WATER (PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF

POLLUTION) CESS RULES, 1978

MINISTRY OF WORKS AND HOUSING

NOTIFICATION

New Delhi, the 24th July, 1978

G.S.R. 378(E).--In exercise of the powers conferred by section 17 of the Water

(Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977 (36 of 1977), the Central
Government hereby makes the following rules namely:--

1. Short title and commencement.

(a) These rules may be called the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess
Rules, 1978;

(b) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the official Gazette;

2. Definitions.

In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires :--

(a) "Act" means the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977
(36 of 1977);

(b) "assessing authority" means--

1
[(i) in relation to a Union Territory the Member Secretary of the Central
Pollution Control Board or any person or body of person as the Central
government may specify, and]

(ii) in relation to a State, the member-secretary of the State Board:

(c) "consumer" means a person of local authority by whom the cess under sub-
section (1) of section 3 is payable under sub-section (2) of that section;

(d) "form" means a form annexed to these rules;

(e) "section" means a section of the Act;

(f) "State Government", in relation to a Union Territory, means the Administrator

thereof appointed under article 239 of the Constitution.
3. Standards of the meters and places where they are to be affixed.

(1) For the purposes of measuring and recording the quantity of water reconsumed, every
consumer shall affix water meters, venturi meters or Orifice meters with integrators and
recorders in conformity with the standards laid down by the Indian Standards Institution
and where no standards have been laid down by that institution in conformity with such
standard as may be specified by the Board.

(2) Wherever the meters referred to in sub-section (1) are not available, the consumer
shall instal Vee notches or rectangular, notches with indicators and records or pressure
gauges and pumping installations, after obtaining the permission of the assessing
authority.

(3) Every consumer shall provide a separate meter for assessing the quantity of water
used for each of the four purpose mentioned in column (1) of Schedule II to the Act.

(4) The meters shall be affixed at the entrance of the water supply connections within the
premises of the consumer or at any other place to be approved by the assessing authority,
so that such meters are easily accessible for inspection and maintenance and for other
purposes of the Act:

Provided that the place where the meter is affixed shall, in no case be at a point before
which water has been tapped by the consumer for utilisation for any purpose whatsoever.

4. Furnishing of returns.
2
[(1) Every consumer shall furnish on or before the 5th of every calendar month, to the
assessing authority, a return in Form 1 showing the quantity of water consumed in the
previous month.]
3
[(2) If the Consumer fails to submit the return as specified in sub-rule (1) the assessing
authority or the officer authorised in this regard shall issue a notice in form IA.]

5. Manner of payment of the cess to the Central Government and the time within
which it shall be paid.

(1) Every State Government shall remit to the Central Government, the amount of cess
collected from the consumer before the 10th day of the calendar month succeeding the
month in which it is collected from the consumer.

(2) The amount of cess referred to in sub-rule (1) shall be remitted to the Central
Government in the form of a bank draft in favour of the Pay and Accounts Officer,
Ministry of Works and Housing, New Delhi in whose books of accounts, the receipts
would be adjusted finally.
(3) On receiving the bank draft, the Ministry of Works and Housing shall remit through a
Challan into the reserve Bank of India, New Delhi, for the purpose of crediting under
relevant Major Head.

6. Rebate.

Where a consumer installs any plant for the treatment of sewage or trade effluent, such
consumer shall be entitled to the rebate under section 7 on and from the expiry of fifteen
days from the date on which such plant is successfully commissioned and so long as it
functions successfully.
4
[Provided that a Consumer shall not be entitled to the rebate if he;

(a) Consumes water in excess of the maximum quantity specified in column (3) of
the First Schedule appended to these rules for the category of industries specified
in the corresponding entry in column (3) relating to the specified industry given in
column (2) thereto or

(b) Fails to comply with any of the provisions of section 25 of the Water
(Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 (6 of 1974) or any of the
standards laid down by the Central Government under the Environment
(Protection) Act, 1986 (29 of 1986).]

7. Powers to be exercised by the Officer or the Authority of the State Government

under section 9.

