The Ministry of Environment Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) is the Nodal Agency in the Central Government for overseeing the implementation of India’s environmental and forest policies and programmes related to the country’s natural resources including lakes and rivers, its biodiversity, Coastal Regulatory Zone Forest and wildlife, ensuring welfare of animals and prevention and abatement of pollution.
While implementing these policies and programmes, the Ministry is guided by the principle of sustainability promoting sustainable development.
The objectives of the Ministry are well supported by a set of legislative and regulatory measures, aimed at the preservation, conservation and protection of the environment and prevention, control and abatement of pollution.
Several Acts have been enacted and Rules have been framed thereunder for the protection of the environment while also allowing the developmental activities in regulated manner.
The Government through act of parliament has enacted the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 for prevention and control of water pollution for protection of environment, Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region (NCR) and Adjoining Areas Act, 2021 for regulating air quality, prevention, control and protection of environment in (NCR) and Adjoining Areas.
Under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (EPA) several rules have also been framed to manage and regulate different kind of wastes and to maintain a balance between development and environment such as
Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986 (Amended in 2023)
Manufacturing, Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemical Rules, 1989 (Amended in 2022)
Plastic Waste (Management) Rules, 2016 (Amended in 2022)
E-Waste (Management) Rules,2016 (Amended in 2023)
Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016.
Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules, 2016
Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016(Amended in 2023)
Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016
Wetlands (Conservation & Management) Rules, 2017
Further, the waste management rules also promote circular economy and resource efficiency and effective and efficient management of waste streams in a sustainable and environmentally sound manner.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has been established on 18.10.2010 for effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources including enforcement of any legal right relating to the environment and giving relief and compensation for damages to persons and property and for matters connected there with or incidental thereto.
