POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF BOARDSCentral

Section 17 of The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974

(1)Subject to the provisions of this Act, the functions of a State Board shall be--
1. (a)to plan a comprehensive programme for the prevention, control or abatement of pollution of streams and wells in the State and to secure the execution thereof;
2. (b)to advise the State Government on any matter concerning the prevention, control or abatement of water pollution;
3. (c)to collect and disseminate information relating to water pollution and the prevention, control or abatement thereof;
4. (d)to encourage, conduct and participate investigations and research relating to problems of water pollution and prevention, control or abatement of water pollution;
5. (e)to collaborate with the Central Board in organising the training of persons engaged or to be engaged in programmes relating, to prevention, control or abatement of water pollution and to organise mass education programmes relating thereto;
6. (f)to inspect sewage or trade effluents, works and plants for the treatment of sewage and trade effluents and to review plans, specifications or other data relating to plants set up for the treatment of water, works for the purification thereof and the system for the disposal of sewage or trade effluents or in connection with the grant of any consent as required by this Act;
7. (g)to lay down, modify or annul effluent standards for the sewage and trade effluents and for the quality of receiving waters (not being water in an inter-State stream) resulting from the discharge of effluents and to classify waters of the State;
8. (h)to evolve economical and reliable methods of treatment of sewage and trade effluents, having regard to the peculiar conditions of soils, climate and water resources of different regions and more especially the prevailing flow characteristics of water in streams and wells which render it impossible to attain even the minimum degree of dilution;
  1. (i)to evolve methods of utilisation of sewage and suitable trade effluents in agriculture;
9. (j)to evolve efficient methods of disposal of sewage and trade effluents on land, as are necessary on account of the predominant conditions of scant stream flows that do not provide for major part of the year the minimum degree of dilution;
10. (k)to lay down standards of treatment of sewage and trade effluents to be discharged into any particular stream taking into account the minimum fair weather dilution available in that stream and the tolerance limits of pollution permissible in the water of the stream, after the discharge of such effluents;
11. (l)to make, vary or revoke any order--
  1. (i)for the prevention, control or abatement of discharges of waste into streams or wells;
  2. (ii)requiring any person concerned to construct new systems for the disposal of sewage and trade effluents or to modify, alter or extend any such existing system or to adopt such remedial measures as are necessary to prevent, control or abate water pollution;
12. (m)to lay down effluent standards to be complied with by persons while causing discharge of sewage or sullage or both and to lay down, modify or annul effluent standards for the sewage and trade effluents;
13. (n)to advise the State Government with respect to the location of any industry the carrying on of which is likely to pollute a stream or well;
14. (o)to perform such other functions as may be prescribed or as may, from time to time, be entrusted to it by the Central Board or the State Government.
(2)The Board may establish or recognise a laboratory or laboratories to enable the Board to perform its functions under this section efficiently, including the analysis of samples of water from any stream or well or of samples of any sewage or trade effluents.

Summary

The State Board is responsible for creating and carrying out a total plan to prevent and control water pollution within its specific state.
It advises the State Government on where industries should be located to avoid polluting water sources.
It has the power to inspect sewage systems and factories to see if their waste treatment plants are working correctly.
The State Board sets the official limits, called effluent standards, for how much waste a factory or city can dump into the water.
It works to find cheap and reliable ways to treat waste, especially in areas where there isn't much water to dilute the pollution.
It can issue orders that force people or companies to build new waste systems or fix old ones to protect the water.

Practical examples

1A new chemical factory wants to open near a major lake in July 2024. The State Board uses Section 17 of the Water Act to advise the government that the factory should be moved to a different location to protect the lake.

2Inspectors from the State Board visit a local textile mill in October. They use their powers under Section 17 of the Water Act to check if the mill's waste pipes are leaking chemicals into the nearby stream.

3Farmers in a dry region are struggling. The State Board, following Section 17 of the Water Act, develops a safe way to treat city sewage so it can be used to water crops instead of being wasted.

FAQ

1. Who sets the rules for how much waste a factory can discharge under Section 17 of the Water Act?

The State Board sets these effluent standards for sewage and trade waste under Section 17 of the Water Act.

2. Does the State Board help find ways to use sewage in farming under Section 17 of the Water Act?

Yes, Section 17 of the Water Act tasks the Board with evolving methods to utilize sewage and suitable industrial waste in agriculture.

