ENVIRONMENTAL

PROTECTION ACT 1986

D . Yeshwanth Kumar
22B81A0564
 INTRODUCTION

Environment Protection Act is an Act of

Parliament of India , taken to implement the
decision of United Nations Conference on the
Human Environment. They relate to the
protection and improvement of the human
environment and prevention of hazards to
human beings, other living creations , plants and
property.

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 INITIATION
❑ The decisions for the protection and
improvement of human environment were taken
at the United Nations Conference on the Human
Environment held at Stockholm in June 1972, in
which India participated.
❑ The environmental Protection Act, 1986,was
introduced on 19 November the birth anniversary
of our Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi
❑ The Act is also widely considered to have been
taken in response to the Bhopal Gas leak, which
occurred in 1984.

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 TERMS INCLUDED
Under Environmental protection act , there are four main terms
addressed:
a. Environment :
Environment it includes water, air and land and the inter
relationship which exists between water, air and land and human being ,
other living creatures, plants , micro-organisms and property.
b. Environmental pollutant:
Includes any solid, liquid, or gaseous substance present in such
concentration as may be injurious to environment.
 TERMS INCLUDED
Under Environmental protection act , there are four main terms
addressed:
c. Environmental pollution:

The presence of any environmental pollutant in the

environment.

d. Hazardous substance:

Any substance which is liable to cause harm by its physio-

chemical properties or handling to human beings, other living creatures,
property, or environment.
 CAUSES FOR POLLUTION

❖ Combustion
❖ Construction
❖ Mining
❖ Agriculture
❖ Power plants
❖ Oli refineries
❖ Petrochemical plants, Nuclear waste

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 OBJECTIVES OF THE ACT

❖ Implementing the decisions made at the United

Nations Conference on Human Environment held
in Stockholm.
❖ To protect the forests and wildlife in the country.
❖ To improve the quality of life by protection of
environment.
❖ Maintenance of harmonious relationship between
humans and their environment.

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POWERS OF THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT

The Central Government is empowered to :

❖ Plan and Execute a nation-wide program for the
prevention, control and abatement of environmental
pollution.
❖ Lay down standards for the quality of environment in its
various aspects.
❖ Lay down standards for emission or discharge of
environmental pollutants from various sources.
❖ The restriction of areas in which any industries, operations
or processes or class of industries, operations or processes
shall/ shall not be carried out subject to certain safeguards.

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RULES TO REGULATE ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION

The central government may make rules to protect

environment according to section 3:
❖ The standards of quality of air, water or soil for various areas
and purposes.

❖ The maximum allowable limits of concentration of various

environmental pollutants (including noise) for different areas
❖ The procedure and safeguards for the handling of hazardous
substances
❖ Restrictions on the handling of hazardous substances in
different areas.
❖ Restriction on location of industries and the operations held
in different areas.

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 PENALITIES FOR VIOLATION OF THE ACT

1. Under section 15.5: any person violating the act is punishable with imprisonment
for a term up to five years or with a fine up to one lakh rupees or both.

2. Under section 16, the criminal liability is also fixed on the company’s directors and
principal officers in case of an offence being committed by a company.

3. Under section 17, the criminal liability is also fixed on the heads of the department
of the government where an offence is committed by the concerned department
and head of the department is unable to prove that the offence was committed
without his knowledge.

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 DRAWBACKS OF THE ACT

❖ No Public Participation: The Act also says nothing about

public participation as regards environmental protection.

❖ There is a need to involve the citizens in environmental

protection to check arbitrariness and raise awareness
and empathy towards the environment.
❖ Incomplete Coverage of Pollutants: The Act does not
address modern concept of pollution such as noise,
overburdened transport system and radiation waves which
are also an important cause for the deteriorating
environment.

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Thank You