The Officer or authority of the State Government specially empowered under section 9
shall have in addition to the powers referred to in clauses (a) and (b) of than section, the
power to:--

(i) inspect the manufacturing process or plants of the consumer;

(ii) inspect the water supply systems and installations in the plant of the consumer;

(iii) inspect waste treatment system and installations in the plant of the consumer;

(iv) inspect the drainage system and installations, including storm water disposal in the
plant of the consumer;

(v) call for and inspect records relating to the use and consumption of materials and
water, and those relating to production, in the plant of the consumer;

(vi) call for and inspect the records relating to power consumption in the plant of the
consumer; and
(vii) call for any other information or records relating to the supply, consumption and
treatment of water in the plant of the consumer.

8. Authority to impose penalty under section 11.

The authority to impose penalty under section 11 shall be the assessing authority.

9. Appeal.

(1) Any consumer aggrieved by an order of assessment made under section 6 or by an

order imposing penalty made under section 11 may appeal in Form 11 annexed hereto, to
a Committee (hereinafter referred to as the appellate committee) consisting of--

(a) where the assessing authority is the member-secretary of the Central Board, the
Chairman of the Board, who shall be the Chairman of the committee, and two members
of that Board, to be nominated by the Chairman thereof;

(b) where the assessing authority is the member-secretary of the State Board the
Chairman of that Board who shall be chairman of the Committee, and two members of
that Board, to be nominated by the Chairman thereof.

(2) Such appeal shall state the facts of the case and the grounds relied upon by the
appellant for preferring the appeal and shall be accompanied by a copy f the order of
assessment made under section 6 or a copy of the order imposing penalty made under
section 11, as the case may be.

(3) Such appeal shall be preferred within a period of thirty days from the date of
communication of the order of assessment or the order imposing penalty on the appellant:

Provided that if the Chairman of the appellate committee is satisfied that there was good
and sufficient reason for the delay in preferring the appeal, he may, for reasons to be
recorded in writing allow the appeal to be preferred after the expiry of the aforesaid
period f thirty days and before the expiry of forty-five days from the date of
communication of the order of assessment, or the order imposing penalty, on the
appellant.

(4) Every appeal shall be accompanied by a fees of rupees fifty.

[No. Q. 17013/1/78-EPC]

MIR NASRULLAH, Jt. Secy.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
FORM I
(See rule 4)
Return regarding Water consumed during the month
of........................
_____________________________________________________________________
Name Purpose Reading Reading Quantity If the Quantity Remark
and for which at the at the of water meter of water (*)
Address water begin- end of consumed was out qualif-
of the consumed ning the last in Kilo order ing for
consumer of the day of litres, onthly rebate
first the consump- according
day of calendar tion to the
calendar month of water assessee.
month under for the
under report, previous
report 3 months
working
period.

_____________________________________________________________________

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
_____________________________________________________________________
1. Industrial cooling (i) from Municipal water supply mains
spraying in mine pits (ii) from well/tubewell
or boiler feed. (iii) from canal
(iv) from river
(v) from any other source.

2. Domestic purpose, (i) from Municipal water supply mains.

(ii) from well/tubewell
(iii) from canal
(iv) from river.
(v) from any other source

3. Processing whereby (i) from Municipal water supply mains.

water gets polluted (ii) from well/tubewell
and the pollutants (iii) from canal
are easily bio- (iv) from river.
degradable. (v) from any other source.

4. Processing whereby (i) from Municipal water supply mains.

water gets polluted (ii) from well/tubewell
and the pollutants (iii) from canal
are not easily bio- (iv) from river.
degradable and are (v) from any other source.
toxic.
_____________________________________________________________________
(*) for claiming rebate under col. 7 the assessee shall indicate in
this column the analytical and other reports annexed to this
return in support of this claim
Signature of the consumer
Name
Address

ANNEXURE TO FORM I

Report of Analysis of treated effluent showing performance of

the treatment plant—For the month of...............................
 Sample collected on...............................
Sample tested on...................................
By the laboratories.................................

