Central Pollution Control Board
Also called: CPCB · Topic: Geographical Issues: Pollution, Urban Waste, Slums and Land Degradation · NCERT: Class 12, Ch 4 "Water Resources"
Meaning
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) is India's main government body for checking pollution. It is a statutory body, which means a law created it. That law was the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974. It now works under the Union environment ministry. With the state pollution control boards, it monitors the quality of water and air across the country and sets standards for them. Its data is the base for most pollution figures used in India.
Example
NCERT records that the CPCB, with the state boards, checked river and lake water at 507 stations. The network is now far larger (verify current). In 2022, CPCB data showed 311 polluted river stretches on 279 rivers, with Maharashtra having the most.
Don't confuse with
- Environment (Protection) Act 1986: this is a later umbrella law passed after the Bhopal gas tragedy. The CPCB was not set up under it. It was created under the Water Act 1974.
- National Green Tribunal: this is a special court set up in 2010 to decide environmental cases. The CPCB monitors pollution and sets standards. It does not judge cases.