Explanation:

“For successful implementation of environmental protection programme, it is essential to identify and quantify the pollution sources, pollutants, conduct baseline survey, lay down standards and build-up monitoring systems”. To meet out these requirements, a competent laboratory is required with all necessary instruments, equipment, expertise, capabilities etc. 

The environmental laboratory plays a very important role in assessing the status of environment comprising both abiotic (soil, water and air) and biotic (flora, fauna and human being) components. An environmental laboratory is a laboratory processing samples taken from the environmental media (air, water, soil, biota) both from the environment as well as from sources disposing into the environment (industries, domestic and agriculture sources, automobiles etc.). The laboratories are the essential corner stones of any effective pollution control programme. The analytical laboratories provide qualitative as well as quantitative data for good decision making purpose. For generating this valuable data with a desired accuracy and to quantify concentration of the constituents present in the samples, the laboratory should have the desired facilities and capabilities to achieve the above goal.

Environmental impact assessment (EIA) was first introduced in India based on the Environmental Protection Act (EPA), 1986. But formally it came in to effect, when Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) has passed a major legislative measure under EPA in January 1994 for Environmental Clearance (EC) known as EIA Notification, 1994. Subsequently, EIA processes have been strengthened by MoEF by a series of amendments. The current practice is adhering to EIA Notification, 2006 and its amendments.

An assessment of EIA system in India. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/255795444_An_assessment_of_EIA_system_in_India [accessed Apr 12 2018].

There are over 27000 wetlands in India covering 18.4% of total area. Out of them, an overwhelming majority is of inland wetlands (23000) while few of them are coastal wetlands (4000). Around 70% of India’s wetlands are under paddy cultivation. Majority of wetlands in India are manmade.

There is no specific law for wetland conservation, management and use in India. The wetlands are covered under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. Using the powers given by this act, the Central Government had issued the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010.