CCC715 (1.

5:0:0) Global Environmental Issue

Unit-III
Topics:
Acts for Environmental Conservation

Dr. Susant Kumar Padhi, Civil Engineering, Shiv Nadar IoE

Email: [email protected]
THE AIR ACT
OF 1981
AIR ACT

🠶 The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 is

an act of the Parliament of India to control and prevent
air pollution in India.
🠶 It was amended in 1987.
🠶 It states that sources of air pollution such as industry,
vehicles, power plants, etc., are not permitted to release
air pollutants or other toxic substances beyond a
prescribed level.
AIR POLLUTION
🠶 Air pollution can be defined as the presence of toxic chemicals or
compounds (including those of biological origin) in the air, at levels
that are harmful for human health.
🠶 The chemical compounds that lower the air quality are usually
referred to as air pollutants.
🠶 The most common types of air pollutants are NOX, CO, CO2, smoke,
PM etc.
🠶 Most often, air pollution is caused by human activities such as
mining, construction, transportation, industrial work, agriculture,
smelting, etc.
AIR ACT

🠶 According to this Act, no person can operate certain types of

industries including the asbestos, cement, fertilizer and petroleum
industries without consent of the State Board.

🠶 To ensure this, PCB’s have been set up by Government to measure

pollution levels in the atmosphere and at certain sources by testing
the air.
MAIN OBJECTIVES OF AIR ACT

🠶 To provide for the prevention, control of air pollution.

🠶 To provide for the establishment of Central and State Boards with a

view to implement the Act.

🠶 To give the Boards the powers to implement the provisions of the

Act and assign to the Boards functions relating to pollution.
PENALTIES

🠶 The people managing industry are to be penalized if they produce

emissions of air pollutants in excess of the standards laid down by
the State Board.

🠶 Whoever breaks any of the provision of the Act is punishable with

imprisonment for three months or with a fine of Rs. 10,000 or with
both, and in case of continuing offence there will be an additional
fine which may extend to Rs 5,000 per day the offence is continued.
WATER ACT, 1974
Introduction

● An Act to provide for the prevention and control of water pollution and the
maintaining or restoring of wholesomeness of water for the establishment,
with a view to carrying out the purposes aforesaid, of Boards for the
prevention and control of water pollution, for conferring on and assigning to
such Boards powers and functions relating thereto and for matters connected
therewith.
IS IT NECESSARY? (Facts)
o 1. “In developing countries, 70 percent of industrial wastes are dumped untreated
into waters, polluting the usable water supply.”- National Geographic Channel

o 2. “More than 80% of sewage in developing countries is discharged untreated,

polluting rivers, lakes and coastal areas.” - World Water Assessment Programme
(UNESCO WWAP)

o 3. “Every year, more people die from unsafe water than from all forms of violence,
o including war”- Water for life
o Every day, 2 million tons of sewage and other effluents drain into the world's waters.
o - Water for life
o 4. “Nitrate from agriculture is the most common chemical contaminant in the world’s
o groundwater aquifers.”- UN water
IS IT NECESSARY? (Problems Faced)

● Death of Aquatic Animals.

● Disruption of Food Chains

● Diseases

● Destruction of Ecosystems

● Increase in Economic Cost for purification

OBJECTIVES OF THE ACT
• Prevention of water pollution
• Control of water pollution
• Abatement of water pollution
✓ Maintenance or restoration of the wholesomeness of water
✓ To assess the pollution levels
✓ To punish the polluters
Summary of Water Act - 1974 (India)

• The Water Act, 1974 with certain amendments in 1978 is an extensive legislation with more
than sixty sections for the prevention and control of water pollution.

• Among other things, the Act provides for constitution of central and State Boards for
preventing water pollution, power to take water samples and their analysis, discharge of
sewage or trade effluents, appeals, revision, minimum and maximum penalties, publication
of names of offenders, offences by companies and Government departments, cognizance of
offences, water laboratories, analysis etc.
Issues Involved in Enforcing Environmental
Legislation

Local
Regional
Global
Notably, the government has passed various legislations
to curb the damage caused to the environment such as
the Environmental Protection Act, 1986, Forest
Conservation Act, 1980, Water Prevention and Control
of Pollution Act, 1974, Air act 1981 etc.

