Environment Protection Act of 1986
This act was adopted under Article 253 (Law in force for international agreements). This was adopted after the Bhopal gas tragedy in December 1984. It was issued in response to the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment,1972 – Stockholm Declaration. Ecologically sensitive areas or environmentally sensitive areas had been notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) under EPA, 1986 – 10 km buffer zones around protected areas.
Statutory agencies under EPA, 1986:
- National Coastal Zone Management Authority (later transformed into National Ganga Council under Jal Shakti Ministry)
- Genetic Engineering Review Committee
Environmental Laws in India
Environment laws in India mainly focus on the management and preservation of natural resources. Consequently, several environmental legal principles are enforced to save the environment from exploitation. The emphasis is mainly laid on forests, minerals, and fisheries. The implementation of environmental laws in India is directly associated with the Indian constitution. The framework of environmental laws is mainly enacted for the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. Not only the laws but India’s international commitment also look after this fact to protect the environment as much as possible. Some of the significant environmental laws are portrayed below with detailed explanations.
The Environmental laws of India not only attempt to safeguard the environment from the crisis situation but also serve as an important reminder of who and how is allowed to use the natural resources and under what circumstances. Under the Environmental Protection Act of 1986, water, air, and land serve interpersonal relationships which occur among them as well as humans along with plants, microorganisms, and property, which is referred to as Environment.
Environmental Laws in India