Who are the authorities regulating water pollution under the law?

The main authorities for the purposes of regulating water pollution are:

i.                 The Central Pollution Control Board: It was constituted under law to prevent, control and abate water pollution¹. It is responsible for organising programmes at the ground level and provides technical services to the Ministry of Environment and Forests. Its primary purpose is to promote the cleanliness of streams and wells by preventing, controlling and abating water pollution.² It resolves disputes among the State Boards and provides technical assistance to them. The Board also performs an advisory role to the Central Government on matters concerning the environment.

ii.                The State Pollution Control Board or Pollution Control Committees for States and Union Territories are constituted³ to set the standards of effluents for industries and for determining whether something is ‘poisonous, noxious or polluting’ or ‘any other’ matter. The State Boards give permission for the setting up of industries and advise the State government with respect to the locations where industries are likely to cause water pollution.

iii.              Municipal Corporations or local authorities are concerned with the disposal of sewage and dumping of waste material.

1. Section 3,The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. [↩]
2. Central Pollution Control Board, accessed at:https://cpcb.nic.in/. [↩]
3. Section 4,The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. [↩]