PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF WATER POLLUTIONCentral

Section 24 of The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974

(1)Subject to the provisions of this section,--
1. (a)no person shall knowingly cause or permit any poisonous, noxious or polluting matter determined in accordance with such standards as may be laid down by the State Board to enter (whether directly or indirectly) into any 1 [stream or well or sewer or on land]; or
2. (b)no person shall knowingly cause or permit to enter into any stream any other matter which may tend, either directly or in combination with similar matters, to impede the proper flow of the water of the stream in a manner leading or likely to lead to a substantial aggravation of pollution due to other causes or of its consequences.
(2)A person shall not be guilty of an offence under sub-section (1), by reason only of having done or caused to be done any of the following acts, namely:--
1. (a)constructing, improving or maintaining in or across or on the bank or bed of any stream any building, bridge, weir, dam, sluice, dock, pier, drain or sewer or other permanent works which he has a right to construct, improve or maintain;
2. (b)depositing any materials on the bank or in the bed of any stream for the purpose of reclaiming land or for supporting, repairing or protecting the bank or bed of such stream provided such materials are not capable of polluting such stream;
3. (c)putting into any stream any sand or gravel or other natural deposit which has flowed from or been deposited by the current of such stream;
4. (d)causing or permitting, with the consent of the State Board, the deposit accumulated in a well, pond or reservoir to enter into any stream.
(3)The State Government may, after consultation with, or on the recommendation of, the State Board, exempt, by notification in the Official Gazette, any person from the operation of sub-section (1) subject to such conditions, if any, as may be specified in the notification and any condition so specified may by a like notification be altered, varied or amended.

Summary

No person is allowed to knowingly put poisonous or polluting matter into any stream, well, sewer, or onto land.
Polluting matter is determined based on the specific standards set by the State Board.
It is illegal to put materials into a stream that block the water flow and lead to a major increase in pollution.
Building bridges, dams, or docks is permitted if the person has a legal right to construct them.
Depositing natural sand or gravel that was already in the stream is not considered a violation.
The State Government can exempt certain people from these rules after consulting with the Board.

Practical examples

1Ramesh owns a small leather shop. He knowingly dumps a bucket of toxic dyes into a nearby sewer. Because these dyes meet the polluting criteria of the Board, Ramesh has violated Section 24 of the Water Act.

2A construction company is building a new bridge over a river in Haryana. They have the legal right to build there and are using non-polluting materials for the foundation. Under Section 24, they are not guilty of an offence for this work.

3Heavy rains wash natural sand into a stream. A local farmer, Sunita, uses a shovel to move that same sand to protect her riverbank. Since she is just moving natural deposits from the stream itself, Section 24 says she has not committed a crime.

FAQ

1. Can I dump non-toxic waste into a stream under Section 24 of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974?

No, Section 24 of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 also prohibits putting matter into a stream that impedes the flow of water if it makes pollution worse.

2. Who decides what counts as polluting matter under Section 24 of the Water Act?

Under Section 24 of the Water Act, the standards for what counts as poisonous, noxious, or polluting matter are laid down by the State Board.

3. Are there any exceptions to the dumping rules in Section 24 of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974?

Yes, Section 24 of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 allows for activities like building bridges, reclaiming land with non-polluting materials, or moving natural stream deposits.

4. Can the government excuse a factory from the rules in Section 24 of the 1974 Water Act?

Yes, Section 24 of the 1974 Water Act allows the State Government, after consulting the Board, to exempt a person from these rules through a notification.

Test yourself

Q1.Under Section 24 of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, a person is guilty if they permit polluting matter to enter which of the following?

Q2.Which of the following acts is NOT an offence under Section 24 of The Water Act?

Q3.According to Section 24 of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, what is required before someone can put deposits from a pond into a stream?

Q4.Under Section 24 of the 1974 Water Act, how are polluting standards determined?

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