India¡¯s environmental regulation or infrastructure (Thematic Report)by Anoushka Sinha | 05-01-2021 08:45 |
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 I hope you are all doing great Eco Warriors and spreading awareness, today¡¯s topic is really interesting to talk about specifically due to the fact that I got to learn a lot about specific regulations that exist in my country. Now I will put it up here so that you all can learn too. India has been a country known for its activism towards environmental protection. From green revolution to women even putting their lives at stake for protecting the environment in Chipko Movement. Here are some regulations and laws that have been put to action to protect and safeguard the environment and habitat. To promote individuals to take environment seriously the Constitution under Part IVA (Art 51A-Fundamental Duties) casts a duty on every citizen of India to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife, and to have compassion for living creatures. Further, the Constitution of India under Part IV (Art 48ADirective Principles of State Policies) stipulates that the State shall endeavour to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country. The reforms strengthened after a major conference UN Conference on the Human Environment (Stockholm, 1972). After the Stockholm Conference, the National Council for Environmental Policy and Planning was set up in 1972 within the Department of Science and Technology to establish a regulatory body to look after the environment-related issues. This Council later evolved into a full-fledged Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF). MoEF was established in 1985, which today is the apex administrative body in the country for regulating and ensuring environmental protection and lays down the legal and regulatory framework for the same. Since the 1970s, a number of environment legislations have been put in place. The MoEF and the pollution control boards ("CPCB", ie, Central Pollution Control Board and "SPCBs", ie, State Pollution Control Boards) together form the regulatory and administrative core of the sector. Here are some important laws framed by them The National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 The National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 (No. 19 of 2010) (NGT Act) has been enacted with the objectives to provide for establishment of a National Green Tribunal (NGT) for the effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environment protection and conservation of forests The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 (the "Air Act") is an act to provide for the prevention, control and abatement of air pollution The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 The Water Prevention and Control of Pollution Act, 1974 (the "Water Act") has been enacted to provide for the prevention and control of water pollution and to maintain or restore wholesomenes of water The Environment Protection Act, 1986 The Environment Protection Act, 1986 (the "Environment Act") provides for the protection and improvement of environment. The Environment Protection Act establishes the framework for studying, planning and implementing long-term requirements of environmental safety and laying down a system of speedy and adequate response to situations harmful for it The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 was enacted with the objective of effectively protecting the wild life of this country and to control poaching, smuggling and illegal trade in wildlife and its derivatives The Forest Conservation Act, 1980 The Forest Conservation Act, 1980 was enacted to help conserve the country's forests. It strictly restricts and regulates the de-reservation of forests or use of forest land for non-forest purposes without the prior approval of Central Government These are the certain measures taken by the government and there are amendments and changes made to these each year to suit the rapid and changing needs for protection of environment Green Cheers Anoushka Sinha India |
