Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
(1) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make rules in respect of all or any of the matters referred to in section 3. (2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:-- (a) the standards of quality of air, water or soil for various areas and purposes;3 (b) the maximum allowable limits of concentration of various environmental pollutants (including noise) for different areas; 1 The Central Government has delegated the powers vested in it under section 5 of the Act to the State Governments of Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Orissa, Rajasthan, Sikkim and Tamil Nadu subject to the condition that the Central Government may revoke such delegation of Powers in respect of all or any one or more of the State Governments or may itself invoke the provisions of section 5 of the Act, if in the opinion of the Central Government such a course of action is necessary in public interest, (Notification No, S.O. 152 (E) dated 10-2-88 published in Gazette No. 54 of the same date). These Powers have been delegated to the following State Governments also on the same terms: Meghalaya, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh vide Notification No. S.0.389 (E) dated 14-4-88 published in the Gazette No. 205 dated 14-4-88; Maharashtra vide Notification No. S.O. 488(E) dated 17-5-88 published in the Gazette No. 255 dated 17-5-88; Goa and Jammu & Kashmir vide Notification No. S.O. 881 (E) dated 22-9-88; published in the Gazette No. 749 dated 22.9.88 West Bengal Manipur vide Notification N. S.O. 408 (E) dated 6-6-89; published in the Gazette No. 319 dated 6-6-89; Tripura vide Notification No. S.O. 479 (E) dated 25-7-91 published in the Gazette No. 414 dated 25-7-91. 2 For issuing directions see r.4 of Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986. 3 See r. 3 of Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986 and Schedules thereto. i. Schedule I lists the standards for emission or discharge of environmental pollutants from the industries, processes or operations and their maximum allowable limits of concentration; ii. Schedule II lists general standards for discharge of effluents and their maximum limits of concentration allowable (Schedule II omitted by G.S.R.801(E), dated 31.12.1993.) iii. Schedule III lists ambient air quality standards in respect of noise and its maximum allowable limits; and iv. Schedule IV lists standards for emission of smoke, vapour etc. from motor vehicles and maximum allowable limits of their emission. v. Schedule V – furnishing of information to authorities and agencies. Schedule II re-numbered as Schedule V vide G.S.R.422(E), dated 19.5.1993. vi. Schedule VI – inserted vide GSR422(E), dated 19.5.1993 for General Standards for discharge of Environmental Pollutants, vii. Schedule VII – inserted vide GSR176 (E), dated 2.4.1996.for National Ambient Air Quality Standards, Act 29 of 1986 The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 272 (c) the procedures and safeguards for the handling of hazardous substances;1 (d) the prohibition and restrictions on the handling of hazardous substances in different areas;2 (e) the prohibition and restriction on the location of industries and the carrying on process and operations in different areas;3 (f) the procedures and safeguards for the prevention of accidents which may cause environmental pollution and for providing for remedial measures for such accidents.4