The Water Act was enacted in 1974 in India to control water pollution and maintain water quality. It established the Central Pollution Control Board and State Pollution Control Boards to regulate water pollution. The Act prohibits discharging sewage or pollutants into water bodies. It gives powers to the boards to obtain information from polluters, take emergency measures when pollution occurs, apply to courts, and direct authorities. Violators may face imprisonment or fines as punishments. As population and water usage increase, effective implementation of the Water Act will be important for addressing future freshwater challenges in India.

1. WATER ACT - 1974
Presented By – SUMIT MISHRA
College- SRK Institute of Social Science
Subject- MLW 3rd sam
Enr.No.- E22350023100006

2. Introduction
● The Water Act was enacted by Parliament of India, 1974 purpose to provide
for the prevention of control of water pollution and the maintaining or
restoring of wholesomeness of water. As on day, it is applicable in all the states
of India.
The Act has 64 sections compiled in VIII chapters.
● In our country there are two board for controlling the whole processes and
activities of water act which are CPCB (central pollution control board) and
SPCB(state pollution control board) , which are operated by central gov. and
state gov. respectively.

3. Objectives
 The water(prevention and pollution control) act 1974, provides for following:
1. Prevention and control of water pollution .
2. Maintaining or restoring the wholesomeness of water.
3. Establishment of board for prevention and control of water pollution.
4. To confer and assign such powers functions on the board.
5. There are two board to control water pollution which have 17 members
per board.
6. it prescribes penalties to the offenders.

4. Under Water Act 1974,
Sewage or pollutants
cannot be discharged into
water bodies including
lakes and it is the duty of
the state pollution
control board to
intervene and stop such
activity.

5. Functions of CPCB
 Subject to the provisions of this Act, the main function of the Central Board
shall be to promote cleanliness of streams and wells in different areas of the
States.
 Do such other things and perform such other acts as it may think necessary
for the proper discharge of its functions and generally for the purpose of
carrying into effect the purposes Of this Act.
 The Board may establish or recognize a laboratory or laboratories to enable
the Board to perform its functions under this section efficiently including the
analysis of samples of water from any stream or well or of samples of any
sewage or trade effluents.

6. Functions of SPCB
 Section 17 of the Water Act, 1974 clearly lists all functions of the respective
state boards for countering water pollution. The state board of respective
states is empowered to plan a comprehensive program for the prevention,
control or abatement of pollution of streams and wells, collect and
disseminate information relating to water pollution and encourage, conduct
and participate in investigations and research relating to problems of water
pollution and prevention..
 The state water boards also have the right to inspect sewage or trade
effluents, works and plants for the treatment of sewage and trade effluents
and to review all water purification plants.
 The State Board under section 25 is necessary to set up any industry, plant
or process which is likely to discharge sewage or trade effluent into a
stream or well or sewer or on land or bring into use any new or altered
outlets for the discharge of sewage or begin to make any new discharge of
sewage.

7. Power to Boards
 Power to obtain information .(person or industry)
Punishment :-
Jail for 3 months or 10,000 Rs or both , with additional fine of 5,000 per day.
 Emergency measure in case of pollution of stream or well.
 Power of board to make application to court.
 Direction to person , authority , officer , etc.
Punishment :-
Jail for 1 ⅕ years , fine of 50,000 per day.

8. Conclusion
 Obtaining future supplies of freshwater will be an
environmental challenge.
 With expanding population and increasing water usage,
this Act is approaching conditions of widespread scarcity.
 Water pollution is already harming freshwater around the
world.

9. THANK YOU