Which one of the following has been constituted under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986?

Answer: C. The CENTRAL GROUND WATER AUTHORITY (CGWA) has been constituted under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. CGWA was constituted in 1997 under SECTION 3(3) of the ENVIRONMENT (PROTECTION) ACT, 1986 by the Government of India to regulate and control development and management of groundwater resources in the country. CGWA's powers include: - Notifying areas where groundwater use needs to be regulated. - Issuing directions for closure of bore wells in over-exploited areas. - Levying environmental compensation. - Registering existing groundwater users. Distractors: (A) CENTRAL WATER COMMISSION (CWC) is the premier technical organisation for water resources but was set up by executive resolution in 1945, NOT under the EP Act. It is attached to Ministry of Jal Shakti. (B) CENTRAL GROUND WATER BOARD (CGWB) is a subordinate office of the Ministry of Jal Shakti, established in 1970 by reorganisation. CGWB conducts groundwater surveys and provides scientific assessments. It was NOT constituted under the EP Act; it is a technical body, not a regulatory authority. (D) NATIONAL WATER DEVELOPMENT AGENCY (NWDA) is a society under Ministry of Jal Shakti (1982) for inter-basin transfer studies. Not under EP Act. Only CGWA, with regulatory powers, draws its statutory authority from the Environment Protection Act 1986. Source: Environment (Protection) Act 1986, Section 3(3) Notification 1997 / Jal Shakti Annual Report.