Which of the following prompted the Govt. of India to enact Environment (Protection) Act, 1986?

Correct option is D

Introduction
· The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 is considered an "umbrella legislation" designed to provide a framework for the coordination of central and state authorities established under previous laws.
· It was enacted under Article 253 of the Indian Constitution, which empowers the Parliament to make laws for implementing international agreements.
· This legislation was a direct legal response to large-scale industrial disasters, emphasizing the need for stringent environmental safety and hazardous substance management.

Information Booster
· The Bhopal Gas Tragedy, which occurred on the night of December 2–3, 1984, was the primary catalyst that prompted the Government of India to enact the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
· Following the leak of Methyl Isocyanate (MIC) from the Union Carbide plant, the existing laws like the Water Act (1974) and Air Act (1981) were found insufficient to deal with industrial disasters of such magnitude.
· The 1986 Act was designed to fill these legislative gaps by giving the Central Government extensive powers to take all measures necessary to protect and improve the quality of the environment.
· It introduced the concept of "hazardous substances" and laid down specific procedures for handling them to prevent future industrial catastrophes.
· The Act also embodies the spirit of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment held in Stockholm in 1972, focusing on human health and environmental well-being.

Additional Knowledge
· River Ganga Water Pollution led to the launch of the Ganga Action Plan (GAP) in 1985 and was managed under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, but it was not the triggering event for the 1986 umbrella act.
· Endosulfan tragedy in Kerala involved the health impacts of aerial spraying of pesticides in cashew plantations, which gained significant national attention much later in the early 2000s, leading to a ban on the chemical rather than the creation of the 1986 Act.
· London Smog of 1952 was a severe air pollution event in the United Kingdom that led to the British Clean Air Act of 1956, influencing global air quality standards but having no direct role in the specific enactment of India's 1986 law.
· The 1986 Act is unique because it allows any person to approach the court regarding environmental violations (after a 60-day notice), a provision introduced to increase public participation in environmental governance following the 1984 disaster.