Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, merged into a single Union territory in 2020, host a large number of industrial units in Silvassa and the surrounding estates, and in Daman, many set up in the past to benefit from tax incentives. Plastics, textiles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, packaging and engineering are common. The territory lies next to Gujarat's Vapi industrial cluster, and the Damanganga river flows through Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman to the sea. Daman and Diu have coastlines governed by CRZ rules, and Diu is an island with tourism.
Units deal with the territory's pollution control committee. Because it is a Union territory, the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Act, 2024 applies, so Water Act contraventions are dealt with by penalties through adjudicating officers. Cases go to the NGT's Western Zone Bench in Pune and to the Bombay High Court. We advise clients through online consultation and our associate network in western India.
हिंदी में सारांश
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Is this your situation?
- Your Silvassa or Daman unit needs consent or renewal
- You received a penalty inquiry under the amended Water Act
- Your unit discharges into a drain reaching the Damanganga
- Your coastal project in Daman or Diu needs CRZ clearance
- Your unit generates hazardous waste and needs authorisation
- Your plastics unit faces EPR or single-use plastic issues
- You need to file before the NGT in Pune
The territory at a glance
Regulator
Pollution control committee for the Union territory.
NGT bench
Western Zone Bench at Pune.
High Court
Bombay High Court.
Water Act
2024 amendment applies; penalties by adjudicating officers.
Industry
Silvassa and Daman estates with plastics, textiles and chemicals.
Coast
CRZ in Daman and Diu.
Penalties under the amended Water Act
The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Act, 2024 applied from the start to all Union territories. In Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, contraventions such as operating without consent are dealt with by adjudicating officers who can impose penalties from Rs 10,000 up to Rs 15 lakh, with more for continuing contraventions. Appeals go to the NGT with a 10 per cent deposit. Units should reply to inquiry notices in time with evidence on the factors that affect the penalty. See environmental penalty defence.
Industry and the Damanganga
Many units in the territory are small and medium, and some have operated without adequate treatment. Effluent reaching drains and the Damanganga, and hazardous waste dumped in the area, have led to committee action and NGT attention, sometimes alongside action against units in neighbouring Vapi. Units must treat effluent, connect to common treatment where available, send hazardous waste to authorised TSDFs and keep manifests. Plastics units must comply with the single-use plastic bans and EPR rules. See plastic EPR.
CRZ in Daman and Diu
Daman's coastline and the island of Diu are subject to the CRZ Notification, 2019 and the approved coastal zone management plan. Hotels, resorts and homes near beaches and creeks must check no-development zones and obtain CRZ clearance from the UT coastal authority where needed. Demolitions of structures built in violation have taken place. See CRZ clearance.
How we help clients in the territory
Review documents online
Consents, authorisations and notices.
Defend penalty inquiries
Under the amended Water Act.
Draft applications and replies
For the committee and other authorities.
Handle CRZ matters
For coastal projects.
Handle NGT matters
At the Western Zone Bench in Pune.
Coordinate local counsel
For hearings where needed.
Proximity to Vapi
Because the territory borders the Vapi industrial cluster in Gujarat, pollution issues often cross boundaries. Effluent from one side can affect the other, and enforcement drives have sometimes covered both. Units on either side should ensure their own compliance is documented, so that they are not blamed for pollution from neighbouring sources. Where a notice attributes pollution to a unit, records of its discharge route and test results are the best defence. See Ahmedabad and Vapi.
Time and typical cost
Our fees are agreed in writing at the start, stage by stage. They are not linked to the outcome.
| Stage | Usual time | What it involves |
|---|---|---|
| Online review | 2 to 5 days | Our fee |
| Consent application | 30 to 60 days by category under the 2025 guidelines; often longer | Committee's fee |
| Penalty inquiry | Generally within six months under the 2024 rules | Our fee |
| CRZ clearance | Months | UT coastal authority |
| NGT appeal at Pune | Within 30 days, extendable by up to 60 | Our fee; deposit for Water Act penalties |
Regulators and forums in the territory
| Matter | Body |
|---|---|
| Consents and pollution | Pollution control committee for the UT |
| Penalties under the amended Water Act | Adjudicating officers |
| Coastal projects | UT coastal zone management authority |
| Forest and wildlife | UT forest department, MoEFCC and NBWL |
| Environmental appeals | NGT Western Zone Bench, Pune |
| Writs and other matters | Bombay High Court |
Documents usually needed
Unit
- Committee consents and authorisations
- Hazardous waste manifests
Coast
- CRZ map and approvals
Enforcement
- Notices and inquiry papers
- Correspondence with authorities
Laws that apply
Applies to Union territories; penalties and adjudication.
