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Centre sets up permanent Commission to tackle air pollution in Delhi territory

Dissolving the 22-year-old Environmental Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) that has so far addressed air pollution in Delhi, the Centre has constituted a “permanent” body — the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas. Encompassing Delhi, Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, the all-powerful body assumes several powers to coordinate action among States, levy fines — ranging up to ₹1 crore or five years of prison — to address air pollution. Brought in via an ordinance on Thursday, it awaits formal perusal by the Supreme Court before it can be brought into effect. There will be at least six permanent members and it will be headed by a former or incumbent Secretary to the Government of India, or a Chief Secretary to a State government. It has members from several Ministries as well as representatives from the States. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and its State branches have the powers to implement provisions of the Environment Protection Act for air, water and land pollution. Their powers continue. However, in case of dispute or a clash of jurisdictions, the Commission’s writ will prevail specific to matters concerning air pollution. A major weakness, environmentalists and experts have said, in tackling air pollution in Delhi and the surrounding region, has been the inability of agencies such as the CPCB and the EPCA to consistently enforce rules on the ground. Rules to, for instance, factor in stubble burning or prevent pollution from thermal plants do exist, but these are often not strongly enforced always in States due to political considerations. A senior official in the government said the new Commission would be empowered to constitute special investigative groups for stricter implementation but the letter of the ordinance has no detail on the creation of new cadre or groups tasked with implementation. “The major issue with the ordinance will be when it comes to implementation, as EPCA had almost similar powers but failed miserably in cleaning the air even after being in force for more than 20 years. The question of whether it’s a positive move or just a distraction and wasteful exercise will be decided on the fact whether the ordinance changes the status quo when it comes to ground implementation and strict action on polluters or not,” said Sunil Dahiya, Analyst, Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. EPCA Chairman Bhure Lal, and Member Sunita Narain said in a letter to the Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar on Thursday that they “welcomed” the creation of a new Commission. They also listed key contributions of the EPCA — the notification of the Graded Response Action Plan that lists out measures to be taken in case of worsening pollution, the construction of the Regional Rapid Transport System and early adoption of BS-VI fuel standards, among other measures. “In the ultimate analysis, the effectiveness of the Commission will be determined by the choice of its permanent members, especially its Chairperson,” said Ajay Mathur, Director-General, The Energy Resources Institute. “We need to ensure that these members have the capability to bind together the States into air quality solutions that can and will solve our air quality problems.” Describing the Commission as a “bureaucratic vessel”, Navroz Dubash of the Centre for Policy Research said in a statement: “The fact that it was created practically overnight, with no discussion and input, does not inspire confidence that it will open the doors to a more fruitful conversation and action across all interests...The Commission is a lost opportunity to explicitly set the ground rules for an air-shed based approach — one that could have been deployed in polluted areas across the country.” Others rued the lack of diversity in representation. “Of the 15 members, only three members representing NGOs have been included. The Commission has been given power to co-opt members, but the majority are Ministries which are engaged in actions which contribute towards pollution — the Ministry of Power, Housing and Urban Affairs; Road Transport and Highways; Petroleum and Natural Gas. The only exception is the Ministry of Agriculture. Crucial Ministries missing are the Ministry of Rural Development, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Ministry of Labour,” said environmental lawyer Ritwick Datta in a statement.

Regulations for stubble burning in the offing – Penalty may include 5 year jail term, Rs one crore fine Read more at: https://www.deccanherald.com/national/regulations-for-stubble-burning-in-the-offing-penalty-may-include-5-year-jail-term-rs-one-crore-fi

The newly established Commission for Air Quality for Delhi NCR will establish a regulatory mechanism to control stubble burning in Punjab, Haryana and pockets of west Uttar Pradesh as crop residue burning remains the most important source of air pollution in Delhi-National Capital region at the onset of winter. The Commission would be having suitable legal and administrative authority to take up clean up measures to be undertaken in Delhi and adjoining states of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. Such measures would be taken in consultation with state governments. As the new body replaces the Supreme Court-mandated EPCA, its chairperson and former bureaucrat Bhure Lal and member Sunita Narain reminded Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar that taking actions to stop stubble burning and implementing a new parking policy in Delhi with steep charges for private vehicles were among the pending agenda that needed to be fulfilled to clean up Delhi air.

