The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981
Act No. 14 of 1981 · 29th March, 1981 · Full text with footnotes.
An Act to provide for the prevention, control and abatement of air pollution, for the establishment, with a view to carrying out the aforesaid purposes, of Boards, for conferring on and assigning to such Boards powers and functions relating thereto and for matters connected therewith.
WHEREAS decisions were taken at the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment held in Stockholm in June, 1972, in which India participated, to take appropriate steps for the preservation of the natural resources of the earth which, among other things, include the preservation of the quality of air and control of air pollution;
AND WHEREAS it is considered necessary to implement the decisions aforesaid in so far as they relate to the preservation of the quality of air and control of air pollution;
BE it enacted by Parliament in the Thirty-second Year of the Republic of India as follows:—
Chapter I — Preliminary
Chapter II — Central and State Boards for the Prevention and Control of Air Pollution
- 3Central Pollution Control Board.
- 4State Pollution Control Boards constituted under section 4 of Act 6 of 1974 to be State Boards under this Act.
- 5Constitution of State Boards.
- 6Central Board to exercise the powers and perform the functions of a State Board in the Union territories.
- 7Terms and conditions of service of members.
- 8Disqualifications.
- 9Vacation of seats by members.
- 10Meetings of Board.
- 11Constitution of committees.
- 12Temporary association of persons with Board for particular purpose.
- 13Vacancy in Board not to invalidate acts or proceedings.
- 14Member-secretary and officers and other employees of State Boards.
- 15Delegation of powers.
Chapter III — Powers and Functions of Boards
Chapter IV — Prevention and Control of Air Pollution
- 19Power to declare air pollution control areas.
- 20Power to give instructions for ensuring standards for emission from automobiles.
- 21Restrictions on use of certain industrial plants.
- 21APower to issue guidelines.
- 22Persons carrying on industry, etc., not to allow emission of air pollutants in excess of the standard laid down by State Board.
- 22APower of Board to make application to court for restraining person from causing air pollution.
- 23Furnishing of information to State Board and other agencies in certain cases.
- 24Power of entry and inspection.
- 25Power to obtain information.
- 26Power to take samples of air or emission and procedure to be followed in connection therewith.
- 27Reports of the result of analysis on samples taken under section 26.
- 28State Air Laboratory.
- 29Analysts.
- 30Reports of analysts.
- 31Appeals.
- 31APower to give directions.
- 31BAppeal to National Green Tribunal.
Chapter V — Fund, Accounts and Audit
Chapter VI — Penalties and Procedure
- 37Failure to comply with provisions of section 22 or directions issued under section 31A.
- 38Penalties for certain acts.
- 38APenalty for contravention by Government Department.
- 39Penalties for contravention of certain provisions of this Act.
- 39AAdjudicating officer.
- 39BAppeal.
- 39CPenalty amount to be credited to Environmental Protection Fund.
- 39DOffences for failure to comply with provisions of section 21 and for failure to pay penalty.
- 42Protection of action taken in good faith.
- 43Cognizance of offences.
- 44Members, officers and employees of Board to be public servants.
- 45Reports and returns.
- 46Bar of jurisdiction.
Chapter VII — Miscellaneous
- 47Power of State Government to supersede State Board.
- 48Special provision in the case of supersession of the Central Board or the State Boards constituted under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.
- 49Dissolution of State Boards constituted under the Act.
- 50Power to amend the Schedule. [Omitted or repealed]
- 51Maintenance of register.
- 52Effect of other laws.
- 53Power of Central Government to make rules.
- 54Power of State Government to make rules.
Source: India Code (indiacode.nic.in), Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 (Act No. 14 of 1981), official text with the official footnotes. The Schedule is omitted and is listed with the official note.
© 2026 NyayaSaral