The Environment Protection Act (EPA) came into force after the Bhopal gas Tragedy of union carbide chemical company and it is considered as Umbrella Legislation designed to provide framework for Central and State Government.

1. THE ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION
ACT
MAHESH S WAGHMARE
Department of Engineering Sciences
International Institute of Information Technology, I²IT
www.isquareit.edu.in

3. • The Environment Protection Act (EPA) came
into force after the Bhopal gas Tragedy of
union carbide chemical company and it is
considered as Umbrella Legislation designed
to provide framework for Central and State
Government.

4. OBJECTIVE OF THIS ACT
• To Provide the protection and improvement in
the environment.
• To Prevent Environment Pollution.
• To tackle specific environment problems that
are peculiar to different part of country.
• To protect forest and wildlife in the country
• To appoint environment officers to check
environment pollution and Laboratories

5. Outline of Act
• The Environment Protection Act, 1986 has 26
sections and it has been divided into four
chapters relating to
A) Preliminary
B) General Powers of Central Government
C) Prevention, Control and Abatement of
Environment Pollution.
D) Miscellaneous.

6. • The constitution of India clearly state that it is
the duty of state to protect and improve the
environment and safeguard the forest and
wildlife of country. The Department of
environment was established in India in
1980.This later became the Ministry of
Environment and Forest in 1985.

7. Preliminary
• The environment protection act under article
253 of Indian constitution. To protect and
improve Environmental quality, control and
reduce pollution from all sources.
• This act is called the Environment Act 1986.
• It extends to whole of India

8. Power of Central Government
• To make rules to regulate environment
pollution to notify standard and maximum
limits of pollutants of air ,water and soil for
various areas and purpose.
• Prohibition and Restriction on handling of
hazardous substance and location of industries.
• Power of entry in any factory and inspection

9. • The central government has power to take all
such measures which are necessary for the
protecting, improving and prevention of
environment such as Laying down standards
for quality of environment in various aspects
also restriction of areas in which industry
operation shall carried out.

10. PREVENTION, CONTROL, AND ABATEMENT OF
POLLUTION
• Person Carrying on industry operation etc. not
to allow emission or discharge of
environmental pollutants in excess of the
standards.
• Persons handling hazardous substance to
comply with procedural safeguards
• Furnishing of information to authorities and
agencies in certain cases.
• Power to take sample and inspection

11. Penalties
• The Objective of EPA is to provide for
deterrent punishment to those who endanger
human environment safety and health.
Sect 15 of EPA provides that any person who
fails to comply or contrivance any provision or
rule or act he shall be punishable with a fine of
1 lakh with imprisonment for term for 5 year
or both.

12. Every rule made under this Act shall be laid, as
soon as may be after it is made, before each
House of Parliament, while it is in session, for a
total period of thirty days which may be
comprised in one session or in two or more
successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of
the session immediately.

13. References
www.environment.act.gov.au
www.google.com
www.ipcc.ch
www.india.gov.in

14. THANK YOU
Mahesh Waghmare
Asst. Professor in Civil Engineering
maheshw@isquareit.edu.in
http://www.isquareit.edu.in/