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Police
You can file an FIR (First Information Report) at the nearest police station under Section 277 of the Indian Penal Code against a person or industry that is intentionally contaminating and corrupting the water of a public spring or reservoir.1 The person who is polluting the water can be punished with jail time and/or fine.
District Magistrate
For immediate action, a person can directly complain to the District Magistrate by an application under Section 133 of Code of Criminal Procedure2. Under the law, the Magistrate has the power to issue a notice to the person or industry causing the pollution to remove such nuisance or stop the polluting activity.3
State Pollution Control Boards
State Pollution Control Boards are responsible for redressal of water pollution complaints. You can file a complaint by visiting the regional offices of the State Pollution Control Board of the state or on the complaint portal available on its website. Now, grievances can also be communicated to the authorities via social media handles.
States like West Bengal have set up an Integrated Grievance Management system (IGMS)4 which lays down a comprehensive process for the filing of such complaints by way of a 24*7 helpline and the West Bengal Paribesh app5. Other states like Uttar Pradesh have introduced an online portal where complaints can be filed by filing a form.6
National Green Tribunal
Citizens can directly file cases of water pollution with the National Green Tribunal at: https://ngtonline.nic.in/efiling/mainPage.drt. The complaint can be filed as an individual, advocate, a representative of a law firm or NGO or as a representative of the Government of India.
- Section 277, Indian Penal Code 1860. [↩]
- Section 133, Code of Criminal Procedure,1973. [↩]
- Municipal Council, Ratlam v. Vardhi Chand [AIR 1980 SC 1622.] [↩]
- West Bengal Pollution Control Board, accessed at: https://www.wbpcb.gov.in/public-grievance-redressal#. [↩]
- West Bengal Paribesh App (WBPCB), accessed at: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=in.gov.wbpcb.paribeshapp. [↩]
- Public Grievance, Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board, accessed at: http://www.uppcb.com/public_grievances.htm. [↩]
Jishan
September 11, 2023
I have complaint in my area as regarding to chemical water in my area there was a company they can flow the chamical in my near house for that I can’t take proper breath and I have many problems for this problem I have request you that you can take an immediate action as soon as possible..🥺💔
Alka Manral
September 3, 2024
You can file a complaint on the online portal of your local municipal authority or local pollution control board. If this is not effective you may also approach and file a complaint with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) at [https://cpcb.nic.in/].
The offender would be punished under Section 15 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
Additionally, you can also file a complaint under Section 270 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for Public Nuisance. If you are caused sickness or disease due to this chemical contamination, you may also file a case under s. 271 and 280 of the BNS.
You can also approach the Magistrate to file a civil suit for a remedy against public nuisance under Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).