Environment Protection (Management of Contaminated Sites) Rules, 2025

Context:

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has notified the Environment Protection (Management of Contaminated Sites) Rules, 2025 to regulate identification, assessment, and remediation of contaminated sites.

Definition of Contaminated Site

An area declared contaminated by the SPCB/PCC if contaminants exceed prescribed threshold levels after detailed assessment.

Identification Process

Local bodies/District Administration must list suspected contaminated sites on a centralised online portal.
SPCB/PCC conducts preliminary assessment within 90 days ? if above screening levels ? site marked as probable contaminated site.
Detailed assessment within 3 months ? if above response levels ? declared as contaminated site.

Public Participation and Transparency

List of contaminated sites published on the portal.
Stakeholder comments invited within 60 days.
Final list published along with public notices in two local newspapers.

Remediation Responsibility

Responsible person must prepare and implement a remediation plan within six months.
Progress reports submitted to CPCB and SPCB/PCC.
For orphan sites or disputed sites (banks/judicial proceedings), SPCB/PCC prepares the plan; costs shared by Central & State Governments.

Current Status (as per CPCB)