The Environment Protection Act was passed in 1986 in India after the Bhopal gas tragedy. It defines environment broadly as the interactions between water, air, land, living creatures and property. The Act gives the central government powers to establish standards for pollution, regulate hazardous substances, monitor industries and pollutants, and investigate violations. It provides penalties for exceeding pollution standards or violating provisions of the Act, with higher penalties for longer-lasting violations. The Act also allows for complaints to be filed by government bodies or private individuals who give advance notice of violations.

1. Presentation
on
Environment Protection Act, 1986
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2. Background
 Conference on the human environment was held in 1972. The government of
India participated in the conference and strongly voiced the environmental
concerns.
 While several measures have been taken for the environmental protection,
both before and after the conference, the need for general legislation to
further implement the decision of the conference became increasingly
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3. BHOPAL GAS TRAGEDY
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4.  The EPA (Environment Protection Act), 1986 came into force soon
after the Bhopal Gas Tragedy and is considered an umbrella legislation
as it fills many gaps in the existing laws
 The Act requires the States to get clearance from the Centre to flag
off projects.
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5. Environment Protection Act, 1986
 How is ‘Environment’ defined under Indian Law?
According to Section 2(a) of the Environmental Protection Act,
1986, ‘Environment’ includes
a) Water, air and land
b) The inter-relationship which exists among and between,
i) water, air, land, and
ii) human beings, other living creatures, plants, microorganisms and
property
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6. Scheme of the Act
 The Environmental act, 1986 has 26 sections and it has
been divided into four chapters relating to:
1) Preliminary
2) General powers of the central government
3) Prevention, control and abatement of Environmental
pollution
4) Miscellaneous
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7. CHAPTER I
PRELIMINARY
1. Short Titles, Extend and Commencements
2. Definitions
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8. 1. Short Titles, Extent and
commencement
 The environmental protection act(1986) enacted under the
article 253 of the Indian constitution. To protect and
improve environmental quality, control and reduce pollution
1. The act may be called as Environmental(protection)
Act,1986
2. It extends to whole of India
3. Central government may by notification in the official
gazette, appoint and different dates may be appointed for
different provisions of this act for different areas
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9. 2. DEFINITIONS
 a) "Environment" includes water, air and land and the inter- relationship
which exists among and between water, air and land, and human beings,
other living creatures, plants, micro-organism and property;
 (b) "Environmental Pollutant" means any solid, liquid or gaseous
substance present in such concentration as may be, or tend to be,
injurious to environment;
 (c) "Environmental Pollution" means the presence in the environment of
any environmental pollutant;
 (d) "Handling", in relation to any substance, means the manufacture,
processing, treatment, package, storage, transportation, use, collection,
destruction, conversion, offering for sale, transfer or the like of such
substance;
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10. DEFINITIONS
 (e) "Hazardous Substance" means any substance or preparation
which, by reason of its chemical or physico-chemical properties or
handling, is liable to cause harm to human beings, other living
creatures, plant, micro-organism, property or the environment;
 (f) "Occupier", in relation to any factory or premises, means a person
who has, control over the affairs of the factory or the premises and
includes in relation to any substance, the person in possession of the
substance;
 (g) "Prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act.
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11. CHAPTER II
GENERAL POWERS OF THE CENTRAL
GOVERNMENT
1. POWER OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT TO TAKE MEASURES TO
PROTECT AND IMPROVE ENVIRONMENT
2. APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS AND THEIR POWERS AND
FUNCTIONS
3. POWER TO GIVE DIRECTIONS
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12. 4. RULES TO REGULATE ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
 The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make
rules in respect of the following matters
 (a) the standards of quality of air, water or soil for various areas and
purposes;
 (b) the maximum allowable limits of various environmental pollutants
(including noise) .
 (c) the procedures and safeguards for the handling of hazardous substances;
 (d) the prohibition and restrictions on the handling of hazardous substances in
different areas;
 (e) the prohibition and restriction on the location of industries .
 (f) the procedures and safeguards for the prevention of accidents which may
cause environmental pollution and for providing for remedial measures for
such accidents.
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13. CHAPTER III
PREVENTION, CONTROL, AND ABATEMENT OF
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
1. Persons carrying on industry operation, etc., not to allow
emission or discharge of environmental pollutants in excess of
the standards
2. Persons handling hazardous substances to comply with procedural
safeguards
3. Furnishing of information to authorities and agencies in certain
cases
4. Powers of entry and inspection
5. Power to take sample and procedure to be followed in
connection therewith
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14. 6. ENVIRONMENTAL LABORATORIES
The Central Government may
 establish one or more environmental laboratories
 recognize one or more laboratories or institutes as
environmental laboratories to carry out the functions under
this Act
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15. 7. GOVERNMENT ANALYSTS
The Central Government may by notification in the Official
Gazette, appoint or recognise such persons as it thinks fit
and having the prescribed qualifications to be Government
Analysts for the purpose of analysis of samples of air, water,
soil or other substance sent for analysis to any
environmental laboratory
8. REPORTS OF GOVERNMENT ANALYSTS
Any document purporting to be a report signed by a
Government analyst may be used as evidence of the facts
stated therein in any proceeding under this Act.
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16. 9. PENALTY FOR CONTRAVENTION OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE
ACT AND THE RULES, ORDERS AND DIRECTIONS
 Whoever fails to comply with or contravenes any of the
provisions of this Act be punishable with imprisonment of five
years with fine which may extend to one lakh rupees, or with
both.
 If the failure or contravention continues beyond a period of
one year the offender shall be punishable with imprisonment
of seven years
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17. 10. OFFENCES BY COMPANIES
When a offense is committed by company then the company as well as the
person directly in charge and responsible of conducting the business of a
company shall be deemed to be liable for to punishment.
11. OFFENCES BY GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS
Provides for offences committed by govt. departments
Sec. 16(1) – Head of the department shall be deemed to be guilty.
Sec. 16(2) – attributes liability to other officers responsible for commission
of offences.
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18. Who can make complaint?
 A complaint under this act can be made by
1. Central government or any other authority of that
government
2. Any person who has given notice of not less than 60 days
of the alleged offence and his intentions to make
complaint to the central government or Govt. Officer
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