01What the Form V environmental statement is
Form V is a yearly report from a factory to the State Pollution Control Board. It is prescribed under Rule 14 of the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986, and it covers one financial year, from 1 April to 31 March.
It is a summary of how the factory used resources and what it released, so the board can see how the unit is doing against its consent. It is separate from the consent itself and from any Environmental Clearance.
02Who has to file it
In general, the rule applies to industries that need consent under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act or the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, or an authorization under the hazardous waste rules. If your factory holds a consent from the board, assume it applies and check with your environmental consultant or the board.
03When it is due
Period covered
- Detail
- The financial year ending 31 March
Usual due date
- Detail
- On or before 30 September of the same year
Filed with
- Detail
- The State Pollution Control Board, which is the GPCB in Gujarat
Prescribed under
- Detail
- Rule 14 of the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986
Boards can change the format, the filing route and the dates they apply, for example by asking for online submission. Always confirm the current process on the board's website or with your consultant.
04What it covers
The form asks for figures that a well-run factory already has, but that are often spread across several people and files.
- Basic details of the unit, its category and its production
- Water consumed, and raw materials used, during the year
- Pollution released in water and air, compared with the limits in the consent
- Hazardous and other solid waste generated, and how it was handled or disposed of
- Steps taken to reduce pollution, and the money spent on them
- Anything else the form asks for, such as plans for further investment in pollution control
05Why it becomes a last-minute scramble
- Water, raw-material and waste figures sit in different registers and spreadsheets
- Lab results from the year have to be found and checked against the consent limits
- One consultancy may be preparing statements for many factories at once
- The form is retyped for each factory every year
- The deadline arrives in the same period as other work
06How to prepare without the rush
- Record water use, raw materials and waste every month, not once a year
- Check each lab result against the consent limits as it arrives
- Keep the consent order and the last statement attached to the factory record
- Start collecting figures after 31 March, well before September
- Have a second person review the figures before filing
- Keep a copy of what was filed, and the date
07Where software helps
EnvironDesk, built by MOUNTSMY for environmental consultancies, puts every deadline on a calendar, checks lab results against consent limits, fills GPCB forms from the factory profile and sends reminders by email and WhatsApp. How and where each application is submitted still follows the board's process.
08A note on accuracy
Rules, formats and dates change, and the board may issue its own instructions. This guide is general information, not legal advice. Confirm current requirements with the GPCB or your environmental consultant before you file.
?Frequently asked questions
When is the Form V environmental statement due?
The rule sets it for the financial year ending 31 March, on or before 30 September of the same year. Confirm the current date and route with the board.
Who files the Form V environmental statement?
Industries that need consent under the Water or Air Acts, or an authorization under the hazardous waste rules, file it with the State Pollution Control Board. In Gujarat that is the GPCB.
Is Form V the same as a consent renewal?
No. It is an annual report on the year just ended. A consent renewal is a separate application to keep operating.
What happens if it is filed late or not at all?
A missed filing can lead to notices and further action from the board. Speak to your consultant or the board if a date has already been missed.
Can software prepare Form V?
EnvironDesk fills GPCB forms from the factory profile and monitoring results. A person should still review the figures before filing.