ENVIRONMENTAL

PROTECTION STRATEGIES
INITIATED IN INDIA
PRESENTED BY
ANNA ALBERT
ROLL NO-12
INTRODUCTION.
• The molestation of environment as it has been elsewhere is quite
apparent in India too. The major environmental concerns are air
pollution resulting from industrial development , pollution from
domestic effluents , soil erosion , deforestation , desertification and loss
of wildlife because of imprudent and unplanned use of land and
resources, ugly landscapes, urban sprawl and city slums resulting from a
burgeoning population. The protection of environment presents a most
fundamental challenge to the nation's desire to industrialize faster , to be
self- sufficient in food, and to be capable of fulfilling certain basic needs
of the growing population.
NATIONAL GREEN
TRIBUNALS(NGT)
• During the Rio Dio Janerio summit of United Nations
Conference on Environment and Development in June
1992, India vowed the participating nations to provide
judicial and st administrative remedies for the victims of the
pollutants and other environmental damage. As a follow-up,
India established the National Green Tribunal (NGT), under
an Act passed by the Parliament on 18.10.2010.

• This court can rightly be called a 'special' because India is

the third country following Australia and New Zealand to
have such a system. Justice Lokeshwar Singh, Panta became
its first Chirman. Currently it is chaired by Justice Adash
Kumar Goel.
• The sanctioned strength of the tribunal is currently 10 expert members and 10 judicial
members, although National Tribunal Act, 2010 allows for upto 20 each. The Chairman
of the tribunal is the administrative head of the tribunal who also serves as the judicial
member. Each bench of the tribunal must consist of atleast one expert member and one
judicial member. National Green Tribunal (NGT) has its headquarters located at New
Delhi. Bhopal, Kolkata, Pune and Chennai are the other four places, from where the zonal
branches of the tribunal function. The Southern Branch of National Green Tribunal, the
first permanent Zonal Branch became operational on 30.10.2012 with Justice M.
Chokalingam as judicial member and Mr. R. Nagendran as expert member. It is presently
located at Kalas Mahal, Kamarajar Salai, PWD Estate, Triplicane, Chennai - 600 005
• It is a specialized body equipped with the necessary
expertise to handle environmental disputes involving multi-
disciplinary issues.

• The Tribunal’s dedicated jurisdiction in environmental

matters shall provide speedy environmental justice and
help to reduce the burden of litigation in the higher courts.
The Tribunal is mandated to make and endeavor for
disposal of applications or appeals finally within 6 months
of filing of the same.

• The National Green Tribunal is India’s first dedicated

environmental court with a wide jurisdiction to deal with
not only violations of environmental laws, but also to
provide for compensation, relief and restoration of the
ecology in accordance with the ‘Polluter Pays’ principle
and powers to enforce the ‘precautionary principle’.
• In the year that the National Green Tribunal has functioned, it has delivered a number of
significant judgments on range of issues from across the country. This Tribunal is therefore an
important step in the access to justice on matters concerning the environment and its mandate is
much wider than earlier environmental courts and authorities and other such courts.

• Reaffirming February 27, 2012, Supreme Court's order banning any kind of mining of minor
minerals, including sand, without environmental clearance from the Union Ministry of
Environment and Forests, the NGT on 5 August 2013 issued a restraint order against all sand
mining activity being carried out across the country without environmental clearance. The bench
comprising justices said that removal of minerals from river beds is posing a serious threat to the
flow of rivers, survival of forests upon river banks and most seriously to the environment of
riverbanks, especially those of the Yamuna, Ganga, Chambul Gaumti and Revati rivers.
• The NGT bench also observed that "majority of persons carrying out mining activity of

removing mineral from the river bed have no licence to extract sand, they also have not

obtained clearance from Ministry of Environment and Forest of the State Environment

Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) at any stage in terms of the Environment

(Protection) Act 1986 (EP Act, 1986) as well as Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution)

Act 1981 and Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974. While the bench

initially restrained illegal sand mining on the beds and banks of rivers Yamuna, Ganga,

