Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution)Act, 1981 and Environment Protection Act, 1986

2. Various Control Acts for AIR
POLLUTION

5. AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
• 1948 – Factories Act and Amendment in 1987 was the
first to express concern for the working environment of
the workers. The amendment of 1987 has sharpened its
environmental focus and expanded its application to
hazardous processes.
• 1981 – Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act
provides for the control and abatement of air pollution.
It entrusts the power of enforcing this act to the Central
Pollution Control Board.
• 1982 – Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Rules
defines the procedures of the meetings of the Boards
and the powers entrusted on them.

6. • 1982 – Atomic Energy Act deals with the
radioactive waste.
• 1987 – Air (Prevention and Control of
Pollution) Amendment Act empowers the
central and state pollution boards to meet
with grave emergencies of air pollution.
• 1988 – Motor Vehicles Act states that all
hazardous waste is to be properly packaged,
labeled and transported.

7. CHAPTER I : PRELIMINARY
• Definitions- "air pollutant" means
any solid, liquid or gaseous
substance [including noise]
present in the atmosphere in such
concentration as may be or tend
to be injurious to human beings or
other living creatures or plants or
property or environment

8. CHAPTER 2 : CENTRAL AND STATE BOARDS FOR
THE PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF AIR
POLLUTION
• Central Pollution Control Board
• State Pollution Control Boards constituted under section 4
of Act 6 of 1974 to be State Boards under this Act
• Terms and conditions of service of members
• Constitution of State Boards
• Central Board to exercise the powers and perform the
functions of a State Board in the Union Territories
• Vacation of seats by members

9. CHAPTER 3 : POWERS AND FUNCTIONS
OF BOARDS
• Functions of Central Board
- advise the Central Government on any matter concerning the improvement
of the quality of air and the prevention, control or abatement of air pollution
- plan and cause to be executed a nation -wide programme for the
prevention, control or abatement of 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 air pollution
and prevention, control or abatement of air pollution
- plan and organise the training of persons
- organise through mass media a comprehensive programme
- lay down standards for the quality of air
- collect, compile and publish technical and statistical data relating to air
pollution and the measures devised for its effective prevention, control

10. CHAPTER 3 : POWERS AND FUNCTIONS
OF BOARDS
• Functions of State Boards
- to advise the State Government on any matter
concerning the prevention, control or abatement of air
pollution
- to inspect, at all reasonable times, any control
equipment, industrial plant or manufacturing process
- to inspect air pollution control areas at such intervals as
it may think necessary, assess the quality of air therein

11. CHAPTER 4 : PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF
AIR POLLUTION
• Power to declare air pollution control areas
• Power to give instructions for ensuring standards for
emission from automobiles
• Restrictions on use of certain industrial plants
• Person carrying on industry, etc. not to allow emission of
air pollutants in excess of the standards laid down by State
Board
• Power of entry and inspection
• Power to obtain information

12. CHAPTER 4 : PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF AIR
POLLUTION
• Power to take samples of air or emission and procedure to
be followed in connection therewith
• Reports of the result of analysis on samples taken under
section 26
• State Air Laboratory
• Reports of analysts

13. CHAPTER 5 : FUND, ACCOUNTS AND AUDIT
• Contribution by Central Government
• Fund of Board
• Borrowing powers of Board
• Budget
• Annual report
• Accounts and audit

14. CHAPTER 6 : PENALTIES AND PROCEDURE
• Offences by companies- ( 18 m/6 Yrs/5000)
• Offences by government departments
• Protection of action taken in good faith
• Reports and returns

15. CHAPTER 7 : MISCELLANEOUS
• Power of State Government to supersede State Board
• Dissolution of State Boards constituted under the Act
• Maintenance of register
• Power of Central Government to make rules
• Power of State Government to make rules

16. BHOPAL GAS TRAGEDY
A CASE STUDY

17. BACKGROUND
• In 1969, Union Carbide India Ltd. (Parent Co. UCC -
50.9% stake) set up a small plant in Bhopal, capital city
of M.P. to formulate pesticides.
• Bhopal facility was part of India’s Green Revolution
aimed to increase productivity of crops.
• Until 1979,the UCIL used to import MIC (Methyl
Isocynate) from the parent co. in U.S.
• After 1979,it decided to manufacture its own MIC.

18. • Organic ,volatile, flammable & poisonous chemical
used in pesticide production.
• Little lighter than water but twice as heavy as air
• Ability to react with many substances: water, acids,
metals, small deposits of corrosive materials that
accumulate in pipes, tanks & valves.
• Highly toxic to humans & short term exposure can
cause death, respiratory diseases, ophthalmic
problems, neurological disorders etc.

