ACTIVITIES OF THE BOARD INCLUDING VARIOUS FUNCTIONS PERFORMED UNDER THE ACT: -

The functions of the State Board as specified in the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.

Functions under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974

(a) To plan a comprehensive program for the prevention, control or abatement of pollution of streams and wells in the State and to secure the execution thereof.

(b) To advice the State Government on any matter concerning the prevention, control or abatement of water pollution;

(c) To collect and disseminate information relating to water pollution and the prevention, control or abatement thereof;

(d) To encourage, conduct and participate in investigations and research relating to problems of water pollution and prevention, control or abatement of water pollution;

(e) To collaborate with the Central Board in organizing the training of persons engaged or to be engaged in programs relating to prevention, control or abatement of water pollution and to organize mass education programs relating thereto;

(f) To inspect sewage or trade effluents, works and plants for the treatment of sewage and trade effluents and to review plants, 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 consent as required by this Act;

(g) To lay down, modify or annual effluent standards for the sewage and trade effluents and for the quality of receiving waters (not being water in an interstate stream) resulting from the discharge of effluents and to classify waters of the State;

(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 specially the prevailing flow characteristics of water in streams and wells which render it impossible to attain even the minimum degree of dilution;

(i) To evolve methods of utilization of sewage and suitable trade effluents in agriculture;

(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;

(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.

(l) To make, vary or revoke any order: -

(i) For the prevention, control or abatement of discharge of waste into streams or wells;
(ii) Requiring any person concerned to construct new system 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;

(m) To lay down effluent standards to be complied with by persons while causing discharge of sewage or sullage on both and to lay down, modify or annual effluent standards for the sewage and trade effluents;

(n) To advice the State Govt. with respect to the location of any industry the carrying on of which is likely to pollute a stream or well;

(o) To perform such other functions as may be prescribed or may, from time to time be entrusted to it by the Central Board or the State Government.

Functions under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981

(a) To plan a comprehensive program for the prevention, control or abatement of air pollution and to secure the execution thereof;

(b) To advice the State Government or any matter concerning the prevention, control, or abatement of air pollution;

(c) To collect and disseminate information relating to air pollution;

(d) To collaborate with the Central Board in organizing the training of persons engaged or to be engaged in programs relating to prevention, control or abatement of air pollution and to organize mass education program relating thereof;

(e) To inspect, at all reasonable times, any control equipment, the prevention, control or abatement of air pollution in such areas; the prevention, control or abatement of air pollution in such areas; such directions to such persons as it may consider necessary to take steps for the prevention, control, or abatement of air pollution;

(f) To inspect air pollution control areas at such intervals as it think may be necessary, assess the quality of air therein and to take steps for the prevention, control or abatement of air pollution;

(g) To lay down, in consultation with the Central Board and having regard to the standards for the quality if air laid down by the Central Board, standards for emission of air pollutants into the atmosphere from industrial plants and automobiles or for the discharge of any other source whatsoever not being a ship or an aircraft; Provided that different standards for emission may be laid down under this clause for different industrial plants having regard to the quantity and composition of emission of air pollutants into the atmosphere from such industrial plants;

(h) To advise the State Government with respect to the suitability of any premises or location for carrying on any industry which is likely to cause air pollution;

(i) 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;

(j) To do such other things and to perform such other acts as it may think necessary for the proper discharge of its functions and generally for the purpose of carrying into effect the purposes of this Act.

Note: - The Govt. of Goa vide Notification No.14-1-88-STE dated 2-1-92 has extended the air pollution control area over the whole State.
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