EPCA lauds creation of the new body that took its job

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Courtappointed Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority wrote to Union environment minister Prakash Javadekar on Thursday, welcoming the formation of a new commission to manage air quality in the National Capital Region. The proposed panel will replace the 22- year-old EPCA, which stood dissolved as on Thursday. Delhi government and environment experts also approved the setting up of the new body, but said the central government’s intent had to be backed by political will to deal with pollution. “It clearly shows the intent and determination of the Union government to mitigate toxic pollution in the region,” said EPCA chairman Bhure Lal and member Sunita Narain in the letter to Javadekar. “Over the past many years, we have worked to find solutions and to recommend action through our reports to the government and to the honourable Supreme Court. We are grateful for the consideration given to our work and to the fact that many of our recommendations have been implemented.” Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai said the state government welcomed the Centre’s ordinance on the new commission. However, he added, “Political will is required to combat air pollution. We do not see how the new commission is different from existing bodies like EPCA or CPCB.” Rai added that what was actually needed was a body headed by the Union environment minister with all state chief ministers as members. “We need to fix targets and accountability, else we will keep passing the buck from one commission to the next,” said Rai. Enumerating the measures it took since its formation in 1998, the EPCA letter said its present key works needed to be expedited and implemented by the new commission. The outgoing pollution monitoring panel suggested “fourthgeneration reforms” like “massive augmentation of intracity public transport” and weaning away of industries, power plants and other users from polluting fuels like coal to natural gas, electricity and renewable to ensure clean combustion. Experts told TOI that while the new body could play a key role in coordinating pollution alleviation steps, only enforcement on the ground would bring about significant change. “The new commission, through sustained attention to air quality, can help resolve interdepartmental coordination problems, but equally, without clear benchmarks of progress and without ways of devising creative solutions, it could reproduce old deadlocks,” opined Dr Navroz Dubash, Centre for Policy Research, and lead coordinating author, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Tanushree Ganguly, programme associate, Council for Energy Environment and Water, pointed out, “Unlike EPCA, which had representatives from Delhi institutions and public agencies, the new body will have representatives from all NCR states and its jurisdiction also goes beyond NCR. Having said that, the ordinance only sets up a dedicated authority to curb air pollution in NCR and adjoining areas but doesn’t outline the sectoral mandates.” Dr Ajay Mathur, director-general, TERI, said, “An important issue is the precedence accorded to the decisions of the commission with respect to those of the central and state pollution control boards. Mutually inconsistent actions among states (for example, GRAP in NCR and paddy stubble burning in upwind states) impede short-term air quality improvements and long-term solutions.” The ordinance adapts key learnings from the American experience, observed professor S N Tripathi, head, civil engineering department, IIT-Kanpur, and steering committee member of the National Clean Air Programme. “While the Environment Protection Agency is an empowered body, California posed a singular challenge as a hotspot. So, the California Air Resource Board was set up to tackle that particular airshed,” he said. Some eco activists, however, wondered whether the new body would be different from EPCA. “You are replacing one authority with a new one and a dozen senior bureaucrats,” said activist Vimlendu Jha “There is no mention of engaging and empowering grassroot executives who actually run the show and as far as we know nothing about funds and powers for CPCB or SPCBs.”

Move shows determination of government to mitigate pollution: EPCA writes to Prakash Javadekar

The Supreme Court-appointed Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) on Thursday wrote a letter to Union environment minister Prakash Javadekar welcoming the commission for air quality management in the national capital region and adjoining area ordinance, which has replaced the 22-year-old pollution monitoring body. Bhure Lal, chairperson, and Sunita Narain, member, EPCA, in a letter to Javadekar said that the move showed the intent and determination of the union government to mitigate the high levels of air pollution in the Delhi-NCR region. “Over the past many years, we have worked to find solutions and to recommend action through our reports to government and to the honourable Supreme Court. We are grateful for the consideration given to our work and to the fact that many of our recommendations have been implemented,” the letter read. Listing the actions taken by EPCA to tackle pollution levels in the region and the impact of those actions, the members said that there were some initiatives that the monitoring body was overseeing and now that the Central commission had taken over, their implementation could be continued to ensure long term solutions for air pollution in the Delhi-NCR region.

‘New body shows govt intent’: Epca bows out with grace after 22 years

The Supreme Court-appointed Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (Epca) on Thursday welcomed the ordinance to put in place a new anti-pollution agency that replaces the 22-year-old monitoring body. In a letter to union environment minister Prakash Javadekar, Epca chairperson Bhure Lal and member Sunita Narain said the move shows the intent and determination of the union government to mitigate the high levels of air pollution in the Delhi-NCR region. “Over the past many years, we have worked to find solutions and to recommend action through our reports to government and to the honourable Supreme Court. We are grateful for the consideration given to our work and to the fact that many of our recommendations have been implemented,” the letter read. Enlisting the action taken by Epca to tackle pollution, the members said there were some initiatives that the monitoring body was overseeing and now that the central commission has taken over, these can be implemented.

