This study was taken up at the instance of Planning Commission, with a primary objectives of understanding the functioning of the SPCBs and their efficacy in controlling water and air pollution, finding out the efficacy of functional tools employed by them in carrying out their objectives and identifying the constraints to their effective functioning.

When India and other nations convened the U.N. Conference at Stockholm in June, 1972, it marked a new epoch in international concern for the environment. India was among those nations representing to the call for a cleaner environment. However, India's environment has improved very slowly since 1972. In this article, we will point out several weaknesses in India's statutory scheme for environmental protection.

These Rules may be called the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) (Union Territories) Rules, 1983. They shall apply to the Union Territories of Delhi, Pondicherry, Goa, Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Lakshadweep, Mizoram, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh and Chandigarh.

The Rules provide for the Central Board activities, legal and administrative procedures, for annual reporting, fees to be paid to members, transaction of business and other related issues. Included in the Rules are forms for the Board Budget estimation,single item budgeting,personnel wages,annual financial report and annual expenditure.

An Act to provide for the prevention, control and abatement of air pollution, for the establishment, with a view to carrying out the aforesaid purposes, of Boards, for conferring on and assigning to such Boards powers and functions relating thereto and for matters connected therewith.

The 12-hour-long ordeal of the residents from Cavrem in Quepem taluka in the capital city of Panjim was capped with the order of Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) which ordered to cease all the activity at the controversial mining site.
The order which was issued late night by GSPCB

The existing legislation though covers adequate provision empowering the State Boards to prescribe stringent emission/
discharge standards while issuing the consent under the Water Act/Air Act, the judgments presently made by the SPCBs appear to be based on their respective experiences in qualitative terms for specifying stringent standards on a case to case basis.

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