Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 — back to Table of Contents
Section 6. Rules to regulate environmental pollution
(1) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make rules in respect of all or any of the matters referred to in section 3.
(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:—
- (a) the standards of quality of air, water or soil for various areas and purposes;
- (b) the maximum allowable limits of concentration of various environmental pollutants (including noise) for different areas;
- (c) the procedures and safeguards for the handling of hazardous substances;
- (d) the prohibition and restrictions on the handling of hazardous substances in different areas;
- (e) the prohibition and restriction on the location of industries and the carrying on of processes and operations in different areas;
- (f) the procedures and safeguards for the prevention of accidents which may cause environmental pollution and for providing for remedial measures for such accidents.
Note: Rules made under this section (the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986) carry seven Schedules setting out the detailed technical standards — emission and discharge limits, ambient air quality, noise standards, and vehicle emission limits — which have been revised multiple times since 1986.
