{"id":142807,"date":"2024-11-14T19:42:41","date_gmt":"2024-11-14T14:12:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/?post_type=current-affairs&#038;p=142807"},"modified":"2024-11-15T16:51:25","modified_gmt":"2024-11-15T11:21:25","slug":"new-water-act-rules","status":"publish","type":"current-affairs","link":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/current-affairs\/new-water-act-rules","title":{"rendered":"New Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, Rules"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Union Environment Ministry has notified the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) (Manner of Holding Inquiry and Imposition of Penalty) Rules, 2024, which take effect immediately.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Key Highlights of the New Rules<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Decriminalization of Offences and Focus on Penalties: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It decriminalized violations, replacing criminal charges with penalties for contraventions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Exemption for non-polluting Industry:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWhite\u201d category ind<\/span><b>ustries,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> deemed non-polluting, are now exempt from obtaining prior permission under the Act to set up and operate.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Role of Appointed Adjudication Officers: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The amendments authorise the government to appoint officers responsible for adjudicating violations and determining penalties.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The adjudicating officer must hold a rank not below that of a joint secretary or secretary to the state government.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Authority to File Complaints: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Authorised officers from the<\/span><b> Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), <\/span><b>State Pollution Control Boards (SPCB), Pollution Control Committees, and Integrated Regional Offices<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of the <\/span><b>Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> may file complaints regarding violations under the Act.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Relevant Sections for Violations :<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Sections 41, 41A, 42, 43, 44, 45A, and 48 which primarily relate to the release of industrial pollutants and effluents.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"vc_button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pw.live\/batches\/upsc\/pw-only-ias?utm_source=seo+upsc+batch&#038;utm_medium=seo+upsc&#038;utm_campaign=seo&#038;utm_id=upsc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Enroll now for UPSC Online Classes<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>About the Water Prevention and Control of Pollution Act, 1974<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Objective: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To prevent and control water pollution by regulating pollution sources and ensuring water quality standards.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"vc_table_green\"><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 99.7992%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"width: 100%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: rgba(184, 165, 217, 0.53); text-align: left; vertical-align: middle;\">\n<h3><span style=\"font-size: 16pt; color: #000000;\"><b>Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Authority to Impose Cess:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The Act empowers the Central Water Board to impose a cess (a type of tax) on water consumption by individuals, industries, and other entities.<\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Revenue from cess and consent fees constitutes a major source of funding for the <\/span><b>Central and State Water Boards.<\/b><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Amendments and Incentives for Compliance: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 1991, the Act was amended to introduce rebates for industries that comply with specified water consumption and effluent quality standards, encouraging better pollution control practices.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Applicability:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Initially applied to 15 states and Union Territories.Other states can adopt it through a resolution under<\/span><b> Article 252 <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">of the Constitution.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Currently it is applicable in<\/span><b> 25 States and UTs<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Regulatory Bodies:<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB): <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Oversees national water pollution control efforts.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Implement pollution control measures at the state level.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Key Provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Prior Approval: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Industries must obtain prior permission from the respective State Board before setting up operations<\/span><b>.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Information Collection: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Boards collect data on water pollution sources and levels.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Guidelines and Directives: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Boards issue guidelines and directives to control pollution.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Regulation of Activities: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Boards regulate activities that impact water quality.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"vc_button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/store.pw.live\/govt-entrance-exams\/upsc-books\/upsc-textbooks?utm_source=SEO&#038;utm_medium=PW+Live&#038;utm_campaign=UPSC+Textbooks\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Check Out UPSC NCERT Textbooks From PW Store<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Prohibitions and Penalties<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Prohibits the discharge of sewage or industrial effluents into water bodies<\/span><b>.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Imposes penalties for violations of the Act.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It empowers regulatory bodies to monitor, regulate, and enforce pollution control measures, ensuring the protection of water resources for future generations.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<span class=\"vc_button\"><b>Additional Reading: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/current-affairs\/water-amendment-bill-2024\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Water Act 2024 Amendment<\/b><\/a><\/span>\n<div class=\"vc_table_green\"><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 100.043%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 130.811%; 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text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/quiz\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Daily Current Affairs Quiz<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 80.2753%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/mains-answer-writing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Daily Main Answer Writing<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 130.811%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\" colspan=\"2\"><a href=\"https:\/\/store.pw.live\/govt-entrance-exams\/upsc-books?utm_source=SEO&#038;utm_medium=PW+Live&#038;utm_campaign=UPSC+CSE+Books\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Check Out UPSC CSE Books From PW Store<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Union Environment Ministry has notified the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) (Manner of Holding Inquiry and Imposition of Penalty) Rules, 2024, which take effect immediately.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":142802,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_lock_modified_date":false,"footnotes":""},"tags":[],"paper-wise":[2089],"subject":[4642],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/current-affairs\/142807"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/current-affairs"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/current-affairs"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=142807"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/current-affairs\/142807\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":142949,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/current-affairs\/142807\/revisions\/142949"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/142802"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=142807"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=142807"},{"taxonomy":"paper-wise","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/paper-wise?post=142807"},{"taxonomy":"subject","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/subject?post=142807"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}