Environmental act and legislation

Environmental act and legislation

1. WELCOME

2. Environmental act and legislation
Aji R Lal
AswathyMohan

3. INTRODUCTION
Indiahasworldslargestdemocracywithpopulationof1.1billion.Itis
diversecountrywithnumberoflanguages,religions,culturesetc.Duringthe
pastdecadesalsotheeconomicandindustrialgrowthofthecountryhasbeen
extremelyfast.
Increasinglyseriousenvironmentaldegradationeventsduringthelastcentury
havegivenastrongimpetustotheneedfortakingeffectivestepsof
environmentalprotection.

4. Environmental protection law in India
Constitution of India has a number of provisions demarcating's the responsibility of the central
and state/governments towards ‘environmental protection’. The constitution of India makes
provision for environmental protection in the chapters on:
•Fundamental Rights
•Directive Principles of State Policy
•Fundamental Duties
•The parliament of India has passed several acts ands laws in order to protect the environment.

5. Features and objectives of the Act
TheEnvironment(Protection)Act,1986(passedinMarch1986andcameintoforceon
19Nov.1986).
1.TheE.P.ActwasenactedunderArt.253oftheConstitutionofIndia.
TheActseekstosupplementtheexistinglawsoncontrolofPollutionbyenactinga
generallegislationforenvironmentalprotectionandtofillthegapsinregulations
relatingtomajorenvironmentalhazards.

6. Contd…..
TheActmakesthecentralgovernment,therepositoryofwidepowers.
(whereastheWater(PreventionandControlofPollution)Act,1974andtheAir(Prevention
andControl)Act,1981entrustthetaskofcontrolofpollutiononagenciescreatedbythestatute
namelystateandcentralpollutioncontrolboards.)
RulemakingpoweroftheCentralGovt.isthemainfeatureofthisAct.

7. Contd…….
TheobjectiveoftheE.P.ActismuchwiderincomparisontowaterActandAirAct.
(WhiletheAirActandWaterActdealwithpreventionandcontrolofspecifickindsof
pollution,theE.P.Actdealswithpreventionandcontrolofallsortsofpollution.
Besidespreventionandcontrol,theActaimsatprotectionandimprovementofthe
Environment.

8. Scheme of the Act
The Act consists of –
(a) 26 Sections divided into four chapters.
Chapter I –Secs. 1 and 2 (PRELIMINARY)
Chapter II –Secs. 3 to 6 (GENERAL POWERS OF THE CENTRAL
GOVERNMENT)
Chapter III –Secs. 7 to 17 (PREVENTION, CONTROL, AND ABATEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
POLLUTION)
Chapter IV –Secs. 18 to 26 (MISCELLANEOUS)
(b) Seven Schedules dealing with emission standards of air, noise, effluents etc. have been appended to the Act.
(c) Various Rules Including Environment (Protection) Rules have been framed under the Act

9. Environment Pollution -Meaning
Sec.2(a)oftheActdefinestheterm
Environment.“Environmentincludeswater,
airandlandandtheinter-relationshipwhich
existsamongandbetweenwater,airandland,
andhumanbeings,otherlivingcreatures,
plants,micro-organismandproperty.”

10. Contd….
Sec.2(b)definesEnvironmentalPollutant:
“environmentalpollutant"meansanysolid,liquidor
gaseoussubstancepresentinsuchconcentrationasmay
be,ortendtobe,injurioustoenvironment.

11. Contd.
Sec.2(c)definesenvironmentalpollution:
"environmentalpollution"meansthepresenceintheenvironmentofany
environmentalpollutant

12. General Powers of the Central Government
1.To take all necessary measures for prevention, control and abatement of
environmental pollution. Sec. 3(1)
2.Such measures are enlisted in sec. 3(2)
3.Authorities can be constituted . Sec. 3(3)
4.Appointment of Officers. Sec. 4
5. To issue Directions and orders. Sec. 5

13. Section 3 -POWER OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT TO TAKE MEASURES TO
PROTECT AND IMPROVE ENVIRONMENT
(1)SubjecttotheprovisionsofthisAct,theCentralGovernment,shallhavethe
powertotakeallsuchmeasuresasitdeemsnecessaryorexpedientforthe
purposeofprotectingandimprovingthequalityoftheenvironmentand
preventing,controllingandabatingenvironmentalpollution.
(2)Inparticular,andwithoutprejudicetothegeneralityoftheprovisionsofsub-
section(1),suchmeasuresmayincludemeasureswithrespecttoalloranyofthe
followingmatters,namely:--

14. Contd….
(i)Co-ordinationofactionsbytheStateGovernments,officersandotherauthorities-
(a)underthisAct,ortherulesmadethereunder, or
(b)underanyotherlawforthetimebeinginforcewhichisrelatabletotheobjects
ofthisAct;
(ii)planningandexecutionofanation-wideprogrammefortheprevention,controland
abatementofenvironmentalpollution;

