Report air pollution, garbage burning, and construction dust directly to the CPCB using the SAMEER app. Learn how to use the National Air Quality Index to hold officials accountable.
You are walking to your coaching centre or meeting friends at a local park, but the air feels like you are inhaling a tailpipe. You spot a massive pile of plastic waste being burnt on the corner, or a nearby construction project is sending clouds of grey dust into the neighborhood without any green screens. You want to stop it, but calling the police feels like overkill and writing a letter to the Municipal Corporation sounds like a black hole. This is where the SAMEER app comes in. It is the official tool of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) that lets you report these violations directly from your phone in under two minutes.
Environmental protection in India isn't just a "good idea"; it is a legal mandate. Under Article 48A of the Constitution of India, the State is required to protect and improve the environment. More importantly, Article 51A(g) makes it your fundamental duty as a citizen to protect the natural environment.
The primary legislation governing this is the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. These laws give the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) the power to shut down polluting industries, fine violators, and set air quality standards.
The SAMEER app (Social Awareness and Monitoring of Environmental Resources) was developed by the CPCB to implement the National Air Quality Index (AQI). As of 2026, the AQI is divided into six categories based on the concentration of pollutants like PM2.5, PM10, Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), and Sulphur Dioxide (SO2):
Under the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 (amended 2022), the open burning of plastic waste is strictly prohibited and carries heavy fines. Furthermore, the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), specifically in the National Capital Region (NCR) but increasingly adapted by other states, mandates specific actions (like stopping construction) when AQI crosses certain thresholds. If you see a violation of these rules, you have the legal standing to report it via SAMEER, and the CPCB is mandated to track the resolution of your complaint through the relevant local urban body (ULB) or SPCB.
Search for "SAMEER" on the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. Ensure the publisher is the "Central Pollution Control Board".
Don't just report "bad air." For a complaint to be actionable, it needs to fall into a specific category. The app usually lists:
This is the most important step. A text complaint is easy to ignore; a photo with a location stamp is not.
Once submitted, the complaint is routed to the relevant Nodal Officer of the local authority (like the Municipal Corporation or the State Pollution Control Board).
If the status remains "Pending" for more than a week or is marked "Resolved" without any actual change on the ground, you need to escalate.
The SAMEER app is a solid tool, but the Indian bureaucracy can still find ways to "ghost" your complaint. Here is where things usually go sideways and how to push back:
The "Resolved" Lie: This is the most common frustration. You get a notification saying your complaint is "Resolved," but you look out the window and the garbage pile is still smouldering.
Jurisdiction Ping-Pong: The CPCB (Central) might route your complaint to the SPCB (State), who then forwards it to the ULB (Urban Local Body/Municipality). Sometimes, your complaint gets stuck in a loop of "Not our department."
dpcc.delhigovt.nic.in for Delhi or mpocb.mp.gov.in for MP). Mention the SAMEER Complaint ID in the subject line.The "No Violation Found" Ghosting: An official might visit the site at 12 PM when the illegal activity (like plastic burning or industrial discharge) only happens at 4 AM. They then close the case claiming "No violation found."
App Technical Glitches: Sometimes the app refuses to upload photos or fails to detect your location accurately.
Copy, fill in the [highlighted] bits, and send.
Subject: Urgent: Unresolved Pollution Complaint [SAMEER ID: XXXXXX] - [Your Area/City]
Body: Respected Nodal Officer,
I am writing to bring to your attention a persistent environmental violation at [Exact Location/Landmark]. I filed a complaint via the SAMEER app on [Date] (Complaint ID: XXXXXX) regarding [Type of pollution: e.g., open burning of plastic/dust from construction].
Despite the app status showing [Pending/Resolved], the violation continues on the ground, posing a health risk to residents. Under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, I request your office to:
Attached are geotagged photos of the violation.
Regards, [Your Name] [Your Phone Number]
To: Public Information Officer (PIO), [Name of State Pollution Control Board]
Subject: Request for Information under RTI Act 2005 regarding Complaint ID [XXXXXX]
Information Required:
"Hello, I am calling to follow up on a pollution complaint filed through the SAMEER app. The ID is [XXXXXX]. The issue is [Garbage burning/Construction dust] at [Location]. The app says it is resolved, but the pollution is still happening right now. Can you give me the contact number of the Junior Engineer or Inspector assigned to this area? I have photo evidence that no work has been done."
While the app requires a login, your details are generally used for verification by the CPCB. However, when the complaint is forwarded to a local ground inspector, there is a small risk they might mention your name to the violator. If you are reporting a dangerous local "mafia" (like illegal sand mining), it is safer to use the CPCB’s anonymous tip-line or have an NGO file it on your behalf.
No. Filing a complaint on the SAMEER app or through the CPCB web portal is completely free. If anyone asks for a "processing fee" to check your complaint, it is a scam or a bribe request.
For "Emergency" categories like garbage burning, the CPCB guidelines suggest action within 24–48 hours. For larger issues like industrial pollution or road dust, it can take 7–15 days for a formal inspection and notice period.
Technically, no. SAMEER is for "Ambient Air Quality," meaning public/outdoor pollution. Personal disputes or indoor air issues are usually handled by the Resident Welfare Association (RWA) or, in extreme cases, the local police under "Public Nuisance" (Section 270–273 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023).
The law applies to everyone. If a government contractor is burning waste or a PWD road project is causing dust, you can and should report them. The SPCB has the power to fine other government bodies (like the Municipal Corporation) for non-compliance.
The SAMEER app is primarily for air quality. For noise pollution (loudspeakers after 10 PM, construction noise at night), it is better to call the national emergency number **112** or use your city's specific police "Noise Pollution" helpline.
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