Environmental Legislation & Water Pollution ActsPrepared ByManthan Dhavne

Environmental Legislation

Introduction

• Most legislation evolved in response to problems.• We are losing our wildlife rapidly.• Our environment shows that there are many drawbacks in

the environmental legislation.• Problems arising in enforcement of environmental laws

and acts.

4 Gandhinagar Institute of Technology : Department of Civil Engineering

• Developmental process was initiated in the fourth five year plan

• This process initiated by Department of Environment in 1980

• Ministry of Environment and forests in September 1985

Enactment

World Conservation Strategies

World Wildlife Fund (WWF)• It established in 1961 at Gland in Switzerland.• The “Giant panda” was chose as its symbol.• India has the membership.• The scope and actitives are not restricted to animals only. • WCU, WWF has taken up a plant conservation campaign.• WWF was founded in India in 1969• It headquarters is in Bombay.• It’s main aims are conservation, education and research.• Some of the important projects (WWF) such as Andma pig study, crocodile breeding project,

Ecological Survey of Western Ghats.• WWF is earlier called world wild life fund.

• Established by UN is 1972.• To protect world biological diversity• UNEP’s key role led to an increase in number of rhinoceros in

Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, Peninsular Malaysia and India.• UNEP promoted the preparation of the Global Biodiversity

Assessment (1995)

United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP)

• It is an independent international agency • It headquarters at Morges, Switzerland • 120 countries are members of IUCN – 60 government and

more than 500 non-government organizations• It was established in 1948• IUCN is now renamed as World Conservation Union (WCU)

International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN)

Water Pollution Act, 1974

• The Water Act was enacted by Parliament Act, 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.  In this act, unless the context, otherwise requires

(i)  Occupier (ii) Outlet (iii) Pollution (iv) Trade effluent

Introduction & Background

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 there to and for matters connected therewith.

Purpose of Legislation

• It provides for maintenance and restoration of quality of all types of surface and ground water.

• It provides for the establishment of central and state boards of pollution control.

• It confers them with powers and functions to control pollution.• It has provision for funds, budgets, accounts and audit of the

central and state pollution control boards.• It also makes provision for various penalties for the defaulters

and procedure for the same.

Features of Act

Their main objectives • It advises the central government in matters related to prevention and control of

water pollution.• All the state pollution control boards (SPCBs) are guided and technically assisted

by CPCB.• It organizes training programs for prevention and control of pollution at various

places (seminars).• It plans nation-wide programs for prevention, control or abatement of pollution.• It establishes and recognizes laboratories for analysis of water, sewage or trade

effluent samples.

Central Pollution Control Board

The state pollution control boards (SPCBs) also have similar functions to be executed at state level and are governed by the directions of CPCB.

Their main objectives • The board advices the state government with respect to the locations of any

industry that might pollute a stream, well or any water body.• It lays down standard for effluents and is empowered to take samples from any

stream, well or trade effluent or sewage passing through an industry.• Every industry has to obtain consent from the Board (granted for a fixed

duration) by applying on a prescribed Proforma providing all technical details, along with a prescribed fee following which analysis of the effluent is carried out.

• The Board suggests efficient methods for utilization, treatment and disposal of trade effluents.

State Pollution Control Board

Wastewater gen (mld) BOD Generation (t/d) BOD Discharge (t/d)0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

13468

9478

1776

22900

4580 3510

Comparision of pollution load generation from do-mestic and industrial sources

Industrial Domestic