Important facts on Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1981

The air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1981, was very innovative in its approach. The air act empowers the state board today down the standards for emission of air pollutants into the atmosphere from industrial plants, automobiles or from any other source having in view the standards laid down by the central board.
The state boards are empowered to inspect any factory pressure, to check any control equipment or the manufacturing processes. So as to take necessary steps for the preservation, control or abatement of air pollution. Under section 21 of the act, no person can operate an industrial plant without prior content of the state board.
If an industry is already in operation it should have applied for consent to the board within a period of three months from the date of the area is declared as air pollution control area under section 19 of the act. The salient features of the act are as follows:
(A) The Central Board is to advise the Central Government on matters of air pollution, specify desirable air quality standards, co­ordinate activities of the state boards, trained persons engaged in air pollution control discriminate information and data relating to air act etc. The state boards are empowered with similar powers within their respective states.
(B) The act empowers the state board to establish laboratories and appoint Government analysts for analyzing samples of air or emission for purposes of implementing the act.
(C) The act also empowers the state Government to declare any area within the state as an air pollution control area after consulting the state boards. In such areas, the act prohibits operation of any industrial plant without prior permission from the Government, besides; the act also prohibits the use of certain fuels, materials or appliances. Which may cause air pollution, in the air pollution control area? (D) The act empowers boards to issue direction including closure, prohibition or regulation of any industry, operation or process and for stopping and control of water or power supply and other sources.