Sat, May 23, 2026
Gujarat Sets Up Award For Sustainable Industrial Practices
State industries excelling in energy efficiency, water conservation, and pollution control have been invited to submit applications by October 30
Aug 28, 2025 · 2 min read
Acute levels of air, water, and noise pollution have become a serious concern in Gujarat. The issue persists, despite the new pollution-control measures of the state government. To curb this, the state Forest and Environment Department has decided to recognise small, medium, and large industries with its Cleaner Production Awards.
According to Dipali Tank, Director (Environment), under the state Forest and Environment Department, industrial units that excel in conserving natural resources, saving energy and water, reducing pollution, while increasing productivity, can apply for the award by October 30. The initiative is jointly run by the Forest and Environment Department and the Gujarat Cleaner Production Centre (GCPC).
GCPC’s member secretary, Bharat Jain, explained that eight awards will be given every year to industries engaged in cleaner practices. Among them, one winner and a runner-up are declared in each of the two sectors in the 17 highly polluting categories — large-scale and small/medium-scale industries. In addition, a winner and a runner-up award are given to each of the two sectors operating in less-polluting categories — large-scale and small/medium-scale industries.
Jain further said that the four winning industries will receive a trophy, Rs 50,000 in cash, a certificate, and an additional year of consent approval from the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB), while the runner-up will go home with Rs 25,000 in cash and a certificate.
What Is The GCPC?
The objective of the Gujarat State Cleaner Production Award is to promote environmental conservation in the industrial sector. The state government confers this award once a year.
The GCPC was established in 1998. Initially, it functioned under the Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC), but since 2008, it has been operating as an independent institution. It also functions as an Environmental Information System (ENVIS) Centre under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Government of India.
The Centre’s activities include raising awareness about cleaner production, conducting evaluations and demonstrations, providing training, technology, and consultancy services, as well as contributing to policymaking.
CPCB Launches Fresh Pollution Control Framework
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) promotes pollution reduction and cleaner production in the country through policies, guidelines, incentive schemes, and programmes, encouraging industries to adopt sustainable practices. It also provides technical support to industrial units.
However, the CPCB does not directly confer any awards. Instead, it has implemented a new classification system for industries based on their pollution potential, under which special incentives are given to those industries that use 100 per cent clean energy or achieve complete treatment of their wastewater.
This is a free story, Feel free to share.