_____________________________________________________________________
S. Pollutting Maximum Concent- Dates on which
parameters permissible ration ------------------------
No. as mentioned limits or of range There was On which
in the range of break under
conditions allowed parame- down or Performance
imposed as per ters as failure was noticed
under consent per of the
consent conditions report plant
granted
under
section
25/26 of
the Water
(Prevention
amd Control
of Pollution)
act, 1974
_____________________________________________________________________
1 2 3 4 5 6
_____________________________________________________________________

Signature......................................
Dale............................................
Name..........................................
Address........................................
_____________________________________________________________________

5
[FORM IA

[See rule 4(2)]

Name of the Board:

No. Dated:

Notice under Section 5(2) of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act,
1977) (36 of 1977)

To

Name and Address of the Consumer:

Assessment period:
Whereas you were required to furnish a return as provided under sub-section (1) of
Section 5 of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977 (36 of 1977)
read with the sub-rule (1) of Rule 4 of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution)
Cess Rules, 1978, by the 5th of- And whereas you have failed to furnish the return by the
said date:

Now, therefore, you are here by called upon to furnish the return
within 7 days from the date of receipt of this Notice.

In case no return is received within the said period of 7 days,

action will be taken for making assessment as per sub-section (I A)
of section 6 of the aforesaid Act, ex-parte. besides initiating any
other legal action as per law against you.

Issuing authority
Place: Name :.............................

Date: Address:............................
............................

FORM II
(See rule 9)
(FORM OF MEMORANDUM OF APPEAL)

Before............................(**)................................
(here mention the name and designation of the authority)

Memorandum of appeal under section 13 of the Water (Prevention and

Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977.
Appeal No............................of 19......

(here furnish complete postal address)

.....................................Appellant

Vs.
-------------------------------
------------------------------
------------------------------

(here mention the name and designation of

assessing authority)

................................Respondent

The appellant named above, begs to prefer this memorandum of

appeal against the order dated...............passed by...............
.....................on the following facts and grounds:

FACTS
(here briefly mention the facts of the case)
 GROUND

(here mention the grounds on which lhe appeal is made)

1.

2.

3.

4.
PRAYER

In the light of what is stated above, the appellant respectfully

prays that he/she/it may be exempted from the payment of Cess.

he/she/it may be allowed a rebate of 70 per cent as provided

for in the Act and the amount of Cess reduced to Rs..............
the amount of Cess has not been correctly assessed and that it may
be reduced lo Rs...............

the penalty imposed on him/her/it has been wrongfully imposed and

should be set aside.

the penalty imposed on him/her/it is excessive and should be

suitably reduced on the basis of the facts as stated.

2. The amount of Rs......................... (Rupees..............)

as fee for this appeal has been paid to.................. vide receipt
No.................................... dated.........................

Place: Signature of the Appellant

Date: Name
Address

6
SCHEDULE
(See rule 6)
_____________________________________________________________________
SI. No. Name of Industry Category Maximum quantity of Water
_____________________________________________________________________

1. Ferrous Metallurgical Integrated 20 Cubic metres per

steel. Iron & Steel tonne of finished

2. Non-ferrous (a) Copper 100 Cubic metres per

Metallurgical Smelters tone of copper
produced.

(b) Zinc Smelters 50 Cubic metres per

tonne of Zinc metal
produced.

3. Chemical (a) Caustic Soda

(i) Mercury cell 5 Cubic metres per
process. tonne of caustic soda
produced (excluding
 cooling water) and 5
cubic metres per tonne
of caustic soda
produced for cooling
water.

(ii) 5 Cubic metres per tone

of caustic soda
including cooling water.

4. Textile (a) Man made

fibre.
(i) Nylon & 170 Cubic metre per
Polyester. tonne fibre produced.
(ii)Viscose 200 Cubic metre per tone
rayon of fibre produced

5. Paper (a) Small Pulp

and paper

(i) Agro-residue 200 Cubic metre tonne

based of paper
(ii) Waste Paper 75 Cubic metre tonne of
based paper
(b) Large Pulp
& Paper
(i) Pulp and 250 Cubic metre per
Paper tonne of paper.
(ii) Rayon grade 200 Cubic metre per
paper. tonne of paper
(a)Straight
nitrogenous 15 Cubic metre per
fertilizer. tonne of urea or
equivalent
produced.

