Consider the following statements : 1. The Environment Protection Act, 1986 empowers the Government of India to state the requirement of public participation in the process of environmental protection, and the procedure and manner in which it is sought 2. The Environment Protection Act, 1986 empowers the Government of India to lay down the standards for emission or discharge of environmental pollutants from various sources Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. Statement 1 is incorrect. While the rules framed under the Environment Protection Act, 1986 (EPA), such as the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) notifications, mandate public participation, the Act itself primarily empowers the Government of India to make rules for environmental protection. It doesn't explicitly state the detailed requirement or procedure for public participation within the main text of the Act itself. 2. Statement 2 is correct. Section 3(2)(iv) and Section 6 of the Environment Protection Act, 1986, explicitly empower the Central Government to lay down standards for the quality of the environment and for the emission or discharge of environmental pollutants from various sources. 3. Therefore, only statement 2 is correct.