With the implementation of environmental laws, the Government of India aims to protect and improve the environment as well as to safeguard the forests and wildlife. These involve entrusting citizens the duty to protect the natural surroundings including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife. The panchayats and municipalities have been given rights to implement the same.
The first codified law in India came into place way back in 1873 during British rule in India. In 1873, the Madras Wild Elephant Preservation Act was laid, which was followed by the All India Elephant Preservation Act, 1879, and the Birds Protection Act, 1887. These Acts and their success led to successive laws to preserve natural habitats and the different ecosystems of India. These laws included:
1. Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974:
This Act was enacted to make it easier to prevent and control water pollution. It required maintaining and restoring the water bodies. Pollution Control Boards were set up at the State and Central levels that had the power and functions that enabled water pollution control and prevention.
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These boards were meant to:
i. Promote cleanliness of streams and wells in different areas.
ii. Provide technical assistance for problems relating to water pollution.
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iii. Inspect sewage emanating from industries and review plans for treatment of water.
iv. Lay down and modify standards of effluents allowed and quality of water received.
v. evolve methods to use sewage and suitable effluents in agriculture.
vi. undertake public awareness programs.
2. Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981:
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This Act was meant to enable prevention, control and abatement of air pollution. This act aimed at taking appropriate steps for the preservation of natural resources of the Earth, including the quality of air and control of air pollution. The functions of the
3. Environment (Protection) Act, 1986:
The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 was meant for the protection and improvement of the environment, to take appropriate steps for the protection and improvement of human environment and for the prevention of hazards to human beings, other living creatures, plants and property. This Act was a set of comprehensive legislations to regulate human activities that were harming the environment.
This Act involved rules such as:
i. Planning nationwide programmes for the prevention, control and abatement of pollution.
ii. Laying down standards to maintain quality of the environment and for emission or discharge of environmental pollutants.
iii. Taking measures to prevent accidents that cause environmental pollution.
iv. Restricting areas for industrial or other such use.
v. Examining materials in manufacturing processes so that they cause minimum pollution.
vi. Inspecting premises, plants, equipment and machinery from time to time.
4. Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980:
This act was laid for the conservation of forests and ancillary subjects. The primary object of this Act was restriction on the de-reservation of forests or use of forest land for non-forest purpose. This Act was amended in 1988.
This Act stated that no authority can pass laws allowing that any reserved forest will cease to be reserved; that any forest land may be used for any non-forest purpose; or that any forest land can be leased to a private person or organization not managed by the Government; or that any forest land can be cleared of trees that have grown naturally in that land for reafforestation. Going against the provisions of this Act is termed a punishable act.
5. Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972:
The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 was meant for the protection of wild animals, birds as well as plants. This Act enabled protection by the formation of sanctuaries and national parks as well as closed areas.
This Act also took measures to harmonise the needs of tribals and other forest dwellers. This Act enabled the following rules:
i. It prohibited hunting of wild animals.
ii. It prohibited picking and uprooting of specified plants.
iii. It prohibited cultivation and dealing of specified plants without licence.
iv. Anyone dealing or cultivating these plants was required to declare his stock.
v. State governments could convert reserved forests or territorial waters into sanctuaries if it meant better preservation of the ecological and its living organisms.
vi. They could convert sanctuaries into national parks.
vii. They could declare closed areas to prevent hunting of wild animals.