ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS

JACOB JOHN PANICKER

ENVIRONMENT LAWS OF INDIA

In India the law relating to pollution control is more than 100 years old. The earliest of them is share (Bombay) Nuisance Act 1853. The history of legislative fight against pollution started with Indian Penal Code, 1860. Sec 268 defined what is public nuisance.

Legislative fight against pollution continued in Independent India. Now, there is a host of legislation in India aimed at protecting the environment from pollution and maintaining the ecological balance. The Environment (protection) Act, 1986 is one of the latest and major Act for environmental protection.

THE ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS AND PROTECTION ACT

To protect the environment and to conserve natural resources, various laws have been made. Many Acts have been introduced after 1947 (independence). Water Act and Wild life Protection Act were passed in 1974. Government of India has established a National Committee on Environmental Planning and Co-ordination. Some important legislations for the protection of environment in India are in next slides…

THE ENVIRONMENT (PROTECTION) ACT 1986

This Act came into force no Nov. 19, 1986, the birth date of our late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. She took keen interest in environmental issues of the country. This Act aimed to protect and improve the quality of environment by central Govt with Co-ordination of the State Govt.

THE WATER ACT, 1974 (AMENDED 1988)

The Water Act was enacted under article 252(1) of the constitution as asocial welfare measure.

• To prevent and control water pollution.

• To establish Central and State boards for the prevention and control of water pollution and

• To provide and confer powers and functions to the central and state boards to restore wholesomeness of water.

WILD LIFE ACT, 1972

The Act adopted two conservation strategies;

i. Specified endangered species are protected regardless of location.

ii. All species are protected in specified area.

Principles

iii. To provide protection of wild animals, birds and plants for matters connected with these.

iv. To ensure ecological and environment security of the country.

FOREST CONSERVATION ACT, 1980

This act deals with the conservation of forests. The main objectives of this act was to check deforestation which causes ecological imbalance and deteriorate the environment.

THE AIR ACT, 1981

The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 was enacted by the Parliament to implement the decision taken at the united nations Conference on the Human Environment held to Stockholm in June, 1972 inn which India participated.

• To provide for the prevention, control and abatement of air pollution.

• To provide for the establishment of central and state boards.

• To lay down the standards to maintain the quality of air.

ISO 14000 - ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT • That exists to help organizations

a) Minimize how their operations (processes etc.) negatively affect the environment (i.e. cause adverse changes to air, water, or land);

b) Comply with applicable laws, regulations, and other environmentally oriented requirements, and

c) Continually improve in the above.

• It does not state requirements for environmental performance, but maps out a framework that a company or organization can follow to set up an effective environmental management system.

• It can be used by any organization that wants to improve resource efficiency, reduce waste and drive down costs

ISO 14000 SERIES STANDARDS• ISO 14001 Environmental management systems—Requirements with guidance for use

• ISO 14004 Environmental management systems—General guidelines on principles, systems and support techniques

• ISO 14015 Environmental assessment of sites and organizations

• ISO 14020 series (14020 to 14025) Environmental labels and declarations

• ISO 14030 discusses post production environmental assessment

• ISO 14031 Environmental performance evaluation—Guidelines

• ISO 14040 series (14040 to 14049), Life Cycle Assessment, LCA, discusses pre-production planning and environment goal setting.

ISO 14000 SERIES STANDARDS

• ISO 14050 terms and definitions.

• ISO 14062 discusses making improvements to environmental impact goals.

• ISO 14063 Environmental communication—Guidelines and examples

• ISO 14064 Measuring, quantifying, and reducing Greenhouse Gas emissions.

• ISO 19011 which specifies one audit protocol for both 14000 and 9000 series standards together.