Living next to a polluting unit is exhausting. The smoke, smell, noise or dirty water does not stop, and complaints seem to disappear. Most of the time, the problem is not that the law is weak but that the complaint went to the wrong office or did not contain what the regulator needs to act.
We help residents, RWAs, farmers and businesses make complaints that are hard to ignore, follow them up with the right authority, and take the matter to the National Green Tribunal or the High Court when the regulators do not act.
हिंदी में सारांश
प्रदूषण की शिकायत सही विभाग को और सबूत के साथ करनी चाहिए। फ़ैक्टरी के धुएँ या गंदे पानी के लिए राज्य प्रदूषण नियंत्रण बोर्ड, NCR में वायु प्रदूषण के लिए CAQM, और शोर के लिए ज़िला प्रशासन या पुलिस। तारीख़ वाले फ़ोटो, वीडियो और लिखित शिकायत की पावती रखें। कार्रवाई न होने पर NGT में आवेदन किया जा सकता है।
Is this your situation?
- A factory or unit nearby releases smoke, dust or bad smells
- Effluent or sewage is being discharged into a drain, river, pond or field
- A construction site is creating dust without any control
- Loudspeakers, DG sets or machinery are running late at night
- Waste is being burnt or dumped near homes
- You complained already and nothing happened
What makes a complaint work
In writing
A written complaint with a diary number or acknowledgement, not just a phone call.
Right office
The regional office of the board that covers the area, or the right authority for noise and waste.
Dated evidence
Photographs and videos with date and location, kept as a log over several days.
Specific facts
The unit name, address, timing of discharges and what you see or smell.
More voices
A complaint from an RWA or several residents carries more weight than one person.
Follow-up
A reminder after two to three weeks, then an RTI to see what was done.
The right authority for each kind of pollution
Sending the complaint to the right place saves weeks. Copy the higher authority if you want, but address it to the office that has the power to act.
| Problem | Complain to | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Smoke, dust or gas from a factory | Regional office of the State Pollution Control Board | CPCB can be copied; in NCR, also CAQM |
| Effluent or sewage into a drain or river | Pollution board, and the municipal body for sewage | Ask for sampling of the discharge |
| Construction dust | Municipal body and pollution board; CAQM in NCR | Dust rules apply to most construction sites |
| Waste burning or dumping | Municipal body and pollution board | Burning of waste is banned under the waste rules |
| Noise at night | Police and district administration | The Noise Rules, 2000 restrict loudspeakers between 10 pm and 6 am |
| Groundwater extraction | District groundwater authority or CGWA | Ask whether the unit has a groundwater NOC |
If the regulator does not act
Wait a reasonable time, usually three to four weeks, and send a reminder. If there is still no action, file an RTI asking what was done on your complaint, whether the unit has valid consent, and the results of any inspection. The answers are useful evidence.
If the authorities still do not act, an application to the National Green Tribunal under Section 14 of the NGT Act is usually the next step. The Tribunal often directs the board to inspect and report, and it can order closure, restoration and compensation. For some issues, such as a municipal failure that is not covered by the NGT laws, a writ petition in the High Court may be better.
How we take a complaint forward
Understand the problem
What, where, when and how it affects you, with any photographs or reports.
Check the unit
Whether it has consent, clearance or groundwater permission, using public records and RTI.
Draft the complaint
A clear complaint to the right authority, with evidence and a specific request.
Follow up
Reminders, meetings and RTI applications to track action.
Escalate
NGT application or High Court petition if the regulators still do not act.
How we work
We are a litigation and advisory practice led by Advocate BK Singh, with offices in Dwarka (New Delhi) and Vaishali (Ghaziabad), working on environmental matters across India.
- Deadline first: we tell you the time limit before anything else.
- Regulator and tribunal: we handle the board stage and the NGT, so nothing is lost between them.
- Plain advice: what we think will happen, including when a case is not worth filing.
- Written fee terms: agreed stage by stage, never linked to the outcome.
Related services
STP and sewage pollution · Filing in the NGT · CAQM in Delhi NCR · Construction dust rules · Community and NGO cases
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I complain anonymously?
You can, but anonymous complaints are easier to ignore. A complaint by an RWA or a group of residents gives you some cover and more weight.
Is there an online way to complain?
Most pollution boards have an online complaint system, and CPCB runs the Sameer app for air pollution complaints. Keep a screenshot of the complaint number.
How long should I wait before going to the NGT?
There is no fixed rule, but the Tribunal likes to see that the regulator was approached first. Remember the six-month limit from when the cause of action arose; for continuing pollution, the cause usually continues.
Can I get compensation for damage?
Yes. The NGT can order compensation for health effects, crop loss and property damage under Section 15 of the NGT Act, within five years.
Will the polluter know who complained?
The board may share the complaint with the unit during the inspection. If you are worried about retaliation, tell the authorities and consider complaining through an RWA.
What if the unit is run by a government body?
The same laws apply. Government units, municipal STPs and landfills are frequently the subject of NGT orders.
Pollution near you that will not stop?
Send us photographs and any earlier complaint. We will tell you who to approach and what to ask for.
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. Laws, rules and time limits change, so check the current position for your matter before acting.
Need help with Making a Pollution Complaint That Gets Action?
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.
