Environmental legislation and laws

Dr.A.Geetha

Associate Professor

Department of Chemistry

Kongu Engineering College

Environmental legislation and laws

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• Environmental management
• To safeguard our environment from various environmental problems such as

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• Environmental pollutions
• Resource depletion
• Exponential growth and misdistribution of human population
• Waste management
• Urbanization
• Two important strategies to be followed
• Effective laws to protect the environment.
• Willing cooperation and active participation of the citizens.

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• Important Acts

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• The parliament of India has passed a number of laws to control pollution and to protect the environment

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• Water (prevention and control of pollution) Act, 1974
• Air (prevention and control of pollution) Act, 1981
• Wildlife (protection) Act, 1972
• Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980
• Environment (protection) Act, 1986

Water (prevention and control of pollution) Act, 1974

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• Salient features

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• It preserves the quality of surface and ground water.
• It prevents and controls water pollution by effluent discharge from industries.
• It empowers both state and central boards for water prevention and

pollution control.

• The Act empowers the state board to issue order to close industry, cut

down of electricity and imprisonment, etc.

Water (prevention and control of pollution) Act, 1974

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• Functions of Central Pollution control Board

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• To give advice to the central government regarding prevention and control

measures of water pollution.

• To promote cleanliness of streams and wells in different areas of state.
• To resolve disputes among the state boards and coordinate the actions

of state board.

• To provide them technical assistance and guidance for research in

prevention and control of water pollution.

• To organize training programmes to the person working in water pollution

control board.

• To organize comprehensive programmes on pollution related issues

through mass media.

Water (prevention and control of pollution) Act, 1974

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• Functions of Central Pollution control Board

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• To collect, compile and publish technical and statistical data related to

pollution.

• To prepare manuals, codes or guides to explain the methods relating to

treatment and disposal of sewage and trade effluents.

• To establish and recognize laboratories for analysis of water, sewage or

trade effluent sample.

Water (prevention and control of pollution) Act, 1974

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• Functions of State Pollution control Board

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• To inspect sewage effluents and waste water treatment plants.
• To establish laboratories for analysis of water sample.
• To find economical and reliable methods to dispose.
• To perform any functions entrusted by the Centre or by the State

government.

• To suggest efficient method to dispose, to treat and reuse the water mainly for irrigational purposes.

Water (prevention and control of pollution) Act, 1974

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• Penalties for violation

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• Issue order to close the industry.
• Stop the water or electricity supply.
• Imprisonment and fine of 5000.

Air (prevention and control of pollution) Act, 1981

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• Salient features
• The directions of central board are mandatory on state boards.
• The industrial unit operation is prohibited in a heavy polluted area

without the consent of central board.

• The central board may lay down the standards for the quality of air.
• Central board coordinates with the state board and provides technical

assistance and guidance to state board.

• State boards should collect, save and publish air pollution statistical

data.

• State boards should inspect pollution control equipment and industries

should take necessary actions to control air pollution.

• The state board can advise the State government to declare an area

within the state as ‘air pollution control area’.

Air (prevention and control of pollution) Act, 1981

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• Punishments / Penalties for violation
• Punishable with imprisonment upto 3 months
• Fine up to 10,000 or both.
• If any industry highly pollutes, the state pollution control board can close the

industry or stoppage of water supply, electricity, etc.

Air (prevention and control of pollution) Act, 1981

• Drawbacks
• The emission of air pollutants from the aircraft to the atmosphere is excluded in the act.
• The main drawback of this act lies in giving the defaulters a 60 days’ notice before taking him to court, by the time offender may destroy the evidence.
• Another drawback is that no consent or permission is required to be taken from the board for establishing an industry outside the air pollution control area.

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