6. Fertilizer (b) Straight 2 Cubic metre per

phosphate tonne of Single
and Triple Super Phosphate/
super phosp- Triple super
hate) ex- phosphate.
including
manufacture
of any acid

(c) Complex 15 cubic metre per

Fertilizer tonne in case the
primary product is
nitrogenous
fertilizer and
2 cubic metre per
tonne in case the
primary product is
a phosphatic fertilizer.

7. Processing of animal (a) Tanneries 30 cubic metre per

or vegetable products tonne of raw hide.
 industry (b) Natural rubber 6 cubic metre per
including processing of tonne of rubber
milk meat hides and (c) Starch, 10 cubic metre per
skins all glucose tonne of maize
agricultural and related
products and t products
heir waste, (d) Dairy 4 cubic metre per
kilo litre of milk.
(e)Jute 1.5 cubic metre per
tonne of jute
produced.

(f) Sugar 2 cubic metre per

tonne of cane
crushed.

(g)Maltry 8.5 cubic metre per

tonne of grain
processed.

(h) Brewery 1 cubic metre per kilo

litre of beer
produced.

(i) Distillery
15 Cubic metre per kilo
litre of alcohol produced.
_____________________________________________________________________

[No. 1(14)/91-PL/CPA]

N. BAGCHI, Director Pollution

Footnote :- The Principal Rules were published in the Gazette of India vide Notification
G. S. R. 378(E) dated the 4th July, 1978.

1
Substituted by Rule 2 of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess
Amendment Rules, 1991 Published in the Gazette notification No. G.S.R. 504(E) dt. 25-
7-1991.
2&3
Renumbered by Rule 2 of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess
Amendment Rules, 1992, G.S.R. 311 (E) dated 28.2.1992.
4
Added by Rule 3 of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Amendment
Rules 1992, G.S.R. 311(E), dated 28.2.1992.
5
Inserted by Rub 4 of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Cess Amendment
Rules, 1992, G.S.R. 311 (E), dated 28.2.1992.
6
Added by Rule S of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Amendment
Rules, 1992, G.S.R. 311 (E) dated 28-2-1992.

MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS

NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 28th February, 1992

S.O. 182(E).-In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) and sub-section (2A)
of section 3 of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977 (36 of
1977) and in supersession of the notification of the Government of India in the Ministry
of Works and Housing number G.S.R. 190(E), dated the 23rd March, 1978 except as
respects things done or omitted to be done before such supersession, the Central
Government hereby specifies-

(a) the rate of cess given in column (2) of the Table below as the rates of cess payable by
every person carrying on an industry specified in Schedule I of the aforesaid Act and by
every local authority, calculated on the basis of the Water consumed by him or it for the
purpose mentioned in the corresponding entry in column (1) thereof; and

(b) the rates of cess given in column (3) of the Table below as the rates of cess payable
by a person carrying on an industry specified in Schedule I of the aforesaid Act and by
every local authority consuming water for domestic purpose calculated on the basis of the
water consumed by him or it, for the purpose mentioned in the corresponding entry in
column (1) thereof if he or it fails to comply with any of the provisions of section 25 of
the Water (prevention. and Control of Pollution3 Act, 1974 (6 of 1974) or any of the
standards laid down by (the Central Government under the Environment (Protection) Act,
1986 (29 of 1986).

TABLE
------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------
Purpose for which water is consumed Rate of cess under sub-
section Rate of cess under sub
(2) of section 3.
section (2A) of section 3.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------
1. Industrial cooling, spraying in mine One and a half paise per
kilolitre Two and one-fourlh paise
pits or boiler feeds.
per kilolitre

2. Domestic purpose Two paise per kilo litre

Three paise per kilo litre

3. Processing whereby water gets Four paise per kilolitre

Seven and a half paise per kilo litre.
polluted and the pollutants are easily
bio-degradable.
4. Processing whereby water gets Five paise per kilo litre
Nine and a half peuse per kilo
polluted and the pollutants are not
litre.
easily bio-degradable.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------

[No. 1(14)91-PL/CPA]

N. BAGCHI, Director, Control of Pollution

Published in the Gazette No. 166 dt 5.3.1992