19. GREATEST INDUSTRIAL DISASTER IN HISTORY
• Result: About 40 tons of MIC poured out of the tank for
nearly 2 hours & escaped into the air, spreading within
8 hours downwind over the city of nearly 9 lakh.
• Thousands of people were killed in their sleep & lakhs
remain injured or affected. Most seriously affected
were the densely populated nearby slum colonies
around the plant near the Bhopal Rly. Station.

20. SAFETY & MAINTENANCE STANDARDS
• Different for Bhopal plant & West Virginia (U.S.)
plant. No computerized data loggers.
• Unreliable temp.& pressure gauges.
• No effective warning system.
• Gas leaks detected by workers reporting tearing &
burning sensation in their eyes.
• Inadequate safety & maintenance procedures.
• Several minor accidents reported earlier.
• Most technicians poorly trained & inexperienced.

21. • UCIL was able to operate its deteriorating plant because
industrial safety & environmental laws & regulations were
lacking making state of M.P. or the Indian Govt. indirectly
responsible for the tragedy.

22. Environment protection
• Environmental protection is a practice of
protecting the environment, on individual,
organizational or governmental levels, for the
benefit of the natural environment and (or)
humans.
• Protection of the environment is needed due
to various human activities.

23. Environmental
Pollutants

24. Burning fossil fuel
• Burning fossil fuels in cars
and power stations
releases so2 and other
green house gases.
• So2 dissolve in rain – acid rain.

25. Acid rain
• Acid rain damages trees
and pollutes rivers and
lakes
• Results in erosion of
buildings and statues.

27. • Academic institutions now offer courses, such
as
oEnvironment studies
oEnvironment management
oEnvironment engineering

28. • The ACTS formulated by the government,
devote to environment protection and
development.

29. Environment protection act
(1986)

30. • An Act to provide for the protection and
improvement of environment.
• Whereas the decisions were taken at the
United Nations Conference on the Human
Environment held at Stockholm in June, 1972,
in which India participated, to take
appropriate steps for the protection and
improvement of human environment.

31. • The Environment (Protection) Act 1986
was introduced after the Bhopal gas
tragedy during Rajiv Gandhi was the Prime
Minister
of our country.

32. Objective
• Providing for the protection and
improvement of the environment
• Preventing environmental pollution in all its
forms
• To tackle specific environmental problems that
are peculiar to different parts of the country.

33. •To co-ordinate the activities of the various regulatory
agencies already in existence.
• To appoint environment officers to check
environmental pollution.
• To improve the quality of life by protection of
environment.
• Establishing environmental laboratories.
• To protect the forests and wildlife
in the country

34. Alternative energy sources
• Conserve our rapidly diminishing fossil fuel
reserves by using Alternative energy sources.

35. Biological control of pests
• Using natural predators to eat pests instead of
pesticides.

36. • Set aside lands for animals to prevent over
grazing and destruction.

37. Planning and execution of a nation-wide
program for the prevention, control and
abatement of environmental pollution.

38. • Laying down standards for emission or
discharge of environmental pollutants from
various sources whatsoever.

39. • Restriction of areas in which any
industries, operations or processes shall not
be carried out or shall be carried out subject
to certain safeguards.

40. • Laying down procedures and safeguards for
the prevention of accidents which may cause
environmental pollution and remedial
measures for such accidents.
• Laying down procedures and safeguards for
the handling of hazardous substances.

41. • Establishment or recognition of
environmental laboratories and institutes to
carry out the functions entrusted to such
environmental laboratories and institutes
under this Act.

42. SUGGESTIONS
Reducing the use of Electric power,
Solar Power System For Your Home,
Recycling,
Raise Awareness,
Reduce waste,
Choose Energy Efficient Appliances.

43. Air (prevention and control of
pollution ) act, 1981

44. • This law specifically states that:
“the prevention and control of air pollution at its
source is the primary responsibility of State and
local governments.”

45. Objectives
• Protect and enhance the quality of air
resources.
• Protect public health and welfare while
fostering a beneficial productive capacity.
• Prevention, control and abatement of air
pollution .
• Gives power to board for ensuring that there
are proper systems for prevention of air
pollution.

46. • Amendments created features to let industries
make choices on the best way to reach
pollution cleanup goals.
• Raw material…

47. • Gasoline refiners can get credits for producing
cleaner gasoline than required and they use
those credits when their gasoline doesn’t
achieve cleanup requirements.

48. • Maximum achievable control technology to
be adopted for both new and existing sources.
• Waste water treatment plants and air
pollution control equipment.

49. • The Act provides that the State Government,
in consultation with the State Board, is
empowered to declare any area or areas
within the jurisdiction of the concerned State
an “Air Pollution Control Area”.

50. Penalty
Contravention : shall be punishable with
Imprisonment for a term which may
extend to three months or with fine
which may extend to ten thousand rupees
or with both.

51. If we think right now we can minimize the pollution….