Environment & Pollution Laws In India – An Overview

Protection and improvement of deteriorating natural environment is a common cause and obligation of all the citizens and it is the right time for introspection by every citizen and nation as to what our future generation are going to inherit from us. It is they who will reap the grim consequences of our failure to act timely on the programmes which are needed now if we are to prevent future disaster and natural resource depletion. The constitution gives right to life for every citizen, an onerous obligation which we owe to posterity is clean air, potable water and liveable natural environment and these ought to be elevated to the status of birth rights of every citizen born today and in future. The Constitution of India was amended in 1976, to incorporate the provisions for protection of environment and imposing a fundamental duty upon the citizens of this country to protect and improve the natural environment. Article 51A mentions “It shall be the duty of every citizen of India - (g) to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife and to have compassion for living creatures. The objective of the author in the article is to create awareness among all concerned in the society about the various laws on environment and pollution control that are existing in our country to ensure that justice prevails on all matters related to environment protection, which is the basis of sustenance of life on earth.