The state, to a great extent, is still free from the scourges of industrialisation. The people of Kerala are highly conscious of the need to protect the environment. Kerala is one of the 12 States of India whose legislatures passed resolutions requesting the Indian Parliament to make laws to prevent and control water pollution.
The United Nations Conference of 1972 was a watershed in the history of environment protection. Indian Parliament enacted the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act on 23rd March, 1974. In 1976 India became the first country to make provisions for the protection of environment in its Constitution through the 42nd Amendment.
The Kerala State Board for Prevention and Control of Water Pollution was constituted by the Government of Kerala on 12.09.1974 and thus became the first such State Board in India. The Board was renamed The Kerala State Pollution Control Board in 1984 on being entrusted with the implementation of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution ) Act, 1981. The Board is also implementing the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and various Rules and Notifications under the latter.
The Board is working under the Department of Health & Family Welfare of the Government of Kerala. Head Office of the Board is located at Thiruvananthapuram. It has its Regional Offices at Ernakulam and Kozhikode. District Offices have been established at Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram and Kannur. The Central Laboratory of the Board is at Ernakulam and there are laboratories attached to all the field offices.
Sustainable development, in essence, is achieving progress without causing permanent damage to the environment.   Changes in weather pattern, sea level rise, thinning of the polar ice and the hole in the ozone layer are symptoms of damage already inflicted by man's onslaught on nature.

Industrialisation is essential for progress.   But our very existence   can be in danger if the associated environmental damage is left unchecked. The Kerala State Pollution Control Board has the difficult task of striking the delicate balance between environmental sustainability and industrial progress.

The Board was initially entrusted with the responsibility of controlling water pollution and restoring and maintaining the wholesomeness of water bodies in the State.   The responsibilities have widened over the years and now include implementation of the following statutes aimed at protecting the environment.

• The Water(Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act;
• The Water(Prevention and Control of Pollution) Rules;
• The Water(Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act;
• The Water(Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Rules;
• The Air(Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act;
• The Air(Prevention and Control of Pollution) Rules;
• The Environment( Protection) Act;
• The Environment( Protection) Rules;
• Manufacture, Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemical Rules;
• Hazardous Wastes(Management and Handling) Rules;
• Manufacture, Use, Import, Export and Storage of Hazardous Micro organisms,
• Genetically Engineered Organisms or Cells Rules;
• Chemical Accidents(Emergency Planning, Preparedness and Response) Rules;
• Environment Impact Assessment and Public Hearing Notifications;
• The Biomedical Waste(Management and Handling) Rules;
• Recycled Plastic Manufacture and Usage Rules;
• The Noise Pollution(Regulation and Control) Rules;
• The Municipal Solid Wastes(Management and Handling) Rules;
• The Batteries(Management and Handling) Rules.