3. Can the State Board order a company to change its waste system under Section 17 of the Water Act?

Yes, under Section 17 of the Water Act, the Board can issue orders requiring people to modify, alter, or extend their waste disposal systems.

4. Does the State Board check on the plans for new treatment plants under Section 17 of the Water Act?

Yes, Section 17 of the Water Act gives the Board the power to review plans and specifications for plants set up to treat waste.

Test yourself

Q1.Under Section 17 of The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, what is a primary duty of the State Board regarding the State Government?

Q2.Which of these can the State Board classify under Section 17 of the Water Act?

Q3.According to Section 17 of the Water Act, what must the Board consider when developing waste treatment methods?

Q4.What power does the State Board have regarding sewage works under Section 17 of the Water Act?

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POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF BOARDSCentral

Section 17 of The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974

(1)Subject to the provisions of this Act, the functions of a State Board shall be--
1. (a)to plan a comprehensive programme for the prevention, control or abatement of pollution of streams and wells in the State and to secure the execution thereof;
2. (b)to advise the State Government on any matter concerning the prevention, control or abatement of water pollution;
3. (c)to collect and disseminate information relating to water pollution and the prevention, control or abatement thereof;
4. (d)to encourage, conduct and participate investigations and research relating to problems of water pollution and prevention, control or abatement of water pollution;
5. (e)to collaborate with the Central Board in organising the training of persons engaged or to be engaged in programmes relating, to prevention, control or abatement of water pollution and to organise mass education programmes relating thereto;
6. (f)to inspect sewage or trade effluents, works and plants for the treatment of sewage and trade effluents and to review plans, specifications or other data relating to plants set up for the treatment of water, works for the purification thereof and the system for the disposal of sewage or trade effluents or in connection with the grant of any consent as required by this Act;
7. (g)to lay down, modify or annul effluent standards for the sewage and trade effluents and for the quality of receiving waters (not being water in an inter-State stream) resulting from the discharge of effluents and to classify waters of the State;
8. (h)to evolve economical and reliable methods of treatment of sewage and trade effluents, having regard to the peculiar conditions of soils, climate and water resources of different regions and more especially the prevailing flow characteristics of water in streams and wells which render it impossible to attain even the minimum degree of dilution;
  1. (i)to evolve methods of utilisation of sewage and suitable trade effluents in agriculture;
9. (j)to evolve efficient methods of disposal of sewage and trade effluents on land, as are necessary on account of the predominant conditions of scant stream flows that do not provide for major part of the year the minimum degree of dilution;
10. (k)to lay down standards of treatment of sewage and trade effluents to be discharged into any particular stream taking into account the minimum fair weather dilution available in that stream and the tolerance limits of pollution permissible in the water of the stream, after the discharge of such effluents;
11. (l)to make, vary or revoke any order--
  1. (i)for the prevention, control or abatement of discharges of waste into streams or wells;
  2. (ii)requiring any person concerned to construct new systems for the disposal of sewage and trade effluents or to modify, alter or extend any such existing system or to adopt such remedial measures as are necessary to prevent, control or abate water pollution;
12. (m)to lay down effluent standards to be complied with by persons while causing discharge of sewage or sullage or both and to lay down, modify or annul effluent standards for the sewage and trade effluents;
13. (n)to advise the State Government with respect to the location of any industry the carrying on of which is likely to pollute a stream or well;
14. (o)to perform such other functions as may be prescribed or as may, from time to time, be entrusted to it by the Central Board or the State Government.
(2)The Board may establish or recognise a laboratory or laboratories to enable the Board to perform its functions under this section efficiently, including the analysis of samples of water from any stream or well or of samples of any sewage or trade effluents.

Summary

The State Board is responsible for creating and carrying out a total plan to prevent and control water pollution within its specific state.
It advises the State Government on where industries should be located to avoid polluting water sources.
It has the power to inspect sewage systems and factories to see if their waste treatment plants are working correctly.
The State Board sets the official limits, called effluent standards, for how much waste a factory or city can dump into the water.
It works to find cheap and reliable ways to treat waste, especially in areas where there isn't much water to dilute the pollution.
It can issue orders that force people or companies to build new waste systems or fix old ones to protect the water.