A valid pollution consent is not a permanent one. In October 2026 the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board (RSPCB) revoked the Consent to Operate (CTO) of Carlsberg India's brewery in Alwar and ordered the plant shut. For every packaged drinking water, beverage and food plant in India, this is a compliance wake-up call.
What happened at Carlsberg's Alwar brewery
According to Business Today, citing the board's order, the facility breached both emission limits and online monitoring rules.
| Point | As reported |
|---|---|
| Particulate emissions | 633 mg/Nm³ against a limit of 80 mg/Nm³ (nearly 8 times) |
| Online monitoring data sent to CPCB | 35.12% against the mandatory 85% |
| Inspection | CPCB inspection in July 2026; closure recommended in August |
| Action | CTO revoked, closure ordered, power disconnection directed (October 2026) |
| Consent validity lost | CTO granted 24 April 2024, valid till 31 October 2028 |
The board also warned of further action under the Air and Water Acts, as BW Retail World reported. The order comes as Carlsberg India prepares a proposed IPO of about USD 700 million, and beer supplies in Rajasthan are expected to be disrupted. Carlsberg declined to comment to Just Drinks.
Our perspective: four compliance lessons from Alwar
1. Consent to Operate is conditional
Every CTO carries conditions: emission limits, effluent norms, monitoring and reporting. Breach them and the board can revoke the consent mid-term, whatever the expiry date says. Our CTE and CTO guide explains how these consents work.
2. Missing monitoring data is a violation by itself
Online Continuous Emission/Effluent Monitoring Systems (OCEMS) must stay connected to CPCB and SPCB servers. A plant uploading 35% of its data is non-compliant even before anyone checks the readings. A dead sensor or a broken internet link can turn into a closure notice.
3. Regulators now act fast, and together
Here the CPCB inspected, recommended closure, and the state board acted within about three months. Power disconnection is the standard tool, so production stops the same day.
4. Non-compliance costs far more than compliance
Lost production, broken supply commitments, legal costs and reputational damage arrive together. Investors ask hard questions before a listing. For a contract manufacturer, a brand owner may simply move volumes to another co-packer.
If this can happen to a global brewer with dedicated EHS teams, a mid-sized plant with one person handling licences is even more exposed.
Pollution compliance checklist for packaged drinking water, beverage and food plants
Packaged drinking water plants, soft-drink units, dairies and food processors all hold PCB consents, and most draw groundwater. Use this quick self-check:
- CTE/CTO valid and every consent condition actually met, not just the renewal date tracked
- Boiler and DG stack emissions tested by an approved lab, within limits, reports on file
- ETP/STP running, with daily logbooks and treated-water test reports (RO reject water included)
- OCEMS / online monitoring, where applicable, connected, calibrated and uploading above the required threshold
- CGWA groundwater NOC valid, with flow meters, piezometers and abstraction records as per conditions
- Hazardous waste authorisation and annual returns filed on time
- Environmental Statement (Form V) and other periodic returns submitted
- FSSAI, BIS (IS 14543), Factory Licence and Fire NOC current and matching actual capacity
- Plastic EPR registration with targets and returns up to date
- Capacity expansions covered by amended consents before production goes up
If any box is unticked, fix it before an inspection, not after a notice.
Frequently asked questions
Can a pollution control board cancel a CTO before it expires?
Yes. A CTO is granted subject to conditions under the Air and Water Acts. If a unit breaches emission or discharge limits or monitoring requirements, the board can revoke it and order closure, including power and water disconnection.
What is OCEMS and who needs it?
OCEMS is an online system that continuously measures emissions or effluent and sends data to CPCB and SPCB servers. It is mandatory for specified industry categories and as required by individual consent conditions.
Does a packaged drinking water plant need pollution consent?
Yes. Packaged drinking water units need CTE before construction and CTO before production from the State Pollution Control Board, along with a groundwater NOC where groundwater is used.
How ClearPath Compliance India can help
We work with packaged drinking water, beverage and food plants across India on the full licensing and compliance cycle:
- Compliance health check: a plant-level audit of all consents, NOCs and their conditions, with a gap list and action plan
- PCB CTE/CTO: fresh applications, renewals, amendments for capacity expansion and replies to board queries
- CGWA NOC, FSSAI, BIS, Factory Licence, Fire NOC and EPR registration
- Compliance calendar: renewals, returns and test reports tracked so nothing lapses quietly
- Notice support: drafting replies and liaising with authorities when a show-cause or closure notice arrives
The Alwar shutdown shows that compliance is not paperwork. It is business continuity. Contact us through the enquiry form or on WhatsApp at +91 92521 92607 for a compliance health check of your plant.
Sources
This is general information, not legal advice. Facts are as reported in the media citing the RSPCB order; ClearPath has not independently reviewed the order.