Vidhi Codex

Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981

The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 issued by Mo EF GOI

Environmental198155 sections

The Air Act of 1981 regulates air pollution and harmful emissions across India, covering pollutants like gases, chemicals, and noise. It applies to all individuals, motor vehicle owners, and particularly industrial operators, who must obtain official government consent to establish or run plants in specified control areas. This law matters because it empowers central and state pollution boards to set air quality standards, inspect industrial sites, and ban polluting fuels. By imposing strict penalties including heavy fines and jail time for violations, the legislation works to control environmental degradation, safeguarding public health, wildlife, vegetation, and property from toxic air pollution.

Start reading →Read full ActSections
  1. 1. Short title, extent and commencement.
  2. 2. Definitions.
  3. 3. Pollution constituted by the State Government under section 5 of this Act.
  4. 4. State Pollution Control Boards constituted under section 4 of Act 6 of 1974 to be State Boards under this Act.
  5. 5. Constitution of State Boards.
  6. 6. Central Board to exercise the powers and perform the functions of a State Board in the Union territories.
  7. 7. Terms and conditions of service of members.
  8. 8. Disqualifications.
  9. 9. Vacation of seats by members.
  10. 10. Meetings of Board.
  11. 11. Constitution of committees.
  12. 12. Temporary association of persons with Board for particular purpose.
  13. 13. Vacancy in Board not to invalidate acts or proceedings.
  14. 14. Member-secretary and officers and other employees of State Boards.
  15. 15. Delegation of powers.
  16. 16. Functions of Central Board.
  17. 17. Act.
  18. 18. Power to give directions.
  19. 19. Power to declare air pollution control areas.
  20. 20. Power to give instructions for ensuring standards for emission from automobiles.
  21. 21. Restrictions on use of certain industrial plants.
  22. 22. Persons carrying on industry, etc., not to allow emission of air pollutants in excess of the standard laid down by State Board.
  23. 22A. Power of Board to make application to court for restraining persons from causing air pollution.
  24. 23. Furnishing of information to State Board and other agencies in certain cases.
  25. 24. Power of entry and inspection.
  26. 25. Power to obtain information.
  27. 26. Power to take samples of air or emission and procedure to be followed in connection therewith.
  28. 27. Reports of the result of analysis on samples taken under section 26.
  29. 28. State Air Laboratory.
  30. 29. Analysis.
  31. 30. Reports of analysis.
  32. 31. Appeals.
  33. 31A. Power to give directions.
  34. 32. Contribution by Central Government.
  35. 33. Fund of Board.
  36. 33A. Borrowing powers of Board.
  37. 34. Budget.
  38. 35. Annual report.
  39. 36. Legislature within a period of nine months from the last date of the previous financial year.
  40. 37. Failure to comply with the provisions of section 21 or section 22 or with the directions issued under section 31A.
  41. 38. Penalties for certain acts.
  42. 39. Penalty for contravention of certain provisions of this Act.
  43. 41. Offences by Government Departments.
  44. 42. Protection of action taken in good faith.
  45. 43. Cognizance of offences.
  46. 44. Members, officers and employees of Board to be public servants.
  47. 45. Reports and returns.
  48. 46. Bar of jurisdiction.
  49. 47. Power of State Government to supersede State Board.
  50. 48. Special 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.
  51. 49. Dissolution of State Boards constituted under the Act.
  52. 51. Maintenance of register.
  53. 52. Effect of other laws.
  54. 53. Power of Central Government to make rules.
  55. 54. Power of State Government to make rules.

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