Environment Protection Act 1986

Background:
In the wake of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy, the Government of India enacted the Environment (Protection) Act 1986 under Article 253 of the Constitution. The purpose of the Act is to implement the decisions of the UN Conference on Human Environment of 1972. The Act is an umbrella legislation designed to provide a framework for Central Government coordination of the activities of various Central and State authorities established under previous laws such as the Water Act and the Air Act.

Definitions:
Meaning of different words used under this Act are-

(a) "environment" includes water, air and land and the inter- relationship which exists among and between water, air and land, and human beings, other living creatures, plants, micro-organism and property;

(b) "environmental pollutant" means any solid, liquid or gaseous substance present in such concentration as may be, or tend to be, injurious to environment;

(c) "environmental pollution" means the presence in the environment of any environmental pollutant;

(d) "handling", in relation to any substance, means the manufacture, processing, treatment, package, storage, transportation, use, collection, destruction, conversion, offering for sale, transfer or the like of such substance;

(e) "hazardous substance" means any substance or preparation which, by reason of its chemical or physico-chemical properties or handling, is liable to cause harm to human beings, other living creatures, plant, micro-organism, property or the environment;

(f) "occupier", in relation to any factory or premises, means a person who has, control over the affairs of the factory or the premises and includes in relation to any substance, the person in possession of the substance;

(g) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act.