Bare Act
The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 issued by Mo EF GOI
The Environment Protection Act of 1986 is India's primary legislation safeguarding air, water, and land quality. It regulates the discharge of environmental pollutants, the location of industrial operations, and the safety procedures for handling hazardous substances. The law applies to the entire country, including all citizens, businesses, factories, and government departments. It matters because it empowers the central government to set strict national standards, conduct inspections, shut down polluting facilities, and impose heavy financial penalties on violators. Ultimately, this crucial act protects public health and ecosystems by establishing a unified framework that prioritizes environmental safety over other conflicting legal regulations.
- 1. Short title, extent and commencement.
- 2. Official Gazette, appoint and different dates may be appointed for different provisions of this Act and for different areas.
- 3. Power of Central Government to take measures to protect and improve environment.
- 4. Appointment of officers and their powers and functions.
- 5. Power to give directions.
- 6. Rules to regulate environmental pollution.
- 7. Persons carrying on industry, operations, etc., not to allow emission or discharge of environmental pollutants in excess of the standards.
- 8. Persons handling hazardous substances to comply with procedural safeguards.
- 9. Furnishing of information to authorities and agencies in certain cases.
- 10. Powers of entry and inspection.
- 11. Power to take sample and procedure to be followed in connection therewith.
- 12. Analyst appointed or recognised under section 13 in writing, about the wilful absence of the occupier or his agent or person, or, as the case may be, his refusal to sign the container or containers.
- 13. Government Analysts.
- 14. Government Analysts for the purpose of analysis of samples of air, water, soil or other substance sent for analysis to any environmental laboratory established or recognised under sub-section (1) of section 12.
- 15. Any document purporting to be a report signed by a Government Analyst may be used as evidence of the facts stated therein in any proceeding under this Act.
- 16. Environmental Protection Fund.
- 17. State Governments or Union territory administrations, which has been credited to the Fund.
- 18. Protection of action taken in good faith.
- 19. Cognizance of offences.
- 20. Information, reports or returns.
- 21. Members, officers and employees of the authority constituted under Section 3 to be public servants.
- 22. Bar of jurisdiction.
- 23. Power to delegate.
- 24. Effect of other laws.
- 25. Power to make rules.
- 26. Rules made under this Act to be laid before Parliament.
PDF: pending for this language.