Consider the following Acts and Policy: (1) Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act (2) Water Cess Act (3) The National Water Policy (4) Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act
With reference to the Acts and Policy mentioned above, in terms of their starting year, which one of the following is the correct ascending order?
Show Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: (A)
Explanation:
The correct chronological order (starting year) of these environmental legislations is:
- (1) Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act: 1974
- (2) Water Cess Act: 1977
- (4) Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act: 1981
- (3) The National Water Policy: 1987 (First policy)
Therefore, the correct ascending order is (1), (2), (4), (3).
📚 Additional Info: Key Environmental Legislations
1. Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974
- Purpose: This was the first major act in India aimed at preventing and controlling water pollution.
- Key Provision: It established the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs).
- Power: Gave powers to CPCB and SPCBs to set standards for effluent discharge and monitor industries.
2. Water (Prevention andControl of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977
- Purpose: Enacted to raise financial resources for the CPCB and SPCBs.
- Mechanism: It imposes a “cess” (a tax for a specific purpose) on water consumed by industries and local authorities.
- Incentive: The act provides a rebate on the cess if an industry installs and properly maintains a treatment plant that meets the prescribed standards.
3. Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981
- Purpose: To control and prevent air pollution.
- Context: Framed after the 1972 UN Conference on the Human Environment (Stockholm Conference).
- Key Provision: It designated the CPCB and SPCBs (already set up by the Water Act) as the agencies to implement this act as well.
- 1987 Amendment: A crucial amendment was made in 1987 to include “Noise” as an air pollutant.
4. The National Water Policy
- First Policy: 1987.
- Subsequent Policies: It was reviewed and updated in 2002 and again in 2012.
- Purpose: It provides a framework and guiding principles for water resource management, planning, and development.
- NWP 2012: The latest policy (2012) emphasizes water as a finite resource, promotes integrated water resource management (IWRM), and prioritizes water for drinking and sanitation.