Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (No. 29 of 1986).

The Act consists of 26 articles divided into the following Chapters: Preliminary (I); General Powers of the Central Government (II); Prevention, Control and Abatement of Environmental Pollution (III); Miscellaneous (IV).
The Act regulates the power of the Central Government to take measures to protect and improve the environment through means of planning, establishment of environmental quality standards, examination of manufacturing processes, collection and dissemination of information, preparation of manuals, etc. (sect. 3). Moreover, the Government has the power to issue directions, concerning, inter alia, the closure, prohibition or regulation of any industry, operation or process and the regulation of the supply of electricity or water or any other service. "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 (sect. 2). Provisions of Chapter III mainly deal with testing, sampling, inspection, and other control measures by the Central Government.