RSPCB Orders Closure of Carlsberg India’s Alwar Brewery Over Pollution Violations
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Khushi Jain
- October 13, 2026
The Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board (RSPCB) has revoked the operating consent of Danish brewer Carlsberg India’s brewery in Alwar and ordered its closure over serious pollution violations. An inspection found particulate matter emissions of 633 mg/Nm³, nearly eight times the permitted limit of 80 mg/Nm³.
The action comes ahead of Carlsberg India’s planned initial public offering (IPO). The RSPCB’s order also flagged inadequate communication between the facility’s emission monitoring system and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
According to a copy of the RSPCB ruling, samples collected during a CPCB inspection in July 2026 recorded particulate matter emissions of 633 mg/Nm³, exceeding the authorised limit of 80 mg/Nm³.
RSPCB Flags Emission Monitoring Violations
The RSPCB granted the brewery consent to operate in April 2024, with the approval valid until October 31, 2028.
However, the Board issued a show-cause notice in August 2025 seeking revocation of the consent. The notice cited particulate matter emissions above the permitted limit and alleged data tampering involving the Online Continuous Emission Monitoring System (OCEMS).
In March 2026, before the July inspection, the CPCB issued directions concerning the facility’s stack-emission monitoring infrastructure, according to the subsequent RSPCB order.
Between September 17 and September 23, 2026, the brewery was among 648 industrial units that recorded OCEMS data availability below 85%. This was in violation of CPCB requirements for continuous emission monitoring systems.
In the same month, the CPCB directed the respective state pollution control boards and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee to seal and immediately shut down the affected industrial units.
The RSPCB also noted that the brewery transmitted emissions-monitoring data to the CPCB’s Online Data Acquisition and Management System portal at a rate of just 35.12%, below the required threshold of 85%.
In October 2026, the RSPCB issued its closure order and revoked the brewery’s consent to operate. The Board directed the facility to shut down and instructed the local electricity distribution company to disconnect its power supply.
The regional office was also directed to seal the relevant production activities and equipment and ensure compliance with the closure order.
Carlsberg India’s Brewery Network and IPO Plans
According to its corporate website, Carlsberg India’s operations include seven owned breweries across Rajasthan, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Telangana, along with eight co-manufacturers.
The company expanded its Indian operations by opening a second brewery in Alwar in March 2008.
In July 2026, Carlsberg confidentially submitted a prospectus to the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) for a potential IPO of its Indian subsidiary. The offering aims to raise up to $700 million, or about Rs 6,600 crore.
The transaction is expected to be structured as an offer for sale (OFS), under which the parent company would receive the proceeds. SEBI approved the confidential pre-filing on October 1.
The RSPCB’s action against the Alwar brewery comes as Carlsberg India prepares for its potential public listing.
FAQs
1. Why has the RSPCB ordered the closure of Carlsberg India’s Alwar brewery?
The RSPCB revoked the brewery’s operating consent over pollution violations, including particulate matter emissions above the permitted limit and shortcomings in emissions-monitoring data transmission.
2. What particulate matter emissions were recorded at the brewery?
Samples collected during a CPCB inspection in July 2026 recorded particulate matter emissions of 633 mg/Nm³, against the permitted limit of 80 mg/Nm³.
3. What was the brewery’s OCEMS data availability rate?
Between September 17 and September 23, 2026, the brewery was among 648 industrial units with OCEMS data availability below 85%. The RSPCB separately reported a data transmission rate of 35.12% to the CPCB portal.
4. When was Carlsberg India’s consent to operate granted?
The RSPCB granted the brewery consent to operate in April 2024, valid until October 31, 2028. The Board revoked the consent in October 2026.
5. What are Carlsberg India’s IPO plans?
Carlsberg confidentially submitted a prospectus to SEBI in July 2026 for a potential IPO of its Indian subsidiary, aiming to raise up to $700 million, or about Rs 6,600 crore. The offering is expected to be structured as an OFS.
