The Prime Minister during February 1976 directed the State Government to establish an environmental committee or Board to look into Air, Water, Soil Pollution, Mining and other problems of environmental pollution. Subsequently in Uttar Pradesh, a State Board of Environment and Ecology was constituted with the same terms of reference as indicated in the Prime Ministers directive. The Administrative functions were performed by the Secretary, Science and Environment, Govt. of U.P. through the Directorate of Environment and Ecology, who was the Member Secretary of the said Board. The post of Director, Environment and Ecology was created in 1976 at the department.

The Central Government issued directions that clearance of the State Department or their identified nodal agencies be obtained before sending proposals to the Government of India. In response the Government of Uttar Pradesh issues directions in 1985 that the consent of the Directorate of Environment be compulsory obtained before sending any proposal to Government of India. Earlier as per orders of State Government all proposals for NOC had to be examined first by the Directorate before the Pollution Control Board could grant NOC.

* Eco-Development.
* Environmental Research Promotion.
* Protection and Conservation of Wildlife.
* Monitoring and Control of air and water pollution.
* Environmental Impact Assessment of Development projects.
* Establishing an Environmental Information System and Data Bank.
* To play a watch dog role, to study and bring to the attention of the Government and Parliament instances, causes and consequences of environmental degradation and to establish an environmental intelligence and early warning system.
* India’s interaction and cooperation with the United National Environmental Programme and International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.

* All matters relating to water and air pollution. This would involve administration of Water Pollution Board, Effluent Board and any organization relating to air pollution whenever it is established.
* Location of new industries, the development of new industrial areas and industrial estates.
* Planning of satellite towns and growth centers, so as to check the in flow into major urban centers.
* Liaison with the Archaeological Department of the Govt. of India to ensure that future developments are aesthetically integrated with the layout and architectural character of the existing monuments;] To devise ways and means, including raising of resources for basic housing facilities and preventing growth of slums in developing areas.
* Legislation relating to plantation of trees, etc., to maintain ecological balance in notified areas.

The Government of India has notified the National Environment Policy 2006. Its main components are enhancement and conservation of environmental resources, setting up of standards and their enforcement, identifying strategies of interventions and legislative and institutional measures needed to be put in places. The objectives include conservation,livelihood security, integrating environmental concerns with development processes, sustainability and resources bases. Based on the policy the following action points have been identified for the State:

* Identify and give legal status to environmentally sensitive zones in the State.
* Develop a network of public-private partnerships in monitoring environment. Utilize management resources of the private sector.
* Carry out natural resource accounting of selected areas in U.P.
* Encourage institutions to adopt appraisal practices so that environmental risks are adequately considered.
* Facilitate the integration of environmental costs in cost-benefit studies.
* Prepare an action plan on the use of economic instruments.
* Encourage adoption of science – based and traditional sustainable land use practices through research and development, pilot scale demonstrations and large scale dissemination using farmers training.
* Research on integrated approaches for management of river basins.
* Consider and mitigate the impact of development activities on river flora and fauna.
* Encourage research on environmental pricing of ground water. Support R&D in cost-effective techniques suitable for rural drinking water Projects for removal of Arsenic and Fluoride etc.
* Inventorise and classify wetlands on environmental criteria. Develop a State Inventory.
* Strengthen the monitoring and enforcement of emission standards for point and non point sources of air pollution with participation by local communities and schools.
* Developing viable models of public-private partnership for setting up and operating secure landfills and incinerators for toxic and hazardous wastes.
* Develop and implement strategies for clean up of existing hazardous waste dump sites.
* Set up model municipal solid waste handling facilities on pilot scale and open them to public for awareness.
* Demarcate silence zones- hoardings in collaboration with schools and hospitals.
* Set up a mechanism to network technology/research institutions in the State.
* Public and private cooperation in R&D for clean technologies.
* Promote research on development of revenue enhancing fiscal instruments for promoting shifts to clean technology.
* Start special mid career training programs for groups with special responsibilities e.g. the Judiciary, Policy makers, Legislators, Industrial managers, City and Regional Planners, Voluntary and Community based organizations.
* Work out media strategy and develop material.

* Encourage partnerships
Public – Community partnerships – Municipal Solid waste
Public – Private partnerships e.g. monitoring of environmental quality.

Discussions with Other agencies:

* In one meeting with Sri. Vinod Malhotra, Principal Secretary. Environment then the PHD Chamber of Commerce suggested the following actions:
* Create Data bank on clean and efficient technologies for waste management.
Prepare criteria for siting of industries.
* Create District Environmental Committees.
* To study the existing industrial areas in terms of their environmental strengths and weaknesses (Wate consumption/ Air quality/ roads/ drainage etc).
* Reward compliant industry.

As Per Policy Statement for Abatement of Pollution:

* Following action points have been identified for the State on the basis of the Policy Statement for Abatement of Pollution as enunciated by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Govt. of India in 2002:
* Collection and integration of environmental data.
* Analysis of Environmental audit reports.
* Research on developing economic instruments for better environmental management
* Promoting research for development of standards (Air, Water and Noise etc) based on carrying capacity assessments.