15. Contd..
(iii)layingdownstandardsforthequalityofenvironmentinits
variousaspects;
(iv)layingdownstandardsforemissionordischargeof
environmentalpollutantsfromvarioussourceswhatsoever;
(v)restrictionofareasinwhichanyindustries,operationsorprocessesor
classofindustries,operationsorprocessesshallnotbecarriedout
orshallbecarriedoutsubjecttocertainsafeguard;

16. (vi)layingdownproceduresandsafeguardsforthepreventionofaccidentswhich
maycauseenvironmentalpollutionandremedialmeasuresforsuchaccidents;
(vii)layingdownproceduresandsafeguardsforthehandlingofhazardous
substances;
(viii)examinationofsuchmanufacturingprocesses,materialsandsubstancesasare
likelytocauseenvironmentalpollution;
(ix)carryingoutandsponsoringinvestigationsandresearchrelatingtoproblems
ofenvironmentalpollution;

17. Water prevention and pollution control Act
ItwasashameonusthatwethepeopleofIndiahadtolegislateanactfor
preventingandcontrollingpollutionofWATERbyourowncountrymen.
ThelawofthelandcannotprovidenoncontaminatedMilktothechildren;cannot
providenoncontaminatedeatablestothepeopleofIndiaandnotevenpurewater.
Shameontheregulatorswhofortheirgreedformoneylettheenemiesofcommon
manofIndia,topollutethewaterofRiversandstreams.
ShameonIndianIndustrialistsandmunicipalitieswhichdischargeuntreatedwater
intheRivers.
IsthistheIndianCulture?Wehavenotprosecutedtheoffendersoftheactsfor
pollutingoursacredRivers.

18. The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act,
1974
Theneedforlegislatingtheactwasfeltintheyear1962,itwasthesameyear
whenIndependentIndiafoughtitsfirstwarwithChina.Acommitteewassetupin
1962todrawadraftenactmentforthepreventionofwaterpollution.
Theobjectforlegislatingtheactwasgivenas“Itis,therefore,essentialtoensurethat
thedomesticandindustrialeffluentsarenotallowedtobedischargedintothewater
courseswithoutadequatetreatmentassuchdischargeswouldrenderthewater
unsuitableassourcesofdrinkingwateraswellasforsupportingfishlifeandforusein
irrigation.Pollutionofriversandstreamsalsocausesincreasingdamagetothe
country’seconomy.”

19. Pollution defined in the Act
It means such contamination of water or such alteration of the
physical, chemical or biological properties of water or such discharge of any
sewage or trade effluent or of any other liquid, gaseous or solid substance
into water (whether directly or indirectly) as may, or is likely to, create a
nuisance or render such water harmful or injurious to public health or
safety, or to domestic, commercial industrial agricultural or other legitimate
uses, or to the life and health of animals or plants or of aquatic organisms.
(section 2(e) of the Act)

20. Water
Pollution

21. MeetingsoftheBoard
Aboardshallmeetatleastonceineverythreemonthsandshallobservesuchrulesof
procedureinregardtothetransactionofbusinessatitsmeetingasmaybeprescribed.
Providedthatif,intheopinionoftheChairman,anybusinessofanurgentnatureistobe
transacted,hemayconveneameetingoftheBoardatsuchtimeashethinksfitfortheaforesaid
purpose

22. Powers and Duties of the Member Secretary of
the Board
MemberSecretaryofaBoardistheonlymemberoftheBoardwhoisappointed
andnotnominatedbytheStateGovernment.
HeistheonlyonewhohastobefulltimeMemberoftheBoard.
HeistheonlyonewhosetermasamemberoftheBoardisnotfixedforthreeyears.
ThetermsandconditionsofserviceoftheMember-SecretaryhastobeprescribedbytheState
Government.

23. Prohibition on use of stream or well for disposal of
polluting matter, etc;
Thereareprohibitionsonthepersonsagainstcausingorpermittingany
poisonous,noxiousorpollutingmatterforenteringwhetherdirectlyorindirectly
intoanystreamorwellorseweroronland,abovethanthestandardslaiddownfor
thesame.[section24(1)(a)]
TheprimeobjectoftheActasdeclaredinthepreambleandembodiedin
theprovisionsofSection24istoprovideforpreventionandcontrolofwater
pollutionandthemaintainingand/orrestoringofwholesomenessofwater.
Therefore,provisionsarmadetopreventdirectorindirectentryintoany
stream,wellorpollutingwater.(DahyathaiSoankiv.StateofGujrat,2003Cr.L.
J.767atp.772)

24. Penalty and procedure
Whoeverfailstocomplywithanydirectionsgivenundersubsection(2)orsubsection
(3)ofSection20withinsuchtimeasmaybespecifiedinthedirectionshall,onconviction,be
punishablewithimprisonmentforatermwhichmayextendtothreemonthsorwithfine
whichmayextendtotenthousandrupeesorwithbothandincasethefailurecontinues,with
anadditionalfinewhichmayextendtofivethousandrupeesforeverydayduringwhichsuch
failurecontinuesaftertheconvictionforthefirstsuchfailure.
Ifthefailurereferredabovecontinuesbeyondaperiodofoneyearafterthedateof
conviction,theoffendershallonconvictionbepunishablewithimprisonmentforaterm
whichshallnotbelessthantwoyearsbutwhichmayextendtosevenyearsandwithfine.

