Online Continuous Emission and Effluent Monitoring Systems (OCEMS) are mandatory for the 17 highly polluting industrial sectors, common effluent treatment plants, larger STPs and waste incinerators, with real-time data streaming to CPCB and SPCB servers. We specify the right analysers, manage installation and server connectivity, and keep calibration, data availability and consent conditions in order.
Legal basis: CPCB directions of 2014 under Section 18(1)(b) of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981; CPCB Guidelines for Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems (2018, as revised) and OCEMS consent conditions
Who needs it
- Units in the 17 highly polluting sectors — cement, distilleries, dyes, fertiliser, iron and steel, oil refineries, pesticides, petrochemicals, pharma, power plants, pulp and paper, sugar, tanneries, chlor-alkali, aluminium, copper and zinc
- Common Effluent Treatment Plants and Sewage Treatment Plants above the capacity notified by the SPCB
- Common bio-medical waste incinerators and hazardous waste TSDF incinerators
- Any unit whose CTO carries an OCEMS condition or that has received a specific SPCB direction
- Existing OCEMS users facing data-gap notices, calibration lapses or analyser upgrades
Common in:Manufacturing & Industrial UnitsRecyclers & Waste ProcessorsPharma & Chemicals
Documents required
- 1Copy of CTO with the OCEMS condition and parameter list (e.g. PM, SO2, NOx, pH, BOD, COD, TSS, flow)
- 2Stack details — height, diameter, flue-gas temperature, velocity and sampling port locations
- 3Effluent outlet details and flow measurement arrangement
- 4Technical datasheets of proposed analysers with CPCB-recognised certification (or equivalent international certification accepted by CPCB)
- 5Site survey report covering power, shelter, network connectivity and camera placement
- 6Data Acquisition System configuration and server connectivity protocol for CPCB and SPCB
- 7Calibration certificates and reference gas / standard solution traceability
- 8Vendor installation and commissioning report
- 9Registration details on the CPCB real-time data portal and SPCB server
Missing something? We help you obtain or regularise supporting documents before filing.
How we get it done
- 1
Applicability and parameter mapping
Day 1–5We confirm which stacks and outlets need OCEMS, which parameters apply under your consent and CPCB directions, and what data frequency and availability is expected.
- 2
Specification and vendor selection
Day 6–15Analyser type (in-situ or extractive), measurement ranges, certification and data-logger requirements are specified and vendor quotes are evaluated against CPCB guidelines.
- 3
Installation and connectivity
Day 16–40We oversee installation, server registration on CPCB and SPCB portals, data-transfer testing and camera integration.
- 4
Calibration and acceptance
Day 41–50Initial calibration and relative accuracy checks are documented and the system is demonstrated to the SPCB where required.
- 5
Ongoing compliance support
MonthlyMonthly data-availability reports, calibration reminders, drift alerts and responses to CPCB / SPCB data-gap notices keep the system compliant.
If you don’t comply
Non-installation, prolonged data gaps or exceedances recorded by OCEMS are grounds for CPCB and SPCB to issue show-cause and closure directions under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and Section 33A / 31A of the Water and Air Acts, and to levy Environmental Compensation calculated per day of non-compliance under CPCB's compensation methodology. Tampering with or bypassing OCEMS data is treated as a serious offence.
Why MYDA Group
Specialists, not generalists
Environmental compliance is our only practice, so your file is handled by people who do this every day.
Fixed fee, written scope
You know the professional fee and the statutory fees before we start. No surprise add-ons.
Inspection and audit-ready
We prepare your site and team for the board visit or certification audit and attend it with you.
Lifetime reminders
Every condition, return and renewal goes into your compliance calendar with alerts.
Frequently asked questions
Which analysers does CPCB accept?
CPCB requires analysers certified by its recognised certification scheme or carrying accepted international certifications (such as MCERTS or TÜV) for the specified ranges, with a data-acquisition system that transmits in the prescribed protocol. We check certification before you commit to a purchase.
What data availability do we have to maintain?
SPCBs typically expect data availability well above 85 to 90 percent in a month, with unavoidable gaps explained through calibration or maintenance logs. We monitor your uptime and prepare the justification before a data-gap notice arrives.
Do we need a camera as well?
Yes. CPCB directions require an IP camera focused on the stack or outfall, with the feed accessible to the Board, in addition to the analysers. Camera placement and connectivity are part of our site survey.
How often must the OCEMS be calibrated?
Zero and span checks are automatic or daily, periodic manual calibration with reference gas or standards follows the manufacturer and CPCB schedule, and an annual calibration or relative accuracy test audit against a recognised laboratory is generally expected under consent conditions.