~

~~MEGHALAYA STATE POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD

SHILLONG

SALIENT FEATURESOF THE AIR

(PREVENTION AND CONTROLOF POLLUTION) ACT, 1981

1. Definitions:

This Act was promulgated for the purpose toprovide for the prevention, control andabatement of air pollution including preservationof the quality of air. It also provides for theestablishment of Boards both at the Central andState Level with a view to carrying out thepurposes aforesaid.

a) "Air Pollutant" means any solid, liquid orgaseous substance (including noise) present inthe atmosphere in such concentration as maybe or tend to be injurious to human beings orother living creatures, plants, property orenvironment.

b) "Air Pollution" means the presence in theatmosphere of any air pollutant.

c) UApproved Appliances" means any equipmentor gadget used for the bringing of anycombustible material or for generating orconsuming any fume, gas of particulate matterand approved by the State Board for thepurpose of this Act.

d) "Approved Fuel" means any fuel approved bythe State Board for the purpose of this Act.

e) "Control equipmenf' means any apparatus,device, equipment or system to control thequality and manner of emission of any airpollutant and includes any device used forsecuring the efficient operation of any industrialplant.

(i) The State Government may, afterconsultation with the State Board, by notificationin the Official Gazette: (a) alter any air pollutioncontrol area whether by way of extension orreduction; (b) declare a new air pollution controlarea in which may be merged one or moreexisting air pollution control areas or any part(s)thereof.

f) "Emission" means any solid or liquid orgaseous substance coming out of any chimney,duct or flue or any other outlet.

2. Power to Declare Air Pollution ControlAreas:

(ii) The use of any fuel, other than the approvedfuel, in any air pollution control area, or partthereof, which may cause or likely to cause airpollution, is prohibited by notification in theOfficial Gazette.

(iii) No appliance, other than approvedappliances, shall be used in the premisessituated in the air pollution control area.

(iv) Burning of any materials (not being fuel)which may cause or likely to cause air pollutionin the air pollution control area is prohibited bynotification in the Official Gazette.

3. Functions Of State Board:

(i) The functions of State Board shall be:-

a) to plan a comprehensive programme for theprevention, control or abatement of air pollutionand to secure execution thereof;

b) to advise the State Government on anymatter concerning the prevention, control orabatement of air pollution;

c) to collect and disseminate information

relating to air pollution;

d) to collaborate with the Central Board inorganizing the training of persons engaged or tobe engaged in programmes relating toprevention, control or abatement of air pollutionand to organize mass education programmesrelating thereto;

e) to inspect at all reasonable times, anyequipment, industrial plant or manufacturingprocess and to give by order, such directions tosuch persons, as it may consider necessary,steps for the prevention, control or abatement ofair pollution;

f) to inspect air pollution control areas at suchintervals as it may think necessary, assess thequality of air therein and take steps for theprevention, control or abatement of air pollutionin such areas;

g) lay down, in consultation with the CentralBoard and having regard to the quality of air laiddown by the Central Board, standards foremission of air pollutants into the atmospherefrom the industrial plants and automobiles or forthe discharge of any air pollutant into theatmosphere from any other source whatsoeverbeing a ship or an air craft.

h) to advise the state government with respectto the suitability of any premises or location forcarrying on any industry which is likely to causeair pollution.

i) to do such other things and to perform suchother acts as it may think necessary for theproper discharge of its function and generally forthe purpose of carrying into effect the purposesof this act.

(ii) A State Board may establish or recognize a

a laboratory or laboratories to enable the StateBoard to perform its functions under this sectionefficiently.

4. Restriction on use of any certain industrialplants:

(i) No person shall, without the previous con-sent of the State Board, establish or operate anyindustrial plant in an air pollution control area.

(ii) Every person to whom consent has beengranted by the State Board, shall comply withthe conditions that the control equipment andchimney if required shall be installed and oper-ated in the premises where the industries is lo-cated and it should be kept at all times in goodrunning conditions.

5. Prohibition: _

No person operating any industrial plant in anyair pollution control area shall discharge orcause or permit to be discharged the emission ofany air pollutant in excess of the standards laiddown by the State Board.

6. Power of Entry and Inspection:

Any person empowered I:>ythe state board inthis behalf shall have the right to enter at all rea-sonable times with such assistance as he con-siders necessary for inspection purposes.

7. Power to give Directions:

A Board, in exercise of its powers and perfor-mance of its functions under this Act, has thepower to give directions in writing to any person,officer or authority. This section includes thepower to direct (a) the closure, prohibition orregulation of any industry, operation or process(b) the stoppage or regulation of supply of elec-tricity, water or other service.

"Prevent air po({ution,protect nature, "

ISSUED BYMEGHALAYA STATE POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD"ARDEN" Lumpyngngad. Shillong-793014.Telefax: 0364-2521217Email:megspcb@rediffmail.comWebsite:www.megspcb.gov.in