive Coke Oven/Crushing Units. The notification for annual GST No Dues Certificate is applicable for Stone Crushing Units only. The CCA/CTO renewal requirement may be different for other industries of Assam, so it is better to check the conditions applicable for the industry and authorization for CCA/CTO renewal.