The document summarizes several key environmental acts and legislations in India. It discusses the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1974, which aims to prevent and control water pollution. It also covers the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1981, which focuses on preventing, controlling, and reducing air pollution. Finally, it outlines the Environment (Protection) Act of 1986, which aims to protect and improve environmental quality in India.

1. Environmental Acts And Legislations
Guided by : Prof. Roopali Goyal
Created by :
Rutvik Brahmbhatt – 160410119112 (060)
Preet Shah – 160410119117 (061)
Hitesh Rawal – 160410119111 (062)

2. The Water(Prevention And
Control Of Pollution) Act, 1974
• The Water (Prevention and Control of
Pollution) Act was enacted in 1974 to
provide for the prevention and control of
water pollution, and for the maintaining or
restoring of wholesomeness of water in the
country.
• The Act was amended in 1988.

3. Objectives Of This Act
• Prevention and control of water pollution.
• Maintaining and restoring the wholesomeness
of water.
• Establishment of Boards, with a view to carry
out the purposes aforesaid for the prevention
and control of water pollution.

4. Definition Of Pollution Under The Act
• ‘Pollution’ 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 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.

5. Functions Of Central Board
• Promote cleanliness of streams and wells in different areas
of the states.
• Advise the central government on any matter concerning
the prevention and control of water pollution.
• Co-ordinate the activities of the state boards and resolve
dispute among them.
• Provide technical assistance and guidance to the state
boards.

6. • To collect, compile and publish technical and statistical
data relating to water pollution.
• To lay down, modify or annul the standards for a
stream or well.
• To plan and cause to be executed a nation-wide
programme for the prevention, control or abatement of
water pollution.
• To establish or recognise a laboratory or laboratories
for analysis of water samples from any stream, well or
trade effluents.

7. Functions Of State Boards
• To advise the state government on any matter concerning
the prevention, control or abatement of water pollution.
• To encourage, conduct and participate in investigations
and research relating to problems of water pollution.
• To collaborate with the central board in organising the
training of persons engaged to programmes relating to
water pollution.

8. • To evolve economical and reliable methods of
treatment of sewage and trade effluents, having
regard to the peculiar conditions.
• To evolve methods of utilisation of sewage and
suitable trade effluents in agriculture.
• To evolve efficient methods of disposal of sewage
and trade effluents on land.
• Performing such functions as may be entrusted by
central board of state board.

9. Penalties For The Violtion Of The Act
• In case of failure to give information by a person
discharging effluents into stream or well or regarding
construction or establishments of a disposal system, the
penalty is imprisonment up to 3 months or fine up to
Rs. 10000 or both.
• In case of giving wrong information or making false
statements to get boards consent, the penalty is
imprisonment up to 3 months or fine up to Rs. 10000 or
both.

10. • In case of violation of order prohibiting of any
polluting matter into stream, well or land, or
violation of control order restraining pollution of
water or streams or wells, the penalty is
imprisonment for one and a half years to six
years and fine.
• In case of permitting pollution material into any
stream, well or land the penalty is imprisonment
for one and a half years to six years or fine or
both.

11. The Air(Prevention And Control Of
Pollution) Act, 1981
• The Air (Prevent ion & Cont rol of Pollut ion) Act was
passed by parliament on 29t h March, 1981.
• This act came int o f orce f rom May 16,1981 by
government of I ndia.
• Decisions where t aken at t he Unit ed Nat ions Conf erence
On The Human Environment held in St ockholm in J une,
1972.
• I ndia has part icipat ed t o t ake appropriat e st eps f or t he
preservat ion of t he quant it y of air and cont rol of air
pollut ion.

12. Objectives Of Act
• Prevent ion – To st op air pollut ion.
• Cont rol – To cont rol air pollut ion.
• Abat ement – To decrease air pollut ion.
• Maint aining t he qualit y of air.
• Est ablishment of Boards f or t he
prevent ion and cont rol of air pollut ion.

13. Definitions
• Air Pollutant [section 2(a)]
Air Pollut ant means any solid, liquid or gaseous subst ance including
noise present in t he at mosphere in such concent rat ion as may be t end t o
be inj urious t o
1. Human Beings
2. Living Creat ures
3. Plant
4. Propert ies
5. Environment
•.Air Pollution [section 2(b)]
Air pollut ion means presence of air pollut ant in at mosphere.

14. Constitution Of The Board
• A State Board constituted under the following 17
members, all are nominated by the state government.
1. A f ull t ime or par t t ime Chairman.
2. Five of f icial member s t o r epr esent t he gover nment .
3. Five per sons repr esent ing t he local aut hor it y.
4. Three non-of f icial member s.
5. Two per sons repr esent at ing companies owned by t he st at e
gover nment .
6. A f ull t ime member secr et ary.

