The A.P. Pollution Control Board (APPCB) is a statutory authority entrusted to implement environmental laws and rules within the jurisdiction of the State of Andhra Pradesh, India. The Board ensures proper implementation of the statutes, judicial and legislative pronouncements related to environmental protection within the State. The APPCB was constituted in the year 1976 after the enactment of the first major environmental legislation of the country, the Water (Prevention and Control of Water Pollution) Act, 1974. Initially set up to implement the provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, the Board was subsequently given the responsibility of implementing a series of other environmental Acts and Rules, either directly or indirectly as stated hereunder:

1) Water Act

2) Air Act

3) Water Cess Act

4) Environment Protection Act

5) Hazardous Waste (Management and Handling )Rules

6) Bio Medical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules

7) Municipal Solid Waste (Management and Handling) Rules

8) Plastic Manufacture, Sale and Usage Rules

9) Batteries (Management and Handling) Rules

10) Manufacture, Import and Storage of Hazardous Chemical Rules.

The Board functions through its Head Office at Hyderabad, five Zonal Offices headed by five Joint Chief Environmental Engineers and nineteen Regional Offices headed by nineteen Environmental Engineers. The specific functions of different sections located at the Head Office of the Board are illustrated below.

 Planning Section: The main function of the planning section is to formulate the annual action plan and communicating the same to Regional Office, Zonal Office and all Divisional Heads of Head Office every year for effective implementation and achievement of the targets. The Annual Action Plan consists of various activities and sub activities along with annual targets/ achievements for the particular year to fulfil the provisions of various Environmental Acts. The Annual Action Plan is performance oriented and is based on the Annual Budget of the Board.

Consent for Establishment (CFE) Section:  The Board had brought transparency in Consent for Establishment issuance by way of placing all the applications before an external committee constituted by the Board to process the applications of the industries as per delegated powers. The main functions of the CFE section is processing the applications received through single window and issual of CFE.

 Consent for Operation (CFO) Section: The Board had brought transparency in Consent for Operation issuance by way of placing all the applications before an external committee constituted by the Board to process the applications of the industries as per delegated powers. In order to make simplification of the consent management, the APPCB has been issuing combined CONSENT order under Air Act, 1981 & Water Act, 1974 instead of issuing separate consent orders. This was further upgraded by combining Hazardous waste Authorization also under E(P) Rules with the CFO order.

 Solid Waste Management Section : The section implements the Rules related to major Solid wastes (like , bio-medical waste, municipal solid waste, plastic waste etc) notified by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), Government of India (GoI), under the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. This cell also deals with matters relating to Legislative Assembly / Legislative Council / Parliament.               

 Hazardous Waste Management Section : The Section implements the Rules related to Hazardous Waste  notified by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), Government of India (GoI), under the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. The Section is also responsible for the implementation of provisions of the environmental legislations such as the Public Liability Insurance Act. The other functions include hazardous waste authorization, import license of hazardous chemicals, site selection for hazardous waste disposal etc. 

Public grievance Section (Task Force): The public grievance section deals with the public complaints related to pollution problems. After receiving complaints from the public the officials of the Task Force or Regional Office will inspect the industries and also contact the complainants. After detailed enquiry, the reports will be placed before the Task Force Committee of the Board.

The committee will give an opportunity to the industry and the complainants before taking action against the industry. The Board will give directions either for Closure of the industry or to improve the environment system in a stipulated time. If necessary, Bank Guarantees are also taken from the industry for compliance of Board Directions.

Cleaner Production Section (CPC): The Board has established a separate Cleaner Production section in the year 1998 to promote cleaner production and waste minimization techniques in industries. The CP section organizes training programmes / workshops / demonstration projects etc., to bring awareness on environment related issues among industries, stake-holder departments and officers of APPCB.

 Computer Section: The prime function of this section is to provide a communication backbone and infrastructure in an e-friendly environment within the APPCB. The other functions include purchase and maintenance of computer hardware and software, development of programmes, perform activities related to networking, impart training on computer essentials of the Board’s personnel, and maintenance and updating of the Board’s website.   

Legal Section: The Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board has an exclusive Legal Cell to deal with the matters related to court cases filed in various courts such as Supreme Court, High Court, Appellate Authority, etc. The Legal cell coordinates with the officers of the Board and files affidavits / reports through Standing Counsels of the Board. The efforts are made to see that cases are disposed in favour of Public Health and Environment. The orders/ directions issued by the courts are communicated to the stake holders for taking timely action and for implementation.

 Cess Administration Section:  This section deals with matters related to technical scrutiny of water consumption, assessment of water cess and matters related to Cess Appellate Authority.

 Geographical Information System (GIS) Section:  This section deals with development and updation of Environmental Zoning Atlas for the districts of Andhra Pradesh, for using the same in siting of industries.

 Administration Section: This Section deals with administrative matters related to the employees of the Board such as recruitment, promotions, transfer, all kinds of leaves, annual increment and training matters. It also deals with custodian and other matters related to the declaration of assets, Board meetings, issue of work orders for operation & maintenance of the office buildings and also matters related to personnel and office management. 

Finance & Accounts Section: The APPCB has a decentralized Accounting system with double entry book keeping System of accounts located at Head Office and Five Zonal Offices in the State of Andhra Pradesh. The functions of this Section comprises of financial and accounting matters of the Board, budget preparation, statutory audit and AG Audit relating to accounts.

 Building Section: The construction and maintenance of the buildings of Head Office and other Zonal Offices of the Board are the main functions of the section.

 Library: The APPCB Library keeps an inventory of the comprehensive resources of books, documents, reports, journals, newsletters, newspaper clippings and newsmagazines related to environment. The Library maintains a record of the users (internal and external) borrowing and using the library facilities, and maintains a regular account of updation of the status of documents in the library. 

Laboratory:  The Board has a central Laboratory and 5 Zonal Laboratories besides 5 Regional Laboratories. The laboratories of the Board are so equipped that they are capable of performing all possible analytical works in the field of environment science. A detailed account of the laboratories, of the Board is documented in the subsequent part of the present volume.

 Environmental Awareness Wing: The Cell deals with all the activities related to fairs, distribution of static communication tools, such as posters and handouts for the purpose of generating awareness on environmental pollution. The Cell also interacts with NGOs located in various districts for dealing with pollution related matters of the State.