Environment Protection Act | Environment for UPSC 2025 (Pre & Mains) PDF Download

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ENVIRONMENT 
PROTECTION ACT 
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ENVIRONMENT 
PROTECTION ACT 
INTRODUCTION 
It was enacted in the wake of Bhopal gas 
tragedy under article 253 of constitution. 
It implements agenda of UN conference on 
human environment. 
It regulates environmental pollution, laying 
down procedures and standards for industrial 
waste, emissions, hazardous waste. 
Eco sensitive zones are included under this act. 
 
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ENVIRONMENT 
PROTECTION ACT 
INTRODUCTION 
It was enacted in the wake of Bhopal gas 
tragedy under article 253 of constitution. 
It implements agenda of UN conference on 
human environment. 
It regulates environmental pollution, laying 
down procedures and standards for industrial 
waste, emissions, hazardous waste. 
Eco sensitive zones are included under this act. 
 
ECO-SENSITIVE ZONES (ESZS) 
Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs) or Ecologically Fragile 
Areas (EFAs) are areas notified by the Ministry of 
Environment, Forests and Climate 
Change (MoEFCC), Government of 
India around Protected Areas, National 
Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries.  
The purpose of declaring ESZs is to create some kind of 
“shock absorbers” to the protected areas by 
regulating and managing the activities around such 
areas.  
They also act as a transition zone from areas of high 
protection to areas involving lesser protection. 
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ENVIRONMENT 
PROTECTION ACT 
INTRODUCTION 
It was enacted in the wake of Bhopal gas 
tragedy under article 253 of constitution. 
It implements agenda of UN conference on 
human environment. 
It regulates environmental pollution, laying 
down procedures and standards for industrial 
waste, emissions, hazardous waste. 
Eco sensitive zones are included under this act. 
 
ECO-SENSITIVE ZONES (ESZS) 
Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs) or Ecologically Fragile 
Areas (EFAs) are areas notified by the Ministry of 
Environment, Forests and Climate 
Change (MoEFCC), Government of 
India around Protected Areas, National 
Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries.  
The purpose of declaring ESZs is to create some kind of 
“shock absorbers” to the protected areas by 
regulating and managing the activities around such 
areas.  
They also act as a transition zone from areas of high 
protection to areas involving lesser protection. 
The Environment Protection Act, 1986 does not 
mention the word “Eco-sensitive Zones”. 
The section 3(2)(v) of the Act, says that Central 
Government can restrict areas in which any 
industries, operations or processes or class of 
industries, operations or processes shall not 
be carried out or shall be carried out subject 
to certain safeguards. 
 
Page 5


 
 
ENVIRONMENT 
PROTECTION ACT 
INTRODUCTION 
It was enacted in the wake of Bhopal gas 
tragedy under article 253 of constitution. 
It implements agenda of UN conference on 
human environment. 
It regulates environmental pollution, laying 
down procedures and standards for industrial 
waste, emissions, hazardous waste. 
Eco sensitive zones are included under this act. 
 
ECO-SENSITIVE ZONES (ESZS) 
Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs) or Ecologically Fragile 
Areas (EFAs) are areas notified by the Ministry of 
Environment, Forests and Climate 
Change (MoEFCC), Government of 
India around Protected Areas, National 
Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries.  
The purpose of declaring ESZs is to create some kind of 
“shock absorbers” to the protected areas by 
regulating and managing the activities around such 
areas.  
They also act as a transition zone from areas of high 
protection to areas involving lesser protection. 
The Environment Protection Act, 1986 does not 
mention the word “Eco-sensitive Zones”. 
The section 3(2)(v) of the Act, says that Central 
Government can restrict areas in which any 
industries, operations or processes or class of 
industries, operations or processes shall not 
be carried out or shall be carried out subject 
to certain safeguards. 
 
The National Wildlife Action Plan (2002–2016) 
of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and 
Climate Change (MoEFCC) stipulated that 
state governments should declare land falling 
within 10 km of the boundaries of national 
parks and wildlife sanctuaries as eco fragile 
zones or ESZs under section 3 (v) of 
the Environmental (Protection) Act, 1986.