The Environment Protection Act, 1986

The Environment (Protection) Act (EPA) was enacted in 1986 with

the objective of providing the protection and improvement of the
environment.

The central government has framed the rules in 1986 under section 6 and
25 which allows setting and enforcing of standards for emission and
discharge of pollutants.
This umbrella legislation merged the provisions of the Water
(Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1974 and the Air
(Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1981. Within this structure
of the legislation, the government established Pollution Control Boards
(PCBs) to halt, control, and abate environmental pollution
▪ Some of these comprise Environment Impact Assessment
Notification, 2006 (EIA 2006), Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ)
Notification, 2011, and Hazardous Wastes Rules,
Constitutional Provisions:

o The EPA Act was enacted under Article 253 of the Indian
Constitution which provides for the enactment of legislation for
giving effect to international agreements.
o Article 48A of the Constitution specifies that the State shall
endeavour to protect and improve the environment and to
safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country.
o Article 51A further provides that every citizen shall protect the
environment.
This act gives the definition of:-

ENVIRONMENT- includes water, air and land and the

interrelationship which exists among and between water, air and land
and human beings, other living creatures, plants, microorganisms and
property.

Environmnetal pollutant- means any soild, liquid or gaseous substance

present in such concenteration that may be injurious to environment.

Environmnatal pollution- means the presence in the environment of

any environmental pollutant.

Hazardous substance- means any substance or prepration which b

reason of its chemical or physic chemical properties or handling, is
liable to cause harm to human beings, other living creatures, plants or
micro-organisms.

Objectives of the Environment Protection Act

The Environment Protection Act was passed with the following
objectives:

1. To protect the environment from degradation and take actions to

improve the current condition.
2. To implement the decisions made at the UN Conference on the
Human Environment held in Stockholm in 1972.
3. To set up a government body to look after the industries and
regulate the effect they have on the environment, and also issue
direct orders such as for closure of industries.
4. To punish and penalize those posing a danger to the
environment, health, and safety. For each failure, a fine of up to 1
Lakh, a prison term of five years, or both can be included. In
certain cases, the term can be extended up to seven years.
5. To coordinate the work of the agencies for the protection of the
environment under existing laws.
6. To enforce this law in all regions, including the places earlier
exempted under previous laws.
7. To encourage and work towards sustainable development of the
environment.

This act consists of 4 chapters and 25 sections.

CHAPTERS DESCRIPTION
1 Definitions

2 General powers of the central

government

3 Prevention, control and abatement of

environmental pollution

4 Miscellaneous (Information, reports or

returns, power to make rules, effect of
other laws)
Silent features of EPA
1) Laying down standards for the quality of environments in its
various aspects.
2) Laying down standards for emission or discharge of environmental
pollutants from various sources.
3) Carrying out or sponsoring investigations and research relating to
problems of environmental pollution.
4) Laying down procedures and safeguards for the prevention of
accidents which may cause environmental pollution and remedial
measures for such accidents.
5) Collection and dissemination of information in respect of matters
relating to environmental pollution
6) Preparation of manuals, codes or guides relating to the prevention,
control and abatement of environmental pollution.

Legal Aspects relating to Environmental

Protection in India
1) Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981
The air (prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1981, or the Air Act, in short, was a law passed by the Parliament of India
to prevent and control the harmful effects of air pollution in India.

▪ The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 defines "air pollutant" as any
solid, liquid or gaseous substance present in the atmosphere in such concentration as
may be or tend to be injurious to human beings or other living creatures or plants or
property or environment.
▪ The Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act was enacted by the Parliament in
1981 with an objective to prevent, control & abatement of air pollution.
▪ The act provides for the establishment of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) at
the apex level and State Pollution Control Boards at the state level to advise the
government on any matter concerning the improvement of the quality of the air and
prevention, control and abatement of air pollution.
▪ The CPCB also lays down standards for the quality of air and provides technical
assistance to and guidance to the State Pollution Control Board.
▪ NGOs Working for Environmental
Protection in India
NGOs that mainly focus on environmental issues are called
environmental NGOs. These NGOs work for environmental protection
and conservation from the misuse by human activities.
Further, they spread awareness in public about environmental issues and
solutions. They also conduct campaigns worldwide to create awareness
among people about depleting natural resources and protecting them.

