Increase in offences under 4 of 7 environment-related acts in 2022: NCRB 

The total number of environmental crimes in India decreased by around 18 per cent in 2022, compared to 2021, according to the latest data shared by the National Crime Record Bureau. But offences under four important acts meant for protection of the country’s air, water and environment increased, the report showed. 

In 2022, a total of 52,920 environmental-related crimes were recorded across the country, in comparison to 64,471 in 2021, according to Crimes in India, 2022.

Environment-related offences include violations under seven acts : The Forest Act, 1927 and 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, The Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, National Green Tribunal Act, 2010. 

As many as 81 per cent of the cases recorded in 2022 were for violations under the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003. But this law regulates the advertisement, production and trade of tobacco products and does not provide the real picture of crimes committed against the environment. The remaining six categories are a better barometer.

The cases registered under four of these six categories — The Environmental (Protection) Act, 1986, The Air and The Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 — have increased during 2021 and 2022. 

The cases registered for violating the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act and the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act have increased by around 42 per cent. In 2022, 78 cases were registered under these acts, compared to 55 cases in 2021. 

Violations registered under the Environmental (Protection) Act, 1986 also have increased by around 31 per cent, from 252 cases in 2021 to 329 in 2022.

This increase is primarily due to Uttar Pradesh, where the offences related to the Environmental (Protection) Act increased four times. In 2022, 103 cases were registered for violations under this act, compared to 25 cases in 2021.

Number of crimes registered under acts governing protection of forests and wildlife fell by 16 per cent and 13 per cent respectively, the NCRB data showed.

However, forest offences increased in four states – Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Haryana, according to the report. In Andhra Pradesh, for instance, 29 forest-related offences were registered, as compared to just three in 2021.

During the same period, in 13 states, forest-related crimes have decreased. Uttar Pradesh, the state which accounts for around 63 per cent of the crimes under the category, saw a decrease of around 9 per cent.

Wildlife offences increased in five states including Bihar, Punjab, Mizoram, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand. In Bihar, for instance, 50 wildlife-related offences were registered, compared to 12 in 2021. 

Rajasthan, with the maximum number (30 per cent) of wildlife crime cases in the country, recorded a 50 per cent increase in such offences in 2022 compared to 2021. 

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