Understanding of laws in general and environmental

laws in particular by the public is limited. This is partly
because environmental laws are written using
complicated language that is very difficult for the public
to understand.
LOCAL
🠶 Although a large amount of water, air and noise pollution happen
every day – affecting the lives of large numbers of people, and
leading to many diseases – people are often not sufficiently aware
of their environmental rights or their right to legal aid to protect
these rights. Even when they are aware of their rights, there is no
mechanism to support the complaints process such as assisting
with inspection, testing or collecting evidence.

🠶 Local people are both polluters and victims of pollution. They are
not fully aware of the consequences of their actions.

🠶 The high cost of equipment for testing for pollutants (and the
delay in obtaining results) makes is a significant challenge for
local people.
REGIONAL
🠶 The power and authority has been given only to the central
government with little power to the state government.
This hinders effective implementation of the act in the states.

🠶 There is lack of independence given to the central and the

state boards who still have to depend on the state and the
central government for the approval.

🠶 Awareness and capacity of authorities to handle violations

of the law is weak with difficult procedures to enforce the
law.
GLOBAL
🠶 Public administration, even though the government claims that
environmental protection is an important concern, when conflicts
between economic and environmental benefits arise, economic growth is
still prioritized.

🠶 Many communities, organizations, and companies still operate for short-

term gains, without consideration of long-term targets or impacts on the
environment, society or future generations.

🠶 Economic reason for environmental degradation is the fact

that protection and conservation of environment has a high
opportunity cost, especially in developing countries like
India.

🠶 Environmental Litigation is more expensive compared to

other disputes as it involves expert testimony and technical
evidences.
SOME SOLUTIONS
🠶 Though we have significant Environmental protection laws in India, we have not been very
successful in fulfilling the requirements of environmental protection, mainly due to the
absence of political will and public awareness.

🠶 Ignorance towards environmental issues will not help. Public awareness and seriousness
towards tackling the issues of environmental pollution should be our utmost priority.

🠶 NGO’s can play a very important role in this.

🠶 There should be less political interference in the independent regulatory body.

🠶 More decision making power needs to be given to the boards. There is also a need to
establish a body of experts just like the civil services.
Environment Act 1986
Protection and Conservation Of Environment
What is Environmental Act?
• Act to facilitate protection and development of
environment.

• Environmental Act was Presented after the Bhopal Gas

Tragedy (1984) in the year 1986.

• Resolutions were taken at the UN conference on the Human

environment which took place at Stockholm in June 1972 where
India (Mrs.Indira Gandhi represented India) participated to initiate
appropriate steps for protection and improvement of environment
(473 countries took part in this conference)
Different Acts for Prevention and Control of
Pollution
• The Water Act-1974
• The Air Act-1981
• The Environmental Act-1986
Objectives of the Act

• Protection and Improvement of the environment.

• Prevent environmental pollution of all forms.

• Address specific issues of different regions of the country.

• Coordination of various activities

• Appointment of officers to regulate environmental pollution.

• Establishing environmental laboratories.

• Protection of forests and wildlife in the country.

Rules under Environmental Act

Environmental Protection Rules,1986

• Hazardous Waste Rules,1989(2016)
• Bio medical Waste Rules,1998
• Municipal Solid Waste Rules, 2000
• Noise Pollution Rules, 2000
• Battery Waste Rules, 2001
• Plastic Waste Rules, 2011
• Electronic Waste Rules, 2011
• Construction and Demolition Waste Rules, 2016
Public awareness for protection and
conservation of environment
Why is public awareness and
protection required?
Before we answer this we will see what’s happening around us!

Impacts of Environmental change-

*Global warming *Ocean acidification

*Sea level rise *Temperature rise
*Health *Deforestation
*Extreme weather events *Loss of biodiversity
How Do They Create Awareness
• Provide financial assistance to NGOs, school,
colleges for conducting awareness campaigns.

• Celebrating Environment Day, Earth Day etc.. in schools and

institutions.

• Regional Resource Agencies (RRAs) to supervise

the activities in their region.
Steps Taken To Create Awareness
• UGC made environmental education
compulsory for all undergraduate
students.

• Ban of plastic use

• Environmental awareness rallies

• Advertisements in common places

What Can We Do To Protect Our
Environment
• Reduce the usage of paper.

• Periodic Maintenance of vehicles.

• Use Eco-Friendly products wherever you can.

• Use only recyclable plastics if it is not possible

to get rid of plastic from your life.

• Carpool whenever possible.