ENVIRONMENTAL TREATIES AND LEGISLATION

Abstract To address environmental issues that India and other countries face, it is essential and very important to commence action at all levels like global, regional, national, local, and community. It is not adequate to have international agreements, treaties and instruments on environmental issues and various problems but completion, implementation and enforcement of these policies and agreements to a large extent determine their impact and effectiveness. In the last few decades, there has been an increasing concern and consciousness about the need to protect the environment, nationally and internationally. Under the structure of the Indian Constitution, a number of Articles are enumerated in which environmental duties to preserve the natural resources of the country have been stated like Articles 48–A and 51–A[g]. Additionally, the Constitution also provides procedures in Articles 252 and 253 for adopting national legislations in regard to the needs of the States. The constitutional mandates and other environmental laws or regulations in India effective, successful and urgent need to streamline enforcement. The creative and innovative role of Indian Judiciary and National Green Tribunal [NGT] has been significant and laudable in this era. In this research paper, an effort has been made to momentarily outline the various Indian legislations and international treaties relating to the environment, which are mainly and more relevant to protect and improve the environment in India. The enforcement, scope and limit of these legislations has also been critically examined and evaluated in systematically manner. Protection of the environment and keeping ecological balance in Indian scenario unaffected is a task which not only the Government but also every individual, association, society, industry and corporation must undertake. It is a social compulsion and fundamental duty enshrined in Article 51–A[g] of the Indian Constitution. Key word: Environmental Protection, International Treaties, Convections, Environmental Laws.