Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act: Explanation

One of the main causes for the increase in pollution is the growth of the human population. An increase in population increases the need for resources resulting in an increase in pollution. The reason for air pollution is emissions caused by the modern things used by humans such as Garbage waste, Industrial emissions, transportation, Microbial decaying, etc. All these factors lead to air pollution which in the long term causes major health diseases to both humans and animals.

Keyterms: Air, Pollution, Human population, Garbage waste, Industrial emissions, Transportation, Microbial decaying, Air pollution, Environment, Atmosphere, Cyclones, Earthquakes, Floods

Read Also: Air Pollution Control

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What is the Air Act, 1981?

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The Air Act 1981, also known as Prevention and Pollution Control Act, 1981 is a law passed by the parliament of India in the 32nd Year of the Republic of India. This law i.e the Air Act was passed to control and prevent the harmful effects caused by air pollution. The objective of this act is to prevent, control, and abate air pollution.

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What is the objective of The Air Act, 1981?

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This is “An Act to provide for the prevention, control, and abatement of air pollution, for the establishment, with a view of carrying out the aforesaid purposes, of Boards, for conferring on and assigning to such Boards powers and functions relating thereto and for matters connected therewith”.

Read Also: Water Pollution Control

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Why was the Act Passed?

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The decisions were to be taken at the United Nations Conference in Stockholm in June 1972, on the Human Environment, where India participated to take appropriate steps for the preservation of the natural resources of the earth which also include the control of air pollution and preservation of the quality of air.

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Definitions under The Air Act

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• “Air Pollutant'' means any solid, liquid, or gaseous substance including any 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.
• “Air Pollution” means the presence in the atmosphere of any air pollutant.
• “Approved Appliance” means any equipment or gadget used for the bringing of any combustible material or for generating or consuming any fume, gas, or particulate matter and approved by the State Board for this Act;
• “Approved Fuel” means any fuel approved by the State Board for this Act;
• “Automobile”: means any vehicle powered either by an internal combustion engine or by any method of generating power to drive such vehicle by burning fuel;
• “Board”: means the Central Board or a State Board;
• “Central pollution control Board”: means the Central Pollution Control Board constituted under section 3 of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 (6 of 1974);
• “Chimney”: includes any structure with an opening or outlet from or through which any air pollutant may be emitted;
• “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;
• “Emission”: means any solid or liquid or gaseous substance coming out of any chimney, duct or flue, or any other outlet;
• “Industrial Plant”: means any plant used for any industrial or trade purposes and emitting any air pollutant into the atmosphere;
• “Member”: means a member of the Central Board or a State Board, as the case may be, and includes the Chairman thereof;
• “Occupier”: means in relation to any factory or premises, means the person who has control over the affairs of the factory or the premises, and includes, concerning any substance, the person in possession of the substance;
• “Prescribed”: means prescribed by rules made under this Act by the Central Government or, as the case may be, the State Government;
• “State Board”: means,

1. in relation to a State in which the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 (6 of 1974), is in force and the State Government has constituted for that State a [State Pollution Control Board] under section 4 of that Act, the said State Board; and
2. In relation to any other State, the State Board for the Prevention and Control of Air Pollution is constituted by the State Government under section 5 of this Act.

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What are the causes of the pollution in Air?

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Artificial Causes

Pollution which is caused by man-made causes or because of the intervention of humans. This type of pollution is called artificial pollution or pollution by artificial causes. The main reasons for artificial pollution are:

• Population growth
• Industrialization

Examples

• Food Pollution,
• Radio-active pollution
• Soil Pollution/ Land Pollution,
• Sound Pollution/ Noise Pollution,
• Water Pollution, etc.

Natural Causes

Air pollution can also be caused by the events of nature such as Cyclones, Earthquakes, Floods. This type of pollution is called Natural pollution or pollution by Natural causes.

Examples

• Acid rains,
• Cyclones,
• Earthquakes
• Floods,
• Ozone depletion, etc.

Read Also: Environment (Protection) Act, 1986

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Effect of Air pollution on Humans

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Air pollution has an adverse effect on human health in both the short term and long term. It causes respiratory diseases such as respiratory infections, and affects the people who are already having any type of health infection. Not only humans, it also affects animals to a large extent. 

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Salient features of the Act

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The salient features of this act are:

• Section-3: Only The Central Pollution Control Boards and State Pollution Control Boards can exercise the powers without prejudice.
• Section 4: In the states where there is a Water Pollution Control Board already established, the same board will be given the joint responsibility of controlling and monitoring air pollution, and will be called the State Pollution Control Board.
• Section 5: In the states where no Water Pollution Control Board is established, a new Pollution Control Board will be set up for the responsibility of controlling and monitoring air pollution.
• Section 16: It describes the functions of the Central Pollution Control Board, which are:
  • Set the standards in India for Air Quality.
  • Research about air pollution.
  • Plan and organize the personnel training.
  • Spread awareness and information about air and air pollution.
  • Support and advise the State Boards in carrying out their functions.
  • Support and advise the Central government on matters related to air pollution.
• Section 17: It describes the functions of the State Pollution Control, which are:
  • Advise the State Government about the feasibility of conducting industrial activity concerning air pollution.
  • Carry out inspections at necessary intervals.
  • Plan and organize the personnel training in collaboration with the Central Board.
  • Support and advise the State Government on matters about air and air pollution.

Read More: Deforestation

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How do we control Air pollution?

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These are few among the best ways to control air pollution:

• Minimize the use of chemicals.
• Use only public transport whenever possible.
• Reduce the use of appliances that cause emissions.
• Use reusable and recyclable products.
• Avoid usage of smoke-emitting substances.
• Avoid burning wastage.
• Reduce forest fires.
• Stop deforestation.

Read More: Montreal Protocol

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Things to Remember

• The Air Act came into force in 1981 and was enacted by the Parliament of India in the 32nd Year of the Republic of India.
• The Air Act is also known as the Prevention and Control of Pollution Act.
• Air Pollutant means any solid, liquid, or gaseous substance including any 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.
• Air Pollution means the presence in the atmosphere of any air pollutant.
• Central pollution controlBoardmeans the Central Pollution Control Board constituted under section 3 of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 (6 of 1974).