SYLLABUS SECTION:  GS III (ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY)

WHY IN THE NEWS?

Ministry of Environment protection act, Forests and Climate Change (MOEF&CC) sought feedback on the proposal to decriminalize the existing provisions of the Environment Protection Act, (EPA) 1986.

PROPOSED CHANGES:

• Continue with criminal provisions of Indian Penal Code, 1860 for serious violations while failure or contravention or non-compliance for smaller issues can be dealt by penalties.
• Increase in penalty amount to ₹5 lakh which may extend to ₹5 crore.
• For continued violations beyond a period of one year the penalty shall not be less than ₹50,000 crore per day; which may extend to ₹5 lakh.
• Creation of Environment Protection Fund under Section 17A of EPA, 1986 for payment of penalties imposed by the Adjudicating Officer for environment
• Insertion of Section 15D to allow aggrieved persons to appeal to the National Green Tribunal.
• The EPA, 1986 was enacted under Article 253 of the Indian Constitution to take appropriate steps for the protection and improvement of the human environment based on the UN Conference on the Human Environment at Stockholm, 1972.
• It established the framework for long-term environmental safety and laid down a system of speedy and adequate response to situations threatening the environment.

Read more: UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS

SOURCE: THE HINDU