25. The Air (prevention and control of pollution) Act, 1981
Thepresenceinair,beyondcertainlimits,ofvarious
pollutantsdischargedthroughindustrialemissionand
fromcertainhumanactivitiesconnectedwithtraffic,
heating,useofdomesticfuel,refuseincinerations,etc;
hasadetrementaleffectonthehealthofthepeopleas
alsoonanimallife,vegetationandproperty.
TheCentralGovernmentlegislatedthebillto
implementthedecisionstakenregardingthe
preservationofthequalityofAirandcontrolofair
pollution,inStockholmintheUnitedNations
ConferenceontheHumanEnvironment,heldinJune,
1972.(sourceGazetteofIndia,Extraordinary,Pt.11,
Sec.2,datedthe24
th
November,1980)

26. Definitions
“Airpollutant”meansanysolid,liquidorgaseoussubstanceincludingnoisepresentintheatmosphereinsuch
concentrationasmaybeortendtobeinjurioustohumanbeingsorotherlivingcreaturesorplantsorproperty
orenvironment.
“Approvedappliance”meansanyequipmentorgadgetusedfortheburningofanycombustiblematerialorfor
generatingorconsuminganyfume,gasorparticulatematterandapprovedbyStateBoardforthepurposeof
thisAct.
“Approvedfuel”meansanyfuelapprovedbytheStateBoardforthepurposesofthisAct.
“Chimney”includesanystructurewithanopeningoroutletfromorthroughwhichanyairpollutantmaybe
emitted.
“Controlequipment”meansanyapparatus,device,equipmentorsystemtocontrolthequalityandmannerof
emissionofanyairpollutantandincludesanydeviceusedforsecuringtheefficientoperationofanyindustrial
plant.

27. Bodies constituted to enforce the Act
CentralPollutionControlBoardconstitutedundersection3oftheWater
(PreventionandcontrolofPollution)Act,1974wasauthorizedtoexercisethe
powersandperformsthefunctionsforthepreventionandcontrolofairpollution.
StatePollutionControlBoardsconstitutedundersection4oftheWater(Prevention
andcontrolofPollution)Act,1974wasauthorizedtoexercisethepowersand
performsthefunctionsforthepreventionandcontrolofairpollution

28. Function of central board
The main functions of the Central Board is to improve the quality of air and to prevent,
control or abate air pollution in the country
►AdvicetheCentralGovernmentonanymatterconcerningtheimprovementofthe
qualityofairandtheprevention,controlorabatementofairpollution.
►ProvidetechnicalassistanceandguidancetotheStateBoard,carryoutandsponsor
investigationsandresearchrelatingtoproblemsofairpollutionandprevention,
controlorabatementofairpollution.
►Performsuchofthefunctionsofanystateboardasmaybespecifiedinanordermade
undersub-section2ofsection18
►laydownstandardsforthequalityofair.
►Collectanddisseminateinformationinrespectofmattersrelatingtoairpollution.

29. National Minimum Standards for
Air Quality
ThenewNationalMinimumstandardsfor
AirQualityhasbeennotifiedbytheCPCBunder
sub-section(2)(h)ofsection16oftheActon18
th
November2009,andhasbeenmadeeffectivefrom
thatdate,forwholeofIndia
Inthenewnotificationonlytwocategoriesofarea
hasbeencreatedEcoSensitiveAreas(notifiedby
CentralGovernment)andnonEcoSensitiveArea.

30. Air Pollutants……

31. Due to industries…

32. Standards for Emissions of air pollutants
TillTheEnvironment(Protection)Act,1986waslegislatedbythe
ParliamentofIndia,theStateBoardswerehavingpowerstolaydownthe
standardsforairpollutantstobedischargedintheatmosphere,underclause
(g)ofsub-section(1)ofSection17.
Since1986,CentralGovernmenthasbeenissuingStandardsforEmissions
undertheprovisionsofEnvironmentprotectionActanditsRules.These
standardshasbeenspecifiedinschedule1toVIoftheEnvironment
(Protection)Rules1986.
CentralBoardorStateBoardsmayspecifymorestringentstandardsthan
thosespecifiedinschedule1toVIoftheEPRules.

33. ATTENTION
TheAirActisabeneficiallegislationwhichisenactedforthepurposeof
propermaintenanceofnatureandhealthofpublicatlarge.Hence,evenifitis
possibletohavetwoopinionsontheconstructionoftheprovisionsoftheAct,the
onewhichadvancestheobjectoftheActandisinfavorofthepeopleatlargefor
whosebenefittheActisPassed,hastobeaccepted.(AIR2005S.C.3136)

34. Thank Youuuuu….