The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 was enacted to provide for the protection and improvement of environment and for connected matters. This Act was legislated in consideration of the decisions that were taken at the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment held at Stockholm in June, 1972, in which India participated, to take appropriate steps for the protection and improvement of human environment and in consideration of necessity to further implement the decisions aforesaid in so far as they relate to the protection and improvement of environment and the prevention of hazards to human beings, other living creatures, plants and property. This Act authorizes the central government to protect and improve environmental quality, control and reduce pollution from all sources, and prohibit or restrict the setting and /or operation of any industrial facility on environmental grounds. The Environment (Protection) Rules lay down procedures for setting standards of emission or discharge of environmental pollutants.
