Number of environment-related crimes registered in India

India saw a decrease of approximately 18% in environmental crimes in 2022 compared to the previous year, according to a report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). However, violations under four crucial acts aimed at safeguarding the nation's air, water, and environment showed an increase.

In 2022, a total of 52,920 environmental-related crimes were reported nationwide, down from 64,471 in 2021, as per the Crimes in India, 2022 report.

These offences encompass violations under seven acts, including The Forest Act, 1927, The Forest Conservation Act, 1980, The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, The Environmental (Protection) Act, 1986, The Air and The Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, The Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003, and The Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, and National Green Tribunal Act, 2010.

Notably, 81% of the cases recorded in 2022 pertained to violations under the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003, which regulates tobacco product advertisement, production, and trade, but does not reflect environmental crimes accurately. The remaining six categories offer a more reliable indicator.

According to the report, a maximum number of violations (54,024) were recorded under the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act, followed by 7,217 under the Noise Pollution Act and 2,292 cases under the Forest Act and Forest Conservation Act category.

Tamil Nadu recorded the largest number of cases, 46,458, of which 46,433 were under the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act and 23 under the Noise Pollution Act.

The cases of violating the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act and the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act surged by approximately 42%. In 2022, 78 cases were registered under these acts, up from 55 cases in 2021.

Similarly, violations under the Environmental (Protection) Act, 1986 rose by about 31%, from 252 cases in 2021 to 329 in 2022.

The spike is primarily attributed to Uttar Pradesh, where offences related to the Environmental (Protection) Act quadrupled. In 2022, 103 cases were registered, compared to 25 cases in 2021. The number of crimes registered under acts governing the protection of forests and wildlife decreased by 16% and 13%, respectively, according to NCRB data.

However, forest offences increased in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Haryana. For instance, Andhra Pradesh witnessed 29 forest-related offences compared to just three in 2021. Conversely, forest-related crimes decreased in 13 states. Uttar Pradesh, which accounts for around 63% of such crimes, saw a decrease of about 9%.

Wildlife offences surged in Bihar, Punjab, Mizoram, Rajasthan, and Uttarakhand. In Bihar, 50 wildlife-related offences were recorded, up from 12 in 2021. Rajasthan, with the highest share (30%) of wildlife crime cases in the country, witnessed a 50% increase in such offences in 2022 compared to 2021.

Environmental crimes rising in India

This was followed by Rajasthan with 9,387 cases with 7,163 cases under the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act, 1,873 under the Noise Pollution Act, 224 under the Forestry Act and 106 under the Wildlife Protection Act. In addition, 19 cases were registered in Rajasthan under the Air and Water (Pollution Prevention and Control) Act.

The report also noted that the charge rate of states like Andhra Pradesh, Manipur, Sikkim, Mizoram, Nagaland and Odisha is 100 per cent.

Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest number of cases, 1,318, under the Forest Act and Forest Conservation Act, followed by Jharkhand with 265 cases. Rajasthan recorded 99 per cent of the cases (7,163 out of 7,217 cases) under the Noise Pollution Act, followed by 24 cases in Tamil Nadu.

Cases registered in 2020 and 2021

Most cases under the Forest Act were reported from 12 states:

Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Arunachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Bihar, Assam, and Uttar Pradesh.

Ten states registered a decrease in cases of violation of Forest Law.

Maharashtra, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Meghalaya and Telangana.

Four states, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, accounted for 85 per cent of the cases registered under the Forest Law.

What are the main environmental laws?

Indian Forest Act, 1927: Attempts to consolidate and set aside areas that have forest cover, or significant wildlife, to regulate the movement and transit of forest products. It also defines the procedure to follow to declare an area as Reserve Forest, Protection Forest or Village Forest.

Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 – provides for the protection of wild animals, birds and plants. It extends to the whole of India, except for the State of Jammu and Kashmir, which has its own wildlife law. It has six schedules that give different degrees of protection. Annex I and part II of Annex II provide absolute protection. Annex VI plants are prohibited from growing and planting

Environment (Protection) Act, 1986: Provides for the protection and improvement of the environment and the prevention of dangers to humans, other living things, plants and property based on decisions taken at the United Nations Conference on the Environment Held in Stockholm in June 1972. It was implemented in the wake of the Bhopal gas tragedy.

Air Law (Prevention and Control of Pollution), 1981: Last amended in 1987, the Law attempts to contain the levels of air pollution in the country. The Central Board for the Prevention and Control of Water Pollution will implement the provisions of the Law

Water (Pollution Prevention and Control) Act, 1974: Was enacted to prevent water pollution from industrial, agricultural, and domestic wastewater that can contaminate our water sources. The Law was last amended in 2003.

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