EPA / PROCEDURES / Furnishing of information to authorities and agencies regarding discharge of excess pollutants

Furnishing of information to authorities and agencies regarding discharge of excess pollutants

The Environment Protection Act provides the procedure of dealing with the prospect of excess discharge of environmental pollutants.

What needs to be done about environmental pollution?

Prevent / Mitigate environmental pollution
In case the discharge of any environmental pollutant occurs in excess of the prescribed standards or is apprehended to occur, due to any accident or other unforeseen act or event, the person responsible for such discharge and the person in charge of the place shall be bound to prevent or mitigate the environmental pollution caused as a result of the discharge.

Intimate authorities and render assistance
They are also bound to intimate the concerned authorities or agencies regarding the fact of such occurrence or apprehension of such occurrence, as well as to render all assistance if called upon by the authorities or agencies as may be prescribed.

Link to Authorities / Authoritie on environment pollution

Expenses of remedial measures
Any expenses incurred by any authority or ageny with respect to the remedial measures referred to in Section 9.2 on the discharge of excess environmental pollutant, together with interest (as fixed by the Government) may be recovered by such authority or agency from the person concerned as arrears of land revenue or of public demand. The interest charged will be computed from the date when a demand for the expenses is made until it is paid.

Who to inform about the excess discharge of pollutants?

Where the discharge of environmental pollutant in excess of the prescribed standards occurs or is apprehended to occur due to any accident or other unforeseen act or event, the person in charge of such place is required to intimate the fact of such occurrence or apprehension of such occurrence to all the following authorities or agencies:

1. The officer-in-charge of emergency or disaster relief operation in a district or other region of a state or Union territory specified by whatever designation by the Government of the said State or Union territory, and in whose jurisdiction the industry, process or operation is located.
2. The Central Board or a State Board as the case may be and its regional officer having local jurisdiction who have been delegated powers under section 20, 21, 23 of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974 and section 24 of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981
3. The statutory authorities or agencies specified in column 3 in relation to places mentioned in column 2 against thereof of the Schedule V.