Strategic Action Plan - International Environmental Technology Centre

Strategic Action Plan Report
Chapter
2
2. Regulatory Framework on Solid
Waste in India
2.1 Overview
The policy and legislative framework forms the backbone of any institutional and implementation system. At
the national level, there are numerous provisions in the Indian legislative structure to have a bearing on the
State’s management of environmental resources. Figure 2.1 gives an overall time frame and structure of
environmental legislation in India.
These rules and regulations came into existence due to several reasons or incidents. For example, in India; the
Environment (Protection) Act in 1986 was largely a response to the Bhopal Gas Tragedy that occurred in
December, 1984 1 followed by the Hazardous Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules in 1989. The reason
for the floods in Mumbai on the 26th of July, 2005 was stated as the clogging of drains etc by plastic carry
bags. Due to this, the Maharashtra Plastic Carry Bags Rules, 2006 was introduced.
The Solid Waste Management in India is covered under various regulations. It is covered through various
national as well as some state level regulations. Some guidelines are also prescribed by Central Pollution
Control Board (CPCB) and State Pollution Control Boards (SPCB). The regulations for Solid Waste
Management alone are shown in Figure 2.2. Specific regulations for the recent waste streams such as
Electronic waste (E-waste) and C &D waste have not yet been formulated.
1 Divan, S. and Rosencranz, A. (2001), Environmental Law and Policy in India, Cases, Materials and Statutes, Second Edition; Oxford University Press, New Delhi, India.
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