The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 is an Act of the Parliament of India, enacted on March 23, 1974, to prevent and control water pollution and to maintain or restore the wholesomeness of water. It was India's first dedicated environmental legislation, created in response to the severe deterioration of rivers and water bodies caused by rapid industrialisation and urban growth, which lacked a unified national framework for pollution control.
The Act's core mechanism is the establishment of a regulatory and institutional structure. It mandated the creation of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) under Section 3 and State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) under Section 4. The CPCB advises the Central Government and coordinates the activities of the SPCBs, while the SPCBs are the principal authorities for implementation, monitoring compliance, and enforcement at the state level. A key provision is the "consent framework" under Sections 25 and 26, which makes it mandatory for industries to obtain Consent to Establish and Consent to Operate from the SPCB before discharging any sewage or trade effluent into a water body. Section 24 prohibits the use of a stream or well for the disposal of polluting matter in excess of the standards laid down by the Board. The Boards are also empowered under Section 33 to issue directions, including the closure or regulation of non-compliant industries.
The Water Act is closely connected to the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, which adopted a similar institutional structure, and the overarching Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. Appeals against the Boards' decisions can be made to the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The Act has been amended several times, notably in 1988 to enhance penalties and strengthen enforcement powers, including the power to cut water and electricity supply. Most recently, the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Act, 2024 was passed, which decriminalises several minor violations and replaces imprisonment with higher monetary penalties to streamline enforcement.