INTRODUCTION The
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) was constituted as Central Board for Prevention
and Control of Water Pollution (CBPCWP) on 22nd September, 1974 under the provisions
of The Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and later under
Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Amendment Act 1988 (No. 53 of 1988)
its name was amended as Central Pollution Control Board. The main functions of
CPCB, as spelt out in The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974,
and The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, are:
- to promote cleanliness of streams
and wells in different areas of the States through prevention, control and abatement
of water pollution; and,
- (ii)
to improve the quality of air and to prevent, control or abate air pollution in
the country.
The
Central Pollution Control Board has been playing a key role in controlling pollution
by generating relevant data, providing scientific information, rendering technical
inputs for formation of national policies and programmes, training and development
of manpower, through activities for promoting awareness at different levels of
the Government and Public at large. The Central Board has enlisted the thrust
areas requiring immediate attention and assisting government to formulate National
Plans and to execute these appropriately. 1.1 FUNCTIONS
OF THE CENTRAL BOARD - Advise
the Central Government on any matter concerning prevention and control of water
and air pollution and improvement of the quality of air;
- Plan
and cause to be executed a nation-wide programme for the prevention, control or
abatement of water and air pollution;
- Co-ordinate
the activities of the State Boards and resolve disputes among them;
- Provide
technical assistance and guidance to the State Boards, carry out and sponsor investigations
and research relating to problems of water and air pollution, and for their prevention,
control or abatement;
- Plan
and organise training of persons engaged in programmes for prevention, control
or abatement of water and air pollution;
- Organise
through mass media, a comprehensive mass awareness programme on prevention, control
or abatement of water and air pollution;
- Collect,
compile and publish technical and statistical data relating to water and air pollution
and the measures devised for their effective prevention, control or abatement;
- Prepare
manuals, codes and guidelines relating to treatment and disposal of sewage and
trade effluents as well as for stack gas cleaning devices, stacks and ducts;
- Disseminate
information in respect of matters relating to water and air pollution and their
prevention and control;
- Lay
down, modify or annul, in consultation with the State Governments concerned, the
standards for stream or well, and lay down standards for the quality of air; and,
- Perform
such other functions as and when prescribed by the Government of India.
1.2
FUNCTIONS OF THE CENTRAL BOARD AS STATE BOARD FOR THE UNION TERRITORIES
- Advise the Governments
of Union Territories with respect to the suitability of any premises or location
for carrying on any industry which is likely to pollute a stream or well or cause
air pollution;
- Lay
down standards for treatment of sewage and trade effluents and for emissions from
automobiles, industrial plants, and any other polluting source;
- Evolve
efficient methods for disposal of sewage and trade effluents on land;
- Develop
reliable and economically viable methods for treatment of sewage, trade effluents
and air pollution control equipment;
- Identify
any area or areas within Union Territories as air pollution control area or areas
to be notified under The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981;
and,
- Assess the
quality of ambient air and water, and inspect wastewater treatment installations,
air pollution control equipment, industrial plants or manufacturing processes
to evaluate their performance and to take steps for the prevention, control and
abatement of air and water pollution.
1.3
DELEGATION OF POWERS BY CPCB As
per policy decision of the Government of India, the Central Pollution Control
Board, delegated its powers and functions under Section 4, Sub Section 4 of The
Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Section 6 of The Air
(Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 with respect to Union Territories
to respective Pollution Control Committees under the local Administration. 1.4
ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATIONS, POLLUTION CONTROL ACTS, RULES
AND NOTIFICATIONS ENFORCED
|
Source |
Legislation |
|
Water Pollution |
The Water (Prevention and Control
of Pollution) Act, 1974 as amended in 1988 | |
The Water (Prevention and Control
of Pollution) Rules, 1975 | |
The Water (Prevention and Control
of Pollution) (Procedure for Transaction of Business) Rules, 1975 |
| The
Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Second Amendment Rules, 1976 |
| The
Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977 as amended by Amendment
Act, 1991 | |
The Water (Prevention and Control
of Pollution) Cess Rules, 1978 | |
The Water (Prevention and Control
of Pollution) Amended Rules, 1989 | |
Air Pollution |
The Air (Prevention and Control
of Pollution) Act 1981, as amended by Amendment Act, 1987 |
| The
Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Rules, 1982 | |
The Air (Prevention and Control
of Pollution) Union Territories Rules, 1983 | |
The Air (Prevention and Control
of Pollution) Amendment Rules,
1988 | |
Environment |
The Environment (Protection) Act,
1986 | |
The Environment (Protection) Rules,
1986 | |
The Environment (Protection) Amendment
Rules, 1987 | |
The Environment (Protection) Third
Amendment Rules, 1987 | |
The National Environmental Tribunal
Act, 1995 | |
The National Environment Tribunal
Rules, 1995 | |
Notification on Emission Standards
and Guidelines for Location
of Industries, mining operation etc. for various areas |
| Public
Liability |
The Public Liability Insurance
Act, 1991 | |
The Public Liability Insurance
Rules, 1991 | |
Hazardous Waste |
Hazardous Waste (Management and
Handling) Rules, 1989 (amended in 2000) | |
Batteries (Management and Handling)
Rules, 2001 | |
Manufacture, Storage and Import
of Hazardous Chemical Rules, 1989 | |
Emergency Planning Preparedness
and Response for Chemical Disasters Rules, 1995 | |
Manufacture, Use, Import, Export
and Storage of Hazardous Micro-organisms, Genetically Modified Engineered Organisms
or Cells Rules, 1993 | |
Hazardous Microorganisms and Genetically
Modified Organisms (Manufacture, Use, Import Expert and Storage) Rules, 1999. |
| Bio-Medical
Waste (Management and Handling) Rules 1998 | |
Rules/ Guidelines/
Notification |
Municipal Solid Waste (Management
and Handling) Rules, 1999 | |
Recycled Plastics Manufacture and
Usage Rules, 1999 | |
Guidelines for seeking Environmental
Clearance | |
National Conservation Strategy
and Policy | |
Statement on Environment and Development,
1992 | |
Emergency Planning, Preparedness
and Response of chemical Accident Rules | |
Ecomark Criteria for 16 Product
Categories | |
Temperature Limit for Discharge
of Condenser Cooling water from Thermal Power Plant | |
Environmental Standards for Gas/Naphtha
Based Power Plants | |
Use of Beneficiated coal with ash
content not more than 34% in thermal power plants | |
Restricting Use of Top Soil for
manufacture of bricks and other building materials within specified radius of
50 km from coal/lignite based Thermal Power Plants to promote use of fly ash utilization |
| The
Coimbatore Charter on Environment and Forests, January, 2001 |
|
