Section Text
1986.
(2) It extends to the whole of India.
(3) It shall come into force on such date1 as the Central Government may, by notification in the
Official Gazette, appoint and different dates may be appointed for different provisions of this Act and for
Section 2 - different areas (a) “environment” includes water, air and land and the inter-relationship which exists among and
between water, air and land, and human beings, other living creatures, plants, micro-organism and
property;
(b) “environmental pollutant” means any solid, liquid or gaseous substance present in such
concentration as may be, or tend to be, injurious to environment;
(c) “environmental pollution” means the presence in the environment of any environmental
pollutant;
(d) “handling”, in relation to any substance, means the manufacture, processing, treatment,
package, storage, transportation, use, collection, destruction, conversion, offering for sale, transfer or
the like of such substance;
(e) “hazardous substance” means any substance or preparation which, by reason of its chemical or
physico-chemical properties or handling, is liable to cause harm to human beings, other living
creatures, plants, micro-organism, property or the environment;
(f) “occupier”, in relation to any factory or premises, means a person who has control over the
affairs of the factory or the premises and includes, in relation to any substance, the person in
possession of the substance;
(g) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act.
1. 19th November, 1986, vide notification No. G.S.R. 1198(E), dated 12th November, 1986, see Gazette of India,
Extraordinary, Part II, sec. 3(i).
2