law: Environment (Protection) Act, 1986  
  3. Power of Central Government to take Measures to Protect and Improve Environment 
  (1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Central Government shall have
  
  the power to take all such measures as it deems necessary or expedient for the
  
  purpose of protecting and improving the quality of the environment and
  
  preventing, controlling and abating environmental pollution.
  (2) In particular, and without prejudice to
  
  the generality of the provisions of sub-section (1), such measures may include
  
  measures with respect to all or any of the following matters, namely :
  ( i )
  
  co-ordination of actions by the State Governments, officers and other
  
  authorities -
  (a) under this Act, or
  
  the rules made thereunder ; or
  (b) under any other
  
  law for the time being in force which is relatable to the objects of this Act;
  (ii) planning and
  
  execution of a nation-wide programme for the
  
  prevention, control and abatement of environmental pollution;
  (iii) laying down
  
  standards for the quality of environment in its various aspects;
  (iv) laying down standards for emission or discharge of environmental
  
  pollutants from various sources whatsoever :
  Provided that different
  
  standards for emission or discharge may be laid down under this clause from
  
  different sources having regard to the quality or composition of the emission
  
  or discharge of environmental pollutants from such sources;
  (v) restriction of
  
  areas in which any industries, operations or processes, or class of industries,
  
  operations or processes shall not be carried out or shall be carried out
  
  subject to certain safeguards;
  (vi) laying down
  
  procedures and safeguards for the prevention of accidents which may cause
  
  environmental pollution and remedial measures for such accidents;
  (vii) laying down procedures and safeguards for the handling of hazardous substances;
  (viii) examination of such manufacturing processes, materials and substances as
  
  are likely to cause environmental pollution;
  (ix) carrying out and
  
  sponsoring investigations and research relating to problems of environmental
  
  pollution;
  (x) inspection of any
  
  premises, plant, equipment, machinery, manufacturing or other processes,
  
  materials or substances and giving, by order, of such directions to such
  
  authorities, officers or persons as it may consider necessary to take steps for
  
  the prevention, control and abatement of environmental pollution;
  (xi) establishment or recognition of environmental
  
  laboratories and institutes to carry out the functions entrusted to such
  
  environmental laboratories and institutes under this Act;
  (xii) collection and
  
  dissemination of information in respect of matters relating to environmental
  
  pollution;
  (xiii) preparation of
  
  manuals, codes or guides relating to the prevention, control and abatement of
  
  environmental pollution;
  (xiv) such other
  
  matters as the Central Government deems necessary or expedient for the purpose
  
  of securing the effective implementation of the provisions of this Act.
  (3) The Central Government may, if it
  
  considers it necessary or expedient so to do for the purposes of this Act, by
  
  order, published in the Official Gazette, constitute an authority or
  
  authorities by such name or names as may be specified in the order for the
  
  purpose of exercising and performing such of the powers and functions
  
  (including the power to issue directions under section 5) of the Central
  
  Government under this Act and for taking measures with respect to such of the
  
  matters referred to in sub-section (2) as may be mentioned in the order and
  
  subject to the supervision and control of the Central Government and the provisions
  
  of such order, such authority or authorities may exercise the powers or perform
  
  the functions or take the measures so mentioned in the order as if such
  
  authority or authorities had been empowered by this Act to exercise those
  
  powers or perform those functions or take such measures. 
  Comment:nIn the case quoted below the Supreme Court
  
  directed that:
  (a) all commercial/transport vehicles which
  
  are more than 20 years old (9,349) shall be phased out and not permitted to ply
  
  in the National Capital Territory, Delhi after 2nd October, 1998;
  (b) all such commercial/transport vehicles
  
  which are 17 to 19 years old (3,200) shall not be permitted to ply after 15th
  
  November, 1998; 
  (c) such of the commercial/transport vehicles
  
  which are 15 years and 16 years old (4,962) shall not be permitted to ply after
  
  31st December, 1998. 
  (d). This order shall apply to all
  
  commercial/transport vehicles whether registered in the National Capital
  
  Territory of Delhi or outside (but ply in Delhi) which are of more than the
  
  stipulated age. 
  (e). This ban order shall also be applicable
  
  to all such vehicles which do not have any authority or permit to ply in the
  
  National Capital Territory of Delhi. M. C. Mehta v. Union of India AIR 1999
  
  SUPREME COURT 291