Which one of the following has been constituted under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986?

The correct answer is Option 3.

Key PointsCentral Ground Water Authority:

• It has been constituted under Section 3 (3) of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to regulate and control the development and management of groundwater resources in the country. Hence, Option 3 is correct.
• The Authority has been conferred with the following powers:
• Exercise of powers under section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 for issuing directions and taking such measures in respect of all the matters referred to in sub-section(2) of section 3 of the said Act.
• To resort to penal provisions contained in sections 15 to 21 of the said Act.
• To regulate and control, manage, and development of groundwater in the country and to issue necessary regulatory directions for the purpose.
• Exercise of powers under section 4 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 for the appointment of officers.

Additional InformationCentral Water Commission:

• It is a premier Technical Organization of India in the field of Water Resources and is presently functioning as an attached office of the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development, and Ganga Rejuvenation, Government of India.
• The organization currently functions as an office attached to the Ministry of Jal Shakti, under the Department of Water Resources, River Development, and Ganga Rejuvenation.
• It was established in 1945 by the Government on the advice of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Member (Labour) of the Viceroy’s Executive Council.

Central Ground Water Board (CGWB):

• It is a subordinate office of the Ministry of Water Resources, Government of India is the National Apex Agency entrusted with the responsibilities of providing scientific inputs for management, exploration, monitoring, assessment, augmentation, and regulation of groundwater resources of the country.
• Central Ground Water Board was established in 1970 by renaming the Exploratory Tube wells Organization under the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India.

The National Water Development Agency (NWDA):

• It was set up in July 1982 as an Autonomous Society under the societies registration act 1860, to carry out the water balance and other studies on a scientific and realistic basis for optimum utilization of water resources of the Peninsular river system for the preparation of feasibility reports and thus to give concrete shape to Peninsular river development component of National perspective plan prepared by Central Water Commission and the then Ministry of Irrigation (now Ministry of Jal Shakti, Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation(DoWR, RD& GR)).