AIR POLLUTION

And its Control Measures

OBJECTIVES OF THE ACT
 The Act is designed to prevent and control
Air Pollution.

 It is applicable all over India.

 The act gives power to the boards for

ensuring prevention of air pollution.
AIR POLLUTANT
 “Air pollutant” means any solid, liquid or
gaseous substance including noise present in
the atmosphere in such concentration as may
be or tend to be injurious to human beings or
other living creatures or plants or property or
environment.
APPROVED APPLIANCES
 “Approved appliance” means any
equipment or gadget used for the burning of
any combustible material or for generating or
consuming any fume, gas or particulate
matter and approved by State Board for the
purpose of this Act.
CONTROL EQUIPMENT
 “Control equipment” means any apparatus,
device, equipment or system to control the
quality and manner of emission of any air
pollutant and includes any device used for
securing the efficient operation of any
industrial plant.
EMISSIONS

 “Emission” means any solid or liquid or

gaseous substance coming out of any
chimney, duct or flue or any other outlet.
BOARD

 “Board” means the Central Board or a State

Board.
 BODIES CONSTITUTED TO ENFORCE
THE ACT
 Central Pollution Control Board constituted under
section 3 of the Water (Prevention and control of
Pollution) Act, 1974 was authorized to exercise the
powers and performs the functions for the prevention
and control of air pollution.

 StatePollution Control Boards constituted under

section 4 of the Water (Prevention and control of
Pollution) Act, 1974 was authorized to exercise the
powers and performs the functions for the prevention
and control of air pollution.
FUNCTIONS OF THE CENTRAL BOARD
 Themain functions of the Central Board is to
improve the quality of air and to prevent, control or
abate air pollution in the country

 Advice the Central Government on any matter

concerning the improvement of the quality of air
and the prevention, control or abatement of air
pollution.

 Lay down standards for the quality of air.

 Provide technical assistance and guidance to the
State Board, carry out and sponsor investigations
and research relating to problems of air pollution
and prevention, control or abatement of air
pollution.

 Collectand disseminate information in respect of

matters relating to air pollution.
 FUNCTIONS OF THE STATE BOARD
 Plan a comprehensive program for the prevention,
control or abatement of air pollution and secure the
execution thereof,
 Collect and disseminate information relating to air
pollution;
 Inspect, at all reasonable times, any control equipment,
industrial plant, or manufacturing process and to give,
by order, such directions to such persons as it may
consider necessary to take steps for the prevention,
control or abatement of air pollution;
 Advice the State Government with respect to the
suitability of any premises or location for carrying on
any industry which is likely to cause air pollution;
 To lay down, (in consultation with the Central Board and
having regard to the standards, for the quality of air laid down
by the Central Board), standards for emission of air
pollutants into the atmosphere from Industrial plants
and automobiles or for the discharge of any air
pollutant into the atmosphere from any other source
whatsoever not being a ship or an aircraft;
 Toperform such other functions as may be
prescribed or as may, from time to time, be
entrusted to it by the Central Board or the
State Government.
 AIR (PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF
POLLUTION) ACT, 1981
 To counter the problem of air pollution, ambient air
quality standards were established, under the Air Act
(1981).
 The Act provides means for the control and abatement
of air pollution.
 The Act seeks to combat air pollution by prohibiting
the use of polluting fuels and substances, as well as by
regulating appliances that give rise to air pollution.
 National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for
major pollutants were notified by the CPCB in April
1994.
 These are deemed to be levels of air quality necessary
with an adequate margin of safety, to protect public
health, vegetation and property.
 To empower the Central and State Pollution Boards to
meet grave emergencies, the Air Amendment Act,
1987, was enacted.
 MANAGEMENT OF AIR POLLUTION
 The poor air quality specially of urban India shows a
dismal picture.
 Legislation to deal with the problem came only as
reactions to serious episodes of accidental industrial
gas leaks like the Bhopal disaster.
 No industrial pollution causing activity could come up
without the permission of the concerned state pollution
Control Board.
 But this act was not strong enough to play either a
precautionary or a corrective role.
 Afterthe Bhopal disaster, a more comprehensive
Environment Protection Act (EPA) was passed tin
1986.

 EPA (1986) is an umbrella legislation designed to

provide a framework for the Central Government to
coordinate activities of various central and state
authorities established under previous laws such as
Water Act and Air Act.
 REGULATION OF VEHICULAR
POLLUTION
 The Central Motor Vehicles Act of 1939 was amended
in 1989 to regulate vehicular emissions.
 Since 1991, parameters such as cold and warm start
emissions and urban driving cycle for laboratory
testing of vehicular emission, have been modified to
reduce the severity of emission standards.
EMISSION NORMS – 2000 AND 2005
 India
in 2000 enforced the Euro I standards which
Europe had enforced way back in 1992-93 and Euro II
standards in 2001.