It is now mandatory for the power plants/ industries to install pollution control equipment to comply with the prescribed standards under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. As per the new guidelines, it is the duty of the owner/ occupier of the power plants/ industries to set up requisite pollution control equipment. The Ministry of Environment and Forests has also prescribed environmental standards for emission/effluent of Power Plants under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
Minister of State (Independent Charge), Environment and Forests, Jayanthi Natarajan gave this information to the Parliament. She further added that Power Plants which have not complied with the prescribed standards have been issued Directions under Section 18 (1) (b) of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1981 and Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974 and under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act 1986 to ensure compliance.”
The States which have not complied with the emission/effluent standards are Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.