Role of NGO
A non-governmental organization (NGO) serves as a liaison between the
government and the general public. When a few concerns do not reach
the government or are not resolved, NGO functions play an essential
part in assigning these issues to the government. The NGO looks
explicitly into a few problems. Their main goal is to make the world
better for all suffering humans.

The purpose of an NGO is to focus on all topics relating to human rights,

social issues, environmental issues, and advocacy. They strive to
develop and improve society’s social and political conditions on a large
scale. The following are some of the NGO’s functions:

• Human rights and child rights

• Poverty eradication
• Animal Rights
• Prevent Social Injustice
• Conservation of Environment
• Aged people care routine
• Empowerment of women
• Disease Control and others
• Health and Nutrition plans
• Conservation of Wildlife
• Hygiene and Sanitation conditions
• Humanitarian Relief
• Education plans and literacy
• Refugee Crisis

Mission of NGOs

1) Promoting Environmental education

2) Conducting awareness camp
3) Safeguarding environment through social mobilization and
community participation
4) Biodiversity and wildlife conservation
5) Promotion of renewable energy
6) Research activities and movements
1) WWF (world wildlife fund)
WWF or world wildlife fund was started in 1961 by 16 of the world’s
leading conservationists.

The mission of WWF is to conserve nature and minimize the threats to

the diversity of life on earth. It works in the field of food,
climate, freshwater, wildlife, forest, and oceans.
Collaborating with the local communities, this organization furthermore
conserves the natural resources and protects the rare species by restoring
their habitat.
Besides, WWF has conserved much wildlife, including tigers, giant
pandas, elephants, gorillas, sea turtles, polar bears, rhinos, whales, etc.

2) UNEP (United Nations environment program)

UNEP is broadly called the United Nations environment program. This
was founded by Canadian philanthropist Maurice Strong in 1972.

This global environmental authority’s mission is to encourage caring for

the environment by inspiring and informing people to improve their
quality of life without compromising that of future generations.

Thus, it works against pollution such as air pollution, chemical, and

waste, ocean and sea pollution, water pollution, etc.
Besides these, it works to minimize climate change, disasters and
conflicts, and many more. Mainly UNEP is working to ensure the
effective delivery of environmental dimensions of the 2030 agenda.

3) GEF (global environment facility)

GEF stands for the global environment facility. It was established in
1992 at the Rio Earth Summit as a pilot program with the World Bank to
help in the protection of the environment and to promote environmental
development.
GEF focuses on seven fields, such as biodiversity, climate change
(mitigation, adaptation), chemicals, international waters, land
degradation, sustainable forest management, and ozone layer depletion.
The critical people of this organization are Carlos Manuel

4) Client Earth
Client earth was founded in 2008 by James Thornton. This organization
uses the power of law to bring systematic changes that will protect the
earth.

This organization has a focus to end pollution, tackle climate

change, defend wildlife and habitats, protect forests, etc.
Further, its goal is to build a future in which people and the planet
will develop together. Client earth is fighting to make it legal for
NGOs to file environmental cases in court.

5) Indian Environmental Society (IES)

This organization was started in 1972 to promote environmental
improvement initiatives in India.

IES focuses on environmental education, biodiversity conservation,

information dissemination, solid waste management, eco technology,
and heritage conservation. Furthermore, this organization suggests
global solutions for critical environmental issues at both local and
national levels.

The goal of IES is to give an advancement system that is ecologically

stable, self-supporting, and evenhanded in the distribution of resources
and opportunities.
Moreover, it has taken part in solid waste management, heritage
conservation, and the environment in Himachal Pradesh and the
recycling of waste to protect the environment in Rajasthan.

6) Trust of India
The wildlife trust of India is a nonprofit, charitable organization. Mr.
Vivek Menon started this organization in 1998 to conserve the declining
wildlife of India.

They mainly focus on animal welfare, wildlife conservation, and

environmental protection. Further, it has more than 150 professionals all
over the country.
They work to conserve wildlife and its habitat, which is beneficial for
individual wild animals. They also serve nature by recovering
threatening species and protected areas.
The wildlife trust of India has done many works effectively. They have
turned whale shark hunters into staunch protectors in Gujarat, relocated
distressed Hoolock gibbons in Arunachal Pradesh, reduced elephant
deaths due to train hits in Uttarakhand, and many more.