15. Functions Of Central Board
1. To improve t he qualit y of air.
2. To pr event , cont r ol & abat e air pollut ion in t h
count ry.
3. To advice t he cent r al gover nment on any mat t er
concer ning t he impr ovement of qualit y of air.
4. To coordinat e t he act ivit ies of t he St at e Boar d,
carr y out r esearch relat ing t o t he prevent ion and
cont r ol of air pollut ion.
5. To est ablish t est ing labor at or ies.

16. Air Pollution Control Area
• Air pollution control area [section 19]
1. St at e government af t er consult at ion wit h t he
St at e Board, can declare any area as t he “Air
Pollut ion cont rol Area”.
Such are can be added, delet ed or alt ered by
not if icat ion.
2. St at e government can prohibit burning of any
mat erial (Ot her t han f uel) in such area if it likely t o
cause air pollut ion.

17. Functions Of The State Board
1. To plan a comprehensive programme f or prevent ion &
cont rol of air pollut ion and implement t he same.
2. To advise t he st at e government an any mat t er concerning
air pollut ion.
3. To inspect air pollut ion cont rol areas and t ake
appropriat e measures t o cont rol air pollut ion in such
areas.
4. To organise t raining programmes and mass educat ion
programmes t o prevent air pollut ion.
5. To est ablish laborat ories.

18. Power Of Board
1. Powers t o declare Air pollut ion cont rol areas.
2. Power t o ent ry and inspect .
3. Power t o t ake samples of air or emission.
4. Rest rict ion on use of cert ain indust rial plant s.
5. Est ablishment of st at e air laborat ory.

19. Control Equipment
• Control Equipment [section 2(l)]
• Cont rol equipment means any apparat us,
device, equipment or syst em t o cont rol t he
qualit y and manner of emission of any air
pollut ant .
• I t includes any devices used f or securing t he
ef f icient operat ion of any indust rial plant .

20. Penalties
• The main drawback of t hese act lies in t he f act t hat
t he def ault er is given 60 days not ice bef ore t aking
him t o court as by t he t ime t he case is f iled in t he
court , t he of f ender may dest roy t he evidence.
• There is no provision f or publicat ion of names of
of f enders under t his act .
• The penalt ies f or def ault s or violat ions of t he
provisions under t he act t he same as under t he wat er
Act .

21. Industries Specified In The Schedule Under
Air Act, 1981
1. Chemical indust ries
2. Fert iliser indust ries
3. Food & agricult ural product indust ries
4. Mining indust ries
5. Power plant
6. Paper & pulp indust ries
7. Text ile processing indust ries
8. Pet roleum ref ineries
9. Cement & cement product s indust ries
10.Asbest os and asbest os product indust ries

22. The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
• The salient f eat ures of t he act are t hat it
ext ends t o t he whole of I ndia and t he
cent ral government , shall have t he power t o
t ake all such measures as it deems
necessary f or t he purpose of prot ect ing
and improving t he qualit y of t he
environment .

23. Objectives
1. Prot ect ion and improvement of
environment (Air, Wat er, Land).
2. Prevent ion of hazards t o all living
creat ures (Humans, Animals, Plant s).
3. Maint enance of harmonious relat ionship
bet ween human beings and t heir
environment .

24. Powers of central government
1. Laying down st andards of qualit y f or air, wat er & land.
2. Planning and execut ion of a nat ionwide programme t o prevent , cont rol and abat e
environment pollut ion.
3. Laying down procedures and saf eguards f or t he handling of hazardous subst ances.
4. Co-ordinat ion of act ions by t he st at e government , of f icers and ot her aut horit ies under
t his act .
5. Examinat ion of manuf act uring processes, mat erials, et c. likely t o cause environment
pollut ion.
6. Rest rict ing areas in which indust ries, operat ion or processes shall not be carried out .
7. Carrying out & sponsoring invest igat ions & research in environment pollut ion problems.
8. Est ablishment of environment laborat ories & inst it ut ions.

25. Penalties
• Any person f ailing t o comply wit h any of t he provisions
of t he Act , shall be punishable wit h imprisonment f or a
t erm which may ext end up t o 5 years or wit h f ine which
may ext end t o 1 lakh rupees or bot h.
• I f t he f ailure or cont ravent ion cont inues beyond a
period of one year af t er t he dat e of cont ravict ion, t he
of f ender shall be punishable wit h imprisonment f or a
t erm which may ext end t o seven years.

26. Thank You