Section 44 of The Indian Ports Act, 2025: Measures for prevention or containment of pollution.
About this Act
An Act to consolidate the law relating to ports, promote integrated port development, facilitate ease of doing business and ensure the optimum utilisation of India's coastline; establish and empower State Maritime Boards for effective management of ports other than major ports; establish the Maritime State Development Council for fostering structured growth and development of the port sector; provide for the management of pollution, disaster, emergencies, security, safety, navigation, and data at ports; ensure compliance with India's obligations under international instruments to which it is a party; take measures for the conservation of ports; provide for adjudicatory mechanisms for the redressal of port-related disputes; and address matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
(2) Where the Central Government is satisfied that an incident which threatens or is likely to pose a threat of pollution to the coastal waters or related interests has taken place or is likely to take place, it may direct the port or State Government or the Authority or organisation, as may be applicable, to take such action for the prevention or containment or threat of such pollution in accordance with the applicable law.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this section, the expression “coastal waters” shall mean and include any part of the territorial waters of India, along with any part of the adjoining maritime zones of India or any marine area adjacent thereto over which India has, or, may hereafter have, exclusive jurisdiction in regard to control of marine pollution under the Territorial Waters, Continental Shelf, Exclusive Economic Zone and Other Maritime Zones Act, 1976, or any other law for time being in force.