Protection of Environment under Assigned Acts

Protection of Environment under Assigned Acts

Author:- Nehal Soni, a Student of BM Law College,Jodhpur (raj)

Pollution may be classified as:

Air Pollution 

Environment has its main four units- atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere. Atmosphere is like cover on earth and it is spread up to thousands of kilometers above its surface. Fresh air is basis of healthy life. Fresh air is that which has proper proportion of gases, water vapors, dust particles etc. in it. Air Pollution is a situation in which external part of environment and harm man and environment both.

Air Pollution may be controlled by following factors:

1. Smoke should be released after treatment.

2. Tall chimneys should be used in factories so that solid waste may settle inside.

3. Pollutants should be removed by different physical and chemical processes like combustion, absorption, and using mechanical devices.

4. Petrol should be used without lead so that lead does not pollute the air.

5. Industries should be developed far away from cities.

Water pollution 

After air, water is second necessity of life. Nearly, 71% of area of earth is covered by earth but it is not able to be drunk so, drinking water should have following qualities to be called potable:

1. Water should be colorless, smell less.

2. Water should be free from bacteria and germs.

3. It must contain appropriate quantity of dissolved oxygen.

Water Pollution may be controlled by following factors:

1. Industrial waste should not be released in water without treatment.

2. Excreted waste should not be added to water.

3. Fertilizers and pesticides should be used in limited quantity so that they do not flow with water to any water resource.

4. Sewage water should be treated first and then left in any water resource.

5. Bio-manures and bio-fertilizers must be used instead of chemical ones.

Soil Pollution

The upper most layer of land is called soil. The quality of soil decides its productivity and a good soil contains 13 minerals. When any process changes concentration of these 13 minerals, it is called soil pollution. Its contamination affects living beings and their health. Some other problems faced by our country is soil erosion, loss of fertility, salinity, alkalinity, acidity, water logging etc.

Some reasons of soil pollution:

1. Making dams and canals increases the irrigation but due to increase in salinity and basicity of areas nearby and areas of dam, these areas become barren

2. Metal melting, mining process etc., release metals like copper, zinc, nickel, etc. on land which makes soil polluted.

3. Industries like paper, oil, sugar etc. release waste metal, metal oxide, bases, acids, dyes on opened land areas which cause soil pollution and makes soil barrened. 

Protection of environment under the Environment Protection Act, 1986:

 The EPA 1986 was introduced in the wake of Bhopal Tragedy, 1984. This Act has 4 chapters and 26 sections.

Objectives of the Act:

1. Protection and improvement of environment.

2. Prevent hazards to living organisms.

3. Maintaining proper relation between human beings and environment.  

Powers of Central Government:

1. Laying down standards for the quality of environment in its various aspects.

2. Laying down standards for emission and discharge of environmental pollutants from various sources.

3. Laying down procedures for handling hazardous substances.

4. Laying down procedures and safeguards for prevention of accidents, which may cause pollution.

5. Examination of materials which are responsible for pollution.

6. Empowered to constitute an authority for implementation of the Act.

7. Empowered to collect samples of air, water, soil or other substances. 

Penalty for contravention of the Act:

1. Imprisonment of 5 years and fine up to rupees 1 lac.

2. If subsequent conviction then, 7 years of imprisonment and fine of rupees 5000 daily.