7) TERI (Tata Energy Research Institute)

TERI represents the energy and resource institute. The motto of TERI is
to create innovative solutions for a sustainable future.
This organization was established by Mr. Darbari Seth in 1974. They
focus primarily on promoting proper use of resources, increasing access
and uptake of sustainable inputs, and reducing the effect on
the environment and climate.
However, this innovative organization has high capabilities in research,
consultancy, policy, and implementation.
The mission of TERI is to guide the changes to a cleaner and sustainable
future through the conservation and efficient use of energy and other
resources.
This independent and multidimensional organization is working to
increase sustainable inputs and access to basic service
8) Aaranyak
Aranyak was founded by Dr. Bibhab Kumar Talukdar in 1989. The first
project of Aaranyak was to save the white wood-duck from extinction.

The objective of Aaranyak is to create public awareness about the

maintenance of ecological balance in the neighborhood.

Aaranyak has a mission to promote the conservation of

biodiversity in Northeast India through research, environmental
education, capacity building, and advocacy.
They work to secure the future of all threatened species and to protect
nature.

9) ATREE:
ATREE stands for Ashoka’s trust for research in ecology and the
environment. This organization was established in 1996.

The motivation of this organization is to generate interdisciplinary

knowledge to inform the policies and rules towards conservation and
sustainability.
This organization works at the grassroots level to implement
environmental and sustainability interference and also spreads
knowledge to the public.

They have programs on forests, water, climate change, biodiversity,

landscapes and livelihood, and northeast initiatives.

10) Vanashakti
Vanashakti was founded by Meenakshi Menon, Namita Roy Ghose,
Peter Armand Menon in 2006. This nonprofit environmental NGO is
based in Mumbai.

According to Vanashakti, there are two groups in this world. The first
group creates environmental issues, and the second group becomes a
part of the solution. Thus, Vanashakti encourages people to be a part of
the second group.
Furthermore, they play a crucial role in spreading public awareness
about the vital part of the forest in human wellbeing.

The mission of Vanashakti is to demonstrate the critical link between

ecosystem and human welfare, especially for the poor, by
communication, community building, and projects.
They mainly focus on promoting conservation and environmental
education.

Besides these, Vanashakti generates income development for forest

communities who depend on ecology.

Environmental Education

Environmental education is a process that allows individuals to explore

environmental issues, engage in problem solving, and take action to
improve the environment. As a result, individuals develop a deeper
understanding of environmental issues and have the skills to make
informed and responsible decisions.

Environmental education teaches individuals how to weigh various sides

of an issue through critical thinking and it enhances their own problem-
solving and decision-making skills.
Components of Environmental Education
The components of environmental education are:

• Awareness and sensitivity to the environment and environmental

challenges
• Knowledge and understanding of the environment and
environmental challenges
• Attitudes of concern for the environment and motivation to
improve or maintain environmental quality
• Skills to identify and help resolve environmental challenges
• Participation in activities that lead to the resolution of
environmental challenges.
• Promotion of Green Facilities: Making the green initiatives
popular and also providing the required infrastructure to help out
with the development of several environmental aspects. Promotion
of green facilities like a self-sustainable kitchen or even a self-
sustaining school could be promoted to boost awareness among the
public as well as to help with the promotion of better
environmental relationships.

Features of Environmental Education (EE)

1. Is a learning process that expands individuals’ information and
mindfulness about nature’s domain and related difficulties, creates
the vital abilities and mastery to address the difficulties
2. Is an inter-disciplinary field that integrates fields such as biology,
ecology, earth science, geography, atmospheric science and
mathematics because understanding how the environment works
and keeping it healthy requires knowledge and skills from many
disciplines.
3. Includes all efforts to make the general public aware of the
knowledge of the environment and environmental challenges
through print materials, media, brochures, bulletins, videos, or
other media techniques.

4. Leads to responsible individual and group actions.

5. Provides information about specific environmental concerns or

problems to the general public instead of specific group, religion or
community.

6. Involves students in different data-gathering techniques that help

them to discuss, analyze, predict and interpret data
about environmental issues.

7. Is study centered, promotes higher-level thinking skills and

relevant to student’s everyday lives.

8. It allows people to discuss complex environmental problems that

have no simple answers.

9. Works to help you think critically so that you aren’t sitting there
trying to fit everything into a neat little box.

10. Environmental Education encourages the active

participation of everybody. It is only through everybody’s
involvement that we would be able to serve the environment better.