Hindon, Chambal, Gomti, amongst others, but later modified its order saying the issue of

illegally removing sand has nationwide implicat

•
On August 14, 2013, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) decided to set up an expert committee on
sand mining to carry out any orders that it may pass in future and to prepare a comprehensive report
on the issue. The committee will also carry out a comprehensive zoning and mapping to delineate
areas where mining could be permitted. The tribunal specifically banned beach sand mining in the
coastal States citing specific instances of State of Tamil Nadu where 2,30,000 tonnes beach sand
mineral has been quarried in Vaippar village without permission of any Government Authority and
State of Kerala. The National Green Tribunal has issued a notice to the Ministry of Environment and
Forest and Ministry of Water Resources regarding immersions of idols in rivers and water bodies of
the country
 Central and State
Pollution Control Board
• Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) of India is a statutory
organisation under the Ministry of Environment and Forests
(MoEF). It was established in 1974 under Water (Prevention
and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. CPCB is also entrusted
with the powers and functions under the Air (Prevention and
Control of Pollution)act1981.

• It serves as a field formation and also provides technical

services to the Ministry of Environment and Forests of the
provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. It co-
ordinate the activities of the State Boards by providing
technical assistance guidance and resolve disputes among them.
• Tamil Nadu pollution Control Board is
the governing body to monitor and
control air, noise and water pollution
in Tamil Nadu.
• Tamil Nadu pollution Board (TNPCB)
established in 1982,functions with the
head office at Chennai
 Functions of State Pollution Control
Board
1. To advice the Central Government, in any matter concerning the prevention, control or
abatement of air/water pollution.

2. To advice the State Government, on any matter to plan and the cause to be executed by
a nationwide programme for the prevention, control or abatement of air/water pollution.

3. To collect information related to water/air pollution and to encourage, conduct and

participate in investigations and research relating to the above problems

4. To plan a comprehensive programme through mass media for prevention, control or

abatement of air/water pollution.

5. To inspect sewage or trade effluents, treatment plants should be constructe

6. The result of effluent discharged into water bodies should be checked or based
on this the water should be classified.

7. To evolve economical and reliable methods of effluents of sewage and trade

effluents.

8. To evolve methods of utilization of sewage and suitable trade effluents in

agriculture.

9. To evolve efficient methods of disposal of sewage and trade effluents on land .

10. To lay down standards for treatment of sewage and trade effluents to be
discharged into any particular stream
Functions of Central Pollution Control Board
1. The main functions of the Central Board shall be to promote the cleanliness and improve the quality
of the air/water in streams and wells and also to control air/water pollution in the country.

2. Advice the Central Government, on any matter concerning the improvement of the quality and
water.

3. Plan and cause to be executed by a nation-wide programme through mass media for the prevention,
control or abatement of air/water pollution.

4. Provide technical assistance and guidance to the state boards to carry out and sponsor investigations
and research relating to problems of air pollution/water pollution and its control and abatement.
5. Plan to organize the training of persons engaged or to be engaged in
programmes for prevention, control and abatement of air pollution on
such terms and conditions as the central board may specify.

6. Organize through mass media a comprehensive programme towards

prevention and control of pollution.

7. Collect, compile and publish technical and statistical data relating to air
/ water pollution and the measures devised for its effective prevention,
control abatement. Prepare manuals related to the control of pollution
Conclusion
• Some suggestions that can be made towards protection of environment could be made in the
following areas where NGOs who could play an effective role with the assistance of the
governmental agencies for achieving the ultimate goal of healthy and delightful environments.

• Educate the students about the pollution problem and the harmful bill effects of pollution.

• Minimizing the use of plastic for different purposes.

• Buy only environmental friendly products i.e. the products which do not reduce the natural
resources.

• Not to waste water for purposes

• To plant and grow more trees in the house garden

• To support the NGOs financially which are rendering service to the

health and environment sectors.

• To motivate research on different measures to be taken to solve the

environmental problems.

• To support the initiatives taken by central and state government in

protecting our environment.