•The Parliament of India passed the Environment Protection Act of 1986 under Article 253 of the Constitution. It was in the wake of the Bhopal Tragedy. It came into force on 19th November 1986.
•It is an “umbrella” for various environment legislations and organisation designed to give a framework for the coordination of various central and state authorities’ activities.
•It defines “Environment” in a broader sense to include water, air and land and the inter-relationships among them and human beings and other living creatures, plants, micro-organisms and property
•It was enacted to achieve the objective of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment of 1972.
•Section (19) of this act provides that any person can file a complaint alleging an offence under this Act in the court with prior notice of 60 days to the competent authority.
•Central Government can make rules for the enforcement of the Act by giving notification in the Official Gazette.
