The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981
The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981
The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, is a critical nationwide law in India designed to prevent, control, and reduce air pollution. It regulates harmful emissions from industrial plants and automobiles, even including noise pollution, to protect human health and the natural environment. The Act applies to everyone, specifically requiring factories to obtain official consent from State Boards before operating in designated control areas. It matters because it empowers pollution boards to set air quality standards and punish violators with heavy fines or imprisonment, ensuring a cleaner and healthier environment for the benefit of the general public.
Chapter I PRELIMINARY →
Chapter II CENTRAL AND STATE BOARDS FOR THE PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF AIR POLLUTION →
- 3Central Pollution Control Board
- 4State Pollution Control Boards constituted under section 4 of Act 6 of 1974 to be State Boards under this Act
- 6Central Board to exercise the powers and perform the functions of a State Board in the Union territories
- 7Terms and conditions of service of members
- 8Disqualifications
- 9Vacation of seats by members
- 10Meetings of Board
- 12Temporary association of persons with Board for particular purpose
- 13Vacancy in Board not to invalidate acts or proceedings
- 14Member-secretary and officers and other employees of State Boards
- 15Delegation of powers
Chapter III POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF BOARDS →
Chapter IV PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF AIR POLLUTION →
- 19Power to declare air pollution control areas
- 20Power to give instructions for ensuring standards for emission from automobiles
- 21Restrictions on use of certain industrial plants
- 21APower to issue guidelines
- 22Persons carrying on industry, etc., not to allow emission of air pollutants in excess of the standard laid down by State Board
- 22APower of Board to make application to court for restraining person from causing air pollution
- 23Furnishing of information to State Board and other agencies in certain cases
- 24Power of entry and inspection
- 25Power to obtain information
- 26Power to take samples of air or emission and procedure to be followed in connection therewith
- 27Reports of the result of analysis on samples taken under section 26
- 28State Air Laboratory
- 29Analysts
- 30Reports of analysts
- 31Appeals
- 31APower to give directions
- 31BAppeal to National Green Tribunal
Chapter V FUND, ACCOUNTS AND AUDIT →
Chapter VI PENALTIES AND PROCEDURE →
- 37Failure to comply with provisions of section 22 or directions issued under section 31A
- 38Penalties for certain acts
- 38APenalty for contravention by Government Department
- 39Penalties for contravention of certain provisions of this Act
- 39AAdjudicating officer
- 39BAppeal
- 39CPenalty amount to be credited to Environmental Protection Fund
- 39DOffences for failure to comply with provisions of section 21 and for failure to pay penalty
- 42Protection of action taken in good faith
- 43Cognizance of offences
- 44Members, officers and employees of Board to be public servants
- 45Reports and returns
- 46Bar of jurisdiction
Chapter VII MISCELLANEOUS →
- 47Power of State Government to supersede State Board
- 48Special provision in the case of supersession of the Central Board or the State Boards constituted under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974
- 49Dissolution of State Boards constituted under the Act
- 51Maintenance of register
- 52Effect of other laws
- 53Power of Central Government to make rules
- 54Power of State Government to make rules
PDF: pending for this language.