Haryana adopts Water Prevention and Control of Pollution Amendment Act 2024

Chandigarh, September 2:- Taking a significant step towards improving environment-related activities and promoting Ease of Doing Business, the State of Haryana has adopted the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Act, 2024. With this, the amendments made in the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 applicable in the State have been made effective.
It is informed that the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 was enacted with the objective of preventing and controlling water pollution, and maintaining or restoring the purity of water.
The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Act, 2024 brings several important reforms. These are aimed at simplifying rules and procedures, rationalizing penalties and promoting a compliance system based on mutual trust. Along with this, it is also to ensure effective protection of the environment.
The state government has taken this step in line with its policy of ease of doing business, simplification of rules and reduction of compliance burden. At the same time, the original objective of ensuring protection of water resources and compliance with the prescribed environmental standards has also been retained.
The adoption of the amended provisions by Haryana is expected to result in a more efficient regulatory system for industries and other entities falling under the purview of the Water Act. These reforms will help reduce unnecessary procedural burden, encourage voluntary compliance and improve ease of doing business, and despite all this, there will be no compromise on the state’s commitment to prevent and control water pollution.
The amended framework provides for imposition of monetary penalty in lieu of legal action for some minor violations. At the same time, legal action will also continue for serious environmental violations like running a unit without permission. The amendments include uniform guidelines for granting, rejecting and cancelling permission to set up and operate a unit; A systematic mechanism for dealing with violations of the rules through adjudication process; and provisions for improving accountability under the regulatory framework are also included.
The Haryana State Pollution Control Board will take necessary steps to implement the revised provisions in the state. The Board will continue its monitoring, inspection and enforcement activities as per the revised legal framework and applicable environmental standards.
The State Government appeals to all industrial establishments, local bodies and concerned parties of Haryana to comply with the revised provisions and adopt sustainable methods to keep the rivers and water bodies of the state clean.