Consents and directions.
Coastal regulation in Daman and Diu.
Waste authorisation and disposal.
How we work
We are a litigation and advisory practice led by Advocate BK Singh, with offices in Dwarka (New Delhi) and Vaishali (Ghaziabad). This is what you can expect:
- Online consultation: with our western India network.
- Penalty inquiries handled: under the amended Water Act.
- Industrial compliance: effluent, waste and EPR.
- NGT Pune matters: coordinated through our network.
- Written fee terms: agreed stage by stage, never linked to the outcome.
Mistakes we see in the territory
- Ignoring adjudicating officer notices
- Discharging into drains reaching the Damanganga
- Dumping hazardous waste
- Building near beaches without CRZ clearance
- Filing NGT matters in Delhi instead of Pune
A Silvassa plastics unit
Here's a made-up example. A Silvassa plastics unit received a penalty inquiry for operating after its consent expired, and a separate notice on plastic EPR.
We filed the consent renewal with proof of compliance, replied to the inquiry with mitigating factors, and registered the unit on the EPR portal. The adjudicating officer imposed a modest penalty, and the EPR notice was closed.
Forests and tribal areas in Dadra and Nagar Haveli
Dadra and Nagar Haveli has forested hills with tribal communities, and a wildlife sanctuary. Industrial expansion has encroached on agricultural and forest land in places, and projects involving forest land need forest clearance and settlement of rights under the Forest Rights Act. The Madhuban dam on the Damanganga supplies water to the region's industry and towns, and its catchment needs protection. Projects in the hinterland should check land status and forest records before planning. See forest clearance.
Tourism in Daman and Diu
Daman and Diu attract tourists to their beaches and Portuguese-era heritage. Hotels and resorts must comply with CRZ rules, manage sewage and waste, and respect heritage controls around protected monuments. Diu's coastline and island setting make waste disposal and water supply challenging. Beach development projects by the administration have also faced questions about CRZ compliance and displacement of fishing communities. Tourism businesses should plan sewage treatment and waste handling from the start. See bulk waste generator.
Questions before investing in DNH or Daman and Diu
- Does the unit hold current consent and authorisations?
- Will it face Water Act penalties if consent lapses?
- Does it discharge into a drain reaching the Damanganga?
- Is a coastal site within CRZ limits?
- Is the land forest or in a tribal area?
- Will NGT matters go to the Pune bench and writs to the Bombay High Court?
Frequently Asked Questions
Which regulator handles units here?
The pollution control committee for Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.
Where are NGT cases heard?
At the Western Zone Bench in Pune.
Which High Court?
The Bombay High Court.
Does the 2024 Water Act amendment apply?
Yes, to all Union territories.
What is the Damanganga issue?
Pollution of the river by effluent from industrial areas.
Do CRZ rules apply in Daman and Diu?
Yes.
Are plastics units affected by EPR?
Yes, along with single-use plastic bans.
Is Vapi pollution relevant?
Yes, because the territory borders the Vapi cluster.
Do you have an office here?
No; we work online with our western India network.
Can you handle NGT Pune matters?
Yes, coordinated through our network.
Matter in DNH or Daman and Diu?
Send us your notice or documents. We will review them online and advise.
This page gives general information about environmental law as it stood when it was last reviewed. It is not legal advice on your case and does not promise any result. Environmental rules, EPR targets, GRAP measures and board procedures change often, so check the current position for your unit or project before acting.
Need help with Environmental Lawyer for Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu?
Send us the notice, the order or a few photos. We'll tell you where you stand, which authority or NGT bench deals with it and when the next step is due, in plain words.
