Environmental Laws

The Stockholm Declaration, 1972 was the first major international agreement focusing on environmental protection. It established the principle that humans have the fundamental right to live in a healthy environment and emphasized the responsibility of states to safeguard and improve the environment for present and future generations.
Significance:
It laid down 26 principles that guide international environmental law and policy.
It marked the beginning of global cooperation on environmental issues.
Relationship between Stockholm Declaration (1972) and Earth Summit (1992):
The Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 built upon the principles of the Stockholm Declaration by expanding the focus to sustainable development, integrating environmental protection with economic growth and social equity. It produced key documents such as:
Agenda 21 – a comprehensive action plan for sustainable development.
Rio Declaration – reaffirming and updating environmental principles from Stockholm.
Thus, the Earth Summit extended the foundational framework laid by the Stockholm Declaration, promoting a global approach to sustainable development.

The statutory body constituted under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 is the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
Two principal functions of the CPCB are:
Prevention and Control of Water Pollution: To advise the central government on matters relating to the prevention and control of water pollution and to coordinate activities of State Pollution Control Boards.
Monitoring and Enforcement: To establish and operate laboratories for the analysis of water samples, collect and disseminate information related to water quality, and enforce water pollution control laws.