There are no human rights without environmental rights. The Right to Life contained in Article 21 of the Constitution of India includes the right to clean and safe environment. The Ministry of Environment & Forests is the nodal agency responsible for planning and implementing India’s environmental and forestry policies and programmes Its functions include the conservation of the country’s natural resources and wildlife, and the prevention and abatement of pollution. It is the duty of the Ministry to ensure that development projects are not approved at the cost of environmental safety
Some of the important legislative provisions for environment protection are:
- The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981
- The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974
- The Environment Protection Act, 1986
- The Hazardous Waste Management Regulations
- The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972
- The Forest Conservation Act, 1980
- Coastal Regulation Zone Notification, 1991
Most environmental problems arise from the failure of the government to give higher priority to environmental issues. But protecting the environment is as much an individual’s responsibility as it is the governments’.
Did you know?
The National Green Tribunal was established in 2010 under the National Green Tribunal Act 2010 to work on the disposal of cases related to environmental protection, conservation of forests and other natural resources. It is a specialised forum for effective and speedy disposal of cases pertaining to environment. People can approach the tribunal against projects that affect the environment or seek compensation for damages caused to people or property due to violation of environmental laws.
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