In keeping with the functions delegated to the CPCB under the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, and the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, CPCB undertook the national programme to control pollution by initiating preparation of Comprehensive Industry Documents, categorising important industrial sectors. These documents were expected to provide comprehensive information on the industries. They covered a number of industries, their production and location with details on receiving water body besides details on the raw material they used, the process they adopted to process them, in-plant control systems, pollution control system provided and the future requirement with cost implications, monitoring system etc.

These documents are also aimed at developing standards for effluents and emissions as Minimal National Standards that can be adopted uniformly throughout the country. The State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) can tighten the standards, wherever the local situation demands.

While implementing these standards, the status of technologies adopted by the industries and further requirements to meet the overall objective of pollution control have been assessed. The technology requirement for pollution control industry-wise has been presented in the following groups of industry categories: