Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act,1981
17. FUNCTIONS OF STATE BOARDS.
(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, and without prejudice to the performance of its functions, if any, under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 (6 of 1974), the functions of a State Board shall be –
(a) To plan a comprehensive programme for the prevention, control or abatement of air pollution and to secure the execution thereof;
(b) To advise the State Government on any matter concerning the prevention, control or abatement of air pollution;
(c) To collect and disseminate information relating to air pollution;
(d) To collaborate with the Central Board in organising the training of persons engaged or to be engaged in programmes relating to prevention, control or abatement of air pollution and to organise mass-education programme relating thereto;
(e) To inspect, at all reasonable times, any control equipment, industrial plant or manufacturing process and to give, by order, such directions to such persons as it may consider necessary to take steps for the prevention, control or abatement of air pollution;
(f) To inspect air pollution control areas at such intervals as it may think necessary, assess the qualify of air therein and take steps for the prevention, control or abatement of air pollution in such areas;
(g) To lay down, in consultation with the Central Board and having regard to the standards for the quality of air laid down by the Central Board, standards for emission of air pollutants into the atmosphere from industrial plants and automobiles or for the discharge of any air pollutant into the atmosphere from any other source whatsoever not being a ship or an aircraft :
Provided that different standards for emission may be laid down under this clause for different industrial plants having regard to the quantity and composition of emission of air pollutants into the atmosphere from such industrial plants;
(h) To advise the State Government with respect to the suitability of any premises or location for carrying on any industry which is likely to cause air pollution;
(i) To perform such other functions as may be prescribed or as may, from time to time, be entrusted to it by the Central Board or the State Government;
(j) To do such other things and to perform such other acts as its may think necessary for the proper discharge of its functions and generally for the purpose of carrying into effect the purposes of this Act.
(2) A State Board may establish or recognise a laboratory or laboratories to enable the State Board to perform its functions under this Section efficiently.
COMMENTS
The Supreme Court ordered the closure of limestone quarries which were causing imbalance to ecology and hazard to public health and environment. However, in order to mitigate the hardship caused by such closure to the lessee, Government of India and State of U.P. were directed to give priority and send intimation whenever any other area was allotted for grant of limestone or dolomite quarrying to the displaced lessees; Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra Dehradun v. State of U.P., AIR 1985 SC 651.
Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981
