The central environmental laws of India grew from the Water Act of 1974 and the Air Act of 1981 into the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 — passed in the wake of Bhopal — with the Wild Life and Forest Acts protecting the natural estate and the Green Tribunal to adjudicate.
Environment is a concurrent subject, but the framework statutes are central: the pollution-control consents that every industry needs, the EIA notification under the Environment (Protection) Act, the wildlife and forest regimes, and since 2010 the National Green Tribunal as the specialist forum. Odisha’s State Pollution Control Board enforces the Water and Air Acts in the state.
This page lists the principal central environmental statutes, what each covers, and links to authoritative texts. All acts here are central laws enacted by Parliament — state-enacted laws are covered separately.
Contents
Pollution Control
| Act | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (29 of 1986) | The umbrella statute: central power to set standards, restrict hazardous industries, and the environmental-impact-assessment regime. |
| Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 (6 of 1974) | The pollution-control boards, consent to discharge, and sewage and trade-effluent standards. |
| Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 (14 of 1981) | Consent to operate for emissions, air-quality standards and vehicular pollution control. |
Conservation and Adjudication
| Act | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 (53 of 1972) | Protection of wild animals and plants, scheduled species, sanctuaries, national parks and tiger reserves. |
| Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 (69 of 1980) | Restriction on de-reservation of forests and non-forest use of forest land; the compensatory-afforestation regime. |
| Biological Diversity Act, 2002 (18 of 2003) | Conservation of biological diversity, access and benefit-sharing, and the National Biodiversity Authority. |
| National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 (19 of 2010) | The NGT’s jurisdiction over environmental disputes and enforcement of legal rights relating to the environment. |
| Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991 (6 of 1991) | Immediate relief to victims of accidents involving hazardous substances through mandatory insurance. |
For land acquisition for projects, see our central land and property laws library; for hazardous-substance crimes, the central criminal laws library.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which consent does a new factory in Odisha need?
Consent to establish and consent to operate from the Odisha State Pollution Control Board under the Water Act, 1974 and the Air Act, 1981 — plus environmental clearance under the EIA notification where the project crosses the thresholds.
Where is an environmental dispute heard?
The National Green Tribunal, under the NGT Act, 2010, has jurisdiction over substantial environmental questions, with appeals from its orders lying to the Supreme Court.
What does the Forest (Conservation) Act require?
Central government approval before forest land is used for any non-forest purpose, with compensatory afforestation as the standard condition.
This page is a general library guide published for the Knowledge Centre and is not legal advice. For advice on a specific matter, please contact the firm.