Centre Brings New Law By Ordinance To Tackle Air Pollution In Delhi-NCR

Faced with rising air pollution in Delhi-NCR, the Centre has introduced a new law through an ordinance that puts in place a powerful oversight body and provides for up to five years of jail term and ₹ one crore fine for violators with immediate effect. Under the ordinance released by the Ministry of Law and Justice today, the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) has been dissolved and replaced by a commission comprising over 20 members. "The ordinance may be called the Commission for Air Quality Management In National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Ordinance 2020. It shall apply to national capital region and also adjoining areas in so far as it relates to matters concerning air pollution in the NCR. It shall come into force at once," it said. The ordinance was signed by the President on Wednesday. As per the ordinance, the areas where it shall be in force include Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, adjoining areas of the NCR and Delhi where any source of pollution is located which is causing an adverse impact on air quality in the national capital region. The commission will have the power to lay down parameters of air quality, discharge of environmental pollutants, inspect premises violating the law, ordering closure of non-abiding industries/plants etc. "Any non-compliance or contravention of any provisions/rules or order/direction of the commission will be an offence punishable with a jail term up to five years or with fine up to ₹ one crore or with both," it said. The ordinance comes within days of a statement made by the Centre through Solicitor General Tushar Mehta in the Supreme Court during a matter related to pollution in the NCR in which he had said the Centre will bring a new legislation on "Air Quality Management in the National capital Region and adjoining areas". The Centre informed the Supreme Court on Thursday that it has come out with an Ordinance on curbing pollution and it has been brought into effect already. As per the new law, the Supreme Court appointed body, EPCA which was formed in 1998, has been dissolved and any action taken by it shall be deemed to have been taken under the corresponding provisions of the ordinance. "The order made under environment protection act 1986, constituting Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) For the national capital region wide order dated January 29, 1998, is hereby repealed and the EPCA is hereby dissolved. "Notwithstanding such repeal, anything done or any action taken by the EPCA for the NCR under the said order, shall be deemed to have been taken under the corresponding provisions of this ordinance, it said. The EPCA was a two-member body with Chairman Bhure Lal and member Sunita Narain, who also heads the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), an environment think tank. The members of the new commission as per the ordinance shall include a chairperson, who is or has been the secretary of Government of India or chief secretary of a state, a representative of environment secretary and five ex-officio members who are either chief secretaries or secretaries in charge of the environment department of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. The commission will also include two full time members who have been joint secretaries to the central government, three full-time independent technical members who have specific scientific knowledge regarding air pollution, one technical member from Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), one technical member nominated by ISRO and three members of NGOs having experience in matters concerning combating of air pollution. "There shall be a full-time secretary who shall be the chief coordinating officer of the commission and shall assist in managing the affairs of the commission," it said. Other than these, the commission may also appoint associate members, one representative each from the Ministry of Road Transport, Ministry of Power, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Ministry of Petroleum, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Commerce and Industry and a representative of any association of commerce and industry. The chairperson will hold the post for three years or until she/he attains the age of 70 years. The commission will have three sub-committees, one each for monitoring and identification, safeguarding and enforcement, and research and development. The commission will have power to take mitigation measures, issue directions/orders suo moto and entertain complaints under any other existing laws such as the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

Centre introduces new law through ordinance to tackle air pollution in Delhi-NCR

In a bid to tackle the persistent problem of air pollution in Delhi-NCR, the Centre has introduced a new law through an ordinance which comes into force with immediate effect. Under the ordinance released by the Ministry of Law and Justice on Thursday, the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) has been dissolved and replaced by a commission comprising over 20 members. The members are yet to be selected. Violation of the provisions entails a punishment of a jail term of up to five years or with fine up to Rs one crore or with both. "The ordinance may be called the Commission for Air Quality Management In National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Ordinance 2020. It shall apply to national capital region and also adjoining areas in so far as it relates to matters concerning air pollution in the NCR. It shall come into force at once," it said. The ordinance was signed by the president on Wednesday. As per the ordinance, the adjoining areas where it shall be in force include Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, adjoining areas of the NCR and Delhi where any source of pollution is located which is causing an adverse impact on air quality in the national capital region. The commission shall have the power to lay down parameters of air quality, discharge of environmental pollutants, inspect premises violating the law, ordering closure of non-abiding industries/plants etc. "Any non-compliance or contravention of any provisions/rules or order/direction of the commission will be an offence punishable with a jail term up to five years or with fine up to Rs one crore or with both," it said. The ordinance comes within days of a statement made by the Centre through Solicitor General Tushar Mehta in the Supreme Court during a matter related to pollution in the NCR in which he had said the Centre will bring a new legislation on "Air Quality Management in the National capital Region and adjoining areas". As per the new law, the Supreme Court appointed body, EPCA which was formed in 1998, has been dissolved and any action taken by it shall be deemed to have been taken under the corresponding provisions of the ordinance. "The order made under environment protection act 1986, constituting Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) For the national capital region wide order dated January 29, 1998, is hereby repealed and the EPCA is here by dissolved. "Notwithstanding such repeal, anything done or any action taken by the EPCA for the NCR under the said order, shall be deemed to have been taken under the corresponding provisions of this ordinance,” it said. The EPCA was a two-member body with Chairman Bhure Lal and member Sunita Narain, who also heads the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), an environment think tank. The members of the new commission as per the ordinance shall include a chairperson, who is or has been the secretary of Government of India or chief secretary of a state, a representative of environment secretary and five ex-officio members who are either chief secretaries or secretaries in charge of the environment department of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. The commission will also include two full time members who have been joint secretaries to the central government, three full-time independent technical members who have specific scientific knowledge regarding air pollution, one technical member from Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), one technical member nominated by ISRO and three members of NGOs having experience in matters concerning combating of air pollution. "There shall be a full-time secretary who shall be the chief coordinating officer of the commission and shall assist in managing the affairs of the commission," it said. Other than these, the commission may also appoint associate members, one representative each from the Ministry of Road Transport, Ministry of Power, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Ministry of Petroleum, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Commerce and Industry and a representative of any association of commerce and industry. The chairperson will hold the post for three years or until she/he attains the age of 70 years. The commission will have three sub-committees, one each for monitoring and identification, safeguarding and enforcement, and research and development. The commission will have power to take mitigation measures, issue directions/orders suo moto and entertain complaints under any other existing laws such as the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. It will have the power to prohibit activities that are likely to cause or increase air pollution in the NCR and adjoining areas. PTI AG AAR AAR

Air quality falls sharply, Greater Noida most polluted in state

Following a short breather, Noida and adjoining areas saw a sharp deterioration in air quality on Thursday with several areas of the city plunging into the “severe” category when even healthy people are affected. This is the first time this season that the air deteriorated to this level. On the day, Greater Noida was the most polluted city in Uttar Pradesh and second most polluted city in the national capital region (NCR), second to Charki Dadri in Haryana, about 90 kms west of Delhi. Slow wind did not help ventilation and pollution levels were almos nine times the standard in Greater Noida and seven times in Noida and Ghaziabad. “We are ensuring that adequate dust and emission control measures are taken to avoid further drop in the air quality, but the issue is that the met conditions are highly unfavourable at time leading to the spike in pollutants,” said Archna Dwivedi, regional officer, UPPCB, Greater Noida. The Air quality index (AQI) of Greater Noida on Thursday, on a scale of 0 to 500, was 412 or ‘severe’ against 324 a day earlier. The AQI of Noida was 383 against 301 a day earlier, while the AQI of Ghaziabad was 389 against 317 a day earlier. Meanwhile, sector-1 area of Noida also turned ‘severe’ with an AQI of 405. According to the pollution monitoring agencies and experts, weather conditions and higher share of stubble burning among the local emissions in the region led to the sharp deterioration of the air quality. The wind speed, according to the weather analyst was nil for most of the day, while some areas across Noida and Ghaziabad saw a wind speed of around three to five kmph for some time. “The wind speed was negligible for most of the day and only for a very short time the winds reached a maximum speed of five kmph, which was not enough for the dispersion of pollutants. The forecast is however promising as winds are likely to increase from October 30 up to 10-12 kmph, while on October 31 the winds will increase further,” said Kuldeep Srivastava, head, regional weather forecasting centre, India Meteorological Department (IMD). According to the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB), both PM2.5 and PM10 values of Noida and Ghaziabad saw sharp rise. For Greater Noida, the PM10 was 589.02 microgrammes per cubic metres (µg/m³) and PM2.5 levels were 275.6µg/m³. For Noida, the PM10 and PM2.5 levels were 459.99µg/m³ and 275.05µg/m³, respectively. For Ghaziabad, the PM10 level was 438.36 µg/m³ and PM2.5 was 255.13µg/m³. The CPCB standard limit for PM2.5 is 40µg/m³ while that of PM10 is 60 µg/m³. “PM10 or the large particles causes health issues like breathing issues by reaching up to the lungs however the PM2.5 damages the body further by mixing in the bloodstream thereby causing heart related issues,” said Shambhavi Shukla, program officer, air pollution, centre for science and environment (CSE). Meanwhile, according to System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), the stