Page 144 - DGH_Annual_Report

144 INDIA'S HYDROCARBON OUTLOOK 2024-2025

Article 51(A)(g): Places a fundamental duty 5. Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
on every citizen to protect and improve
the natural environment, including forests, Grants sweeping powers to the Central
lakes, rivers, and wildlife. Government to protect and improve
environmental quality.
These provisions serve as the foundation for the
legal and regulatory framework that governs Serves as an umbrella legislation under
environmental clearances in the country. which rules like EIA, hazardous waste,
and CRZ notifications have been issued.
• Key Environmental Laws and Their
Evolution 6. Biological Diversity Act, 2002

Over the decades, the Government of India Aims to conserve biological diversity and
has enacted and strengthened several regulate access to genetic resources.
environmental laws to ensure responsible 7. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
industrial development, especially in sectors Notification, 2006
such as oil and gas. The key legislations include:
1. Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 Introduced a tiered clearance system:

Ensures the protection and regulation of Category A projects: Appraised at the
national level by MoEF&CC.
wildlife to maintain ecological integrity.
Requires Wildlife Clearance for projects Category B projects: Appraised at the
state level by SEIAA and SEAC.
located within or near protected areas
(PAs) or eco-sensitive zones (ESZs). Mandates public consultation and
expert scrutiny to assess environmental
2. Water (Prevention and Control of impacts before approval.
Pollution) Act, 1974 (Amended in 1988)
8. Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional
Aims to prevent and control water Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest
pollution and maintain or restore the Rights) Act, 2006 (FRA)
“wholesomeness of water.”

Established the Central and State Recognizes the traditional rights of
forest-dwelling communities.
Pollution Control Boards (CPCB/SPCBs)
for enforcement. Requires project proponents to obtain
consent from Gram Sabhas prior to
3. Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 (Van forest land diversion.
(Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam,
amended in 1988 & 2023) Together, these laws and rules constitute a
comprehensive statutory architecture that
Regulates the diversion of forest land for guides the statutory clearance process for oil
non-forest use. and gas in India. Their evolution reflects India’s

Mandates compensatory afforestation growing emphasis on balancing economic
and clearance from MoEF&CC. development with ecological sustainability, a
principle now deeply embedded in national
Amended in 1988 and 2023 to improve environmental policy.
efficiency and ecological safeguards.
8.2.3 Environmental Regulations for Oil &
4. Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) gas industry
Act, 1981
Upstream O&G E&P operations are governed
Provides for the prevention, control, and under multiple Rules/ Regulations/ Acts under
abatement of air pollution. different Ministries as detailed below:

Empowers pollution control boards to
set emission standards and enforce
compliance.