Context

• Recently, the Lok Sabha has approved the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Bill, 2024.
• Earlier, Rajya Sabha had passed the Water Amendment (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 2024.

Key Points

• This Amendment Act makes significant changes to the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, such as
• decriminalisation.
• Some violations of the Act are considered "minor", which for the most part carry a prison sentence with a fine ranging from ₹10,000 to ₹15 lakh.
• The amended version of the Act will currently apply to Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and the Union Territories.
• The original Act, passed in 1974, is in force in 12 states.
• The law also empowers the Center to make rules for selecting chairpersons of State Pollution Control Boards and frame guidelines to be followed by any State Board in granting or revoking consent for setting up of industries and new operating procedures.
• The Bill seeks to strike a balance between the seriousness of the offence and the severity of the punishment provided.
• Provisions have been made in the Act to decriminalise minor offences and replace it with monetary penalty in case the violation continues.
• New provisions For example, the 1974 Act states that an offence for which the punishment is not clearly specified may be punishable with imprisonment up to three months or a fine up to ₹10,000 or both.
• The new amended Act removes imprisonment as punishment, and provides for a fine between ₹10,000 and ₹15 lakh.
• Failure to pay a fine for contravention of any provision under the Act will be punishable with imprisonment of up to three years, or with fine up to twice the amount of the fine imposed.

Important Facts For Exam

Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974

• It was enacted in 1974 to control and prevent water pollution and maintain high quality of water in the country.
• It was amended in 1988.
• It was amended to introduce cess in 1977.
• This Act was last amended in the year 2003.

Central Pollution Control Board

• Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) is a statutory organisation.
• It was formed in September 1974 under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.