Discussion Paper: Restructuring the Environmental Governance Architecture for India

The Discussion Paper examines the current architecture of the main environment related legislations, namely the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986; Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980; The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972; The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974; and The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, in the context of the Constitutional provisions and the evolution of approaches to better environmental management, including those emanating from international conventions. The Discussion Paper concludes that the current approach has been unnecessarily and inappropriately centralizing in character and that is the main reason why the legislations have failed in achieving their stated aims and objectives. The paper discusses desirable features of governance frameworks for the various legislations and makes certain suggestions for improving these frameworks.