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In force

The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974

63 sections · As amended up to 2026-08

Sections

  1. V — PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF WATER POLLUTION
  2. 1Subs. by Act 53 of 1988, s. 12, for sub-sections (4), (5) and (6) (w.e.f. 29-9-1988)
  3. I — PRELIMINARY
  4. 2Definitions
  5. III — JOINT BOARDS
  6. 3Certain words omitted by s. 8, ibid. (w.e.f. 12-12-1978)
  7. II — THE CENTRAL AND STATE BOARDS FOR PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF WATER POLLUTION
  8. 4Constitution of State Board
  9. 5Terms and conditions of service of members
  10. 6The word "full-time" omitted by Act 44 of 1978, s. 4 (w.e.f. 12-12-1978)
  11. 7Vacation of seats by members
  12. 8Meetings of Board
  13. 9Constitution of committees
  14. 10Temporary association of persons with Board for particular purposes
  15. 11Vacancy in Board not to invalidate acts or proceedings
  16. 12Member-secretary and officers and other employees of Board
  17. III — JOINT BOARDS
  18. 13Constitution of Joint Board
  19. 14Composition of Joint Boards
  20. 15Special provision relating to giving of directions
  21. IV — POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF BOARDS
  22. 16Functions of Central Board
  23. 17Functions of State Board
  24. 18Powers to give directions
  25. V — PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF WATER POLLUTION
  26. 19Power of State Government to restrict the application of the Act to certain areas
  27. 20Power to obtain information
  28. 21Power to take samples of effluents and procedure to be followed in connection therewith
  29. 22Reports of the result of analysis on samples taken under section 21
  30. 23Power of entry and inspection
  31. 24Prohibition on use of stream or well for disposal of polluting matter, etc
  32. 25Restrictions on new outlets and new discharges
  33. 26Provision regarding existing discharge of sewage or trade effluent
  34. 27Refusal or withdrawal of consent by State Board
  35. 28Appeals
  36. 29Revision
  37. 30Power of State Board to carry out certain works
  38. 31Furnishing of information to State Board and other agencies in certain cases
  39. 32Emergency measures in case of pollution of stream or well
  40. 33Power of Board to make application to courts for restraining apprehended pollution of water in streams or wells
  41. 33APower to give directions
  42. VI — FUNDS, ACCOUNTS AND AUDIT
  43. 34Contributions by Central Government
  44. 35Contributions by State Government
  45. 36Fund of Central Board
  46. 37Fund of State Board
  47. 37ABorrowing powers of Board
  48. 38Budget
  49. 40Accounts and audit
  50. VII — PENALTIES AND PROCEDURE
  51. 43Penalty for contravention of provisions of section 24
  52. 44Penalty for contravention of section 25 or section 26
  53. 45Enhanced penalty after previous conviction
  54. 46Publication of names of offenders
  55. 47Offences by companies
  56. 48Offences by Government Departments
  57. 49Cognizance of offences
  58. 50Members, officers and servants of Board to be public servants
  59. VIII — MISCELLANEOUS
  60. 51Central Water Laboratory
  61. 52State Water Laboratory
  62. 53Analysts
  63. 54Reports of analysts
  64. 55Local authorities to assist
  65. 56Compulsory acquisition of land for the State Board
  66. 57Returns and reports
  67. 58Bar of jurisdiction
  68. 59Protection of action taken in good faith
  69. 60Overriding effect
  70. 61Power of Central Government to supersede the Central Board and Joint Boards
  71. 62Power of State Government to supersede State Board
  72. 63Power of Central Government to make rules
  73. 64Power of State Government to make rules