Objective and Functions of Water Prevention control of pollution Act, 1974

Objectives and functions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. 

The problem of water pollution assumes special significance in a developing country like India. The major legislation in India to deal with this problem is the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act passed in 1974 by the Parliament.

Objectives of the Water (Prevention and Control) of Pollution Act. The Act is designed to achieve the objectives as follows:

1. to provide for the prevention and control of water pollution and the maintaining or restoring of wholesomeness of water (in the stream or well or sewer or land).

2. to establish Central and State Boards for the prevention and control of water pollution.

3. for conferring and assigning to such Boards, powers and functions relating thereto and for material connected therewith. 4. to provide penalties for contravention of the provision of the Act,

and

5. to establish Central and State Water Testing laboratories to enable the Board to assess the extent of pollution lay down standards and establish guilt or default.

Functions of the Act

The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 consists of 64 Sections spread over 8 Chapters.

Chapter I contains 2 Sections Section 2 deals with definition of certain terms such as occupier, 'outlet', 'pollution', 'sewage effluent', 'stream', 'trade effluent' etc.

Chapter II consists of 10 Sections (Section 3 to Section 12). It deals with constitution of Central Board and State Boards and their functions.

Chapter III contains 3 Sections-Sections 13, 14 and 15, dealing with constitution of Joint Boards and their powers and functions.

Chapter IV relates to functions of the Central and State Water Pollution Boards (Sections 16, 17 and 18).

Chapter V (Section 19 to Section 33-A) deals with prevention and control of water pollution.

Chapter VI (Section 34 to Section 40) deals with financial matters of different Boards.

Chapter VII (Sections 41 to 50) deals with various offences and penalties provided under the Act.

The last Chapter i.e. Chapter IX (Sections 51 to 64) deals with miscellaneous provisions)