Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974

CHAPTER VIII: MISCELLANEOUS Section 51: Central Water Laboratory This section creates the national-level testing hub to ensure accurate, independent analysis. Section 52: State Water Laboratory This section mirrors Section 51 but for the state level. Section 53: Analysts This section defines the three types of scientists whose test results are considered official and admissible in […]

CHAPTER VII: PENALTIES AND PROCEDURE Section 41: Failure to comply with directions This section defines penalties for ignoring specific legal orders issued by the Board or the court. Section 42: Penalty for certain acts This section targets specific actions that obstruct the Board’s work or involve dishonesty. Section 43: Penalty for contravention of provisions of

CHAPTER VI: FUNDS, ACCOUNTS AND AUDIT Section 34: Contributions by Central Government Section 35: Contributions by State Government Section 36: Fund of Central Board Section 37: Fund of State Board Section 37A: Borrowing powers of Board Section 38: Budget Section 39: Annual report Section 40: Accounts and audit This section ensures financial transparency and accountability

CHAPTER V: PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF WATER POLLUTION Section 19: Power of State Government to restrict the application of the Act to certain areas Section 20: Power to obtain information This section gives the Board its “investigative” powers. Section 21: Power to take samples of effluents and procedure to be followed in connection therewith This

CHAPTER IV: POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF BOARDS Section 16: Functions of Central Board This is the main “Job Description” for the national CPCB. Section 17: Functions of State Board This is the main “Job Description” for the state-level SPCBs (like the Punjab PCB, Gujarat PCB, etc.). It’s where the day-to-day work happens. Section 18: Powers

CHAPTER III: JOINT BOARDS This chapter deals with a special situation: what happens when pollution in one river affects multiple states? Section 13: Constitution of Joint Board Section 14: Composition of Joint Boards This section explains who sits on these special Joint Boards. Section 15: Special provision relating to giving of directions Practical Example: The

CHAPTER II: THE CENTRAL AND STATE BOARDS FOR PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF WATER POLLUTION Section 3: Constitution of Central Board This section explains how the national-level board, the CPCB, is created and who is on it. Section 4: Constitution of State Board This section mirrors Section 3, but explains how the State-level boards (SPCBs) are

CHAPTER I: PRELIMINARY Section 1: Short title, application and commencement This section is the “About” page for the law. It answers: What is it called? Where does it apply? When did it start? Section 2: Definitions This section is the law’s “dictionary.” It defines the key terms used throughout the Act so there is no