Which one of the following legislations does not deal with the protection of environment?

Answer: (d) The Port Laws Amendment Act, 1997

The Port Laws Amendment Act, 1997 is about port administration, not the environment.

The idea

India’s environmental laws came in two waves, each after a big event. The Stockholm Conference (1972) led to the water and air pollution laws. The Bhopal gas tragedy (1984) led to the Environment (Protection) Act and the laws on hazardous industry.

Stockholm 1972 → Water Act 1974 → Water Cess Act 1977 → Forest (Conservation) Act 1980 → Air Act 1981 → Bhopal 1984 → Environment (Protection) Act 1986 → Public Liability Insurance Act 1991

Why the others are wrong

(a) The Water Cess Act funds pollution control boards.

(b) The Forest (Conservation) Act limits diverting forest land.

(c) The Public Liability Insurance Act makes industries insure against accidents with hazardous substances (after Bhopal).

The trap

“Insurance” sounds financial, but the 1991 Act is an environmental safety law.

Also know

The Water Cess Act taxed water used by industries and local bodies to fund the pollution control boards; it was repealed in 2017 when GST came in. The Public Liability Insurance Act gives immediate relief to victims of accidents with hazardous substances, without their having to prove fault.