Explanation:

Only statement 2nd is correct.

Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Bill, 2024

• The Lok Sabha recently passed the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment bill, 2024, which makes important changes to the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.

• Water is a State subject, and the Centre cannot directly pass legislative laws influencing water management.

• However, the Centre can create legislation, if two or more States demand it, and this can be made applicable by States over their territories if they adopt the legislation in their Assemblies.

• The amended version of the Act, Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Bill, 2024, will currently apply to Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan and the Union territories.

• The original Act (the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974) is applicable in 25 States.

• Decriminalization and Penalties: It decriminalizes several violations that were previously punishable by imprisonment, instead imposing penalties ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 15 lakh.

• Chairman of State Board: Specifies the central government's role in prescribing the nomination manner and service terms for the SPCB chairmen.

• Polluting Matter Discharge: Removes imprisonment as a punishment for discharging polluting matter, replacing it with financial penalties.

• Adjudicating Officer: It introduces the appointment of adjudication officers by the central government to determine penalties, with the ability to appeal their orders before the National Green Tribunal.

• Cognizance of Offences: It expands the scope for taking cognizance of offences to include complaints made by adjudicating officers.

• Government Departments Offences: It specifies penalties for heads of departments for offences committed by their departments, setting the penalty to one month of their basic salary.

Hence option 2nd is correct.