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:

1. to promote cleanliness of streams and wells in different areas of the States through prevention, control and abatement of water pollution; and,
2. (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 abatement and control of pollution in the country 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. The thrust areas are as below.

1.1 THRUST AREAS OF CENTRAL POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD

• Monitoring of National Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP);
• Strengthening of NAMP;
• Strengthening with respect to number of Stations; and

• Continuation of National Water Quality Monitoring Programme (NWMP)
• Study of Ground Water Pollution;
• Assessment of non-point sources of pollution;
• Epidemiological study;
• Preparation of Environmental Status Report;
• Development and demonstration of appropriate liquid and solid waste Management technologies for semi-urban area;
• Laboratory Management and Research & Development Activities for prevention and control of pollution
• Development and Review of Effluent/Emission Standards and Guidelines;
• Environmental Information and Management System;
• Pollution Control Implementation in major polluting industries, Implementation of The Municipal Solid Waste (Management &Handling) Rules, The Recycled Plastics Manufacture and Usage Rules, The Biomedical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, Vehicular and Noise Pollution Control etc.
• Cleaner Production, Environmental Auditing and Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs);
• Implementation of The Hazardous Waste (Management and Handling) Rules;
• Spatial Environmental planning and Natural Resource Protection;
• Preparation and updating of Zoning Atlas

1.2 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.

1.3 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.

1.4 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.

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, 1992
	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 as amended in 1991
	The Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986
	The Environment (Protection) (Second Amendment) Rules, 1998, 1999 and 2002
	The Environment (Protection) Third Amendment Rules, 2002
	The National Environmental Tribunal Act, 1995
	The National Environment Appellate Authority Act, 1997
	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 as amended in 1993
Hazardous Waste	The Hazardous Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1989 (amended in 2000 and 2003)
	The Batteries (Management and Handling) Rules, 2001
	The Manufacture, Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemicals Rules, 1989
	The Chemical Accidents (Emergency Planning Preparedness and Response) Rules, 1996
	The Manufacture, Use, Import, Export and Storage of Hazardous Micro-organisms, Genetically Engineered Organisms or Cells Rules, 1989.
	The Bio-Medical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules 1998
Notifications	Notifications under Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act 1974
	Notification for Constitution of Apellate Authorities
	Notification for Delegation of Powers on State Board by the Central Board to various Pollution Control Committees
	Notification for Central Water Laboratory
	Notification regarding Declaration of Air Pollution Control Areas under The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
	Notifications (Under the Environment (Protection) Act/Rules, 1986)
	Environmental Laboratories and Analysts
	Officers Authorised for taking Cognizance of Offences
	Authorised Officers//Agencies to enter the Premises for Inspection
	Officers/Agencies Authorised to take Samples
	Delegation of powers to the State Governments under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
	Emission Standards for pollutants from various Industries
	General Standards for Effluents, Noise Standards, Emission Standards for Vehicles, etc. (Schedule – IV)
	Ambient Noise Standards
	Vehicular Emission Standards
	General Standards (Schedule – VI)
	National Ambient Air Quality Standards
	Notification on Doon Valley
	Prohibition on Handling of Azodyes
	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
	Guidelines for Seeking Environmental Clearance

Source	Legislation
Rules	The Municipal Solid Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 2000
	The Recycled Plastics Manufacture and Usage Rules, 1999
	The Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000
	The Ozone Depleting Substances (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000.
Others	National Conservation Strategy and Policy
	Statement on Environment and Development 1992
	Scheme of Labelling of Environment Friendly Product (ECOMARK) – Ecomark Criteria for 16 Product Categories
	The Coimbatore Charter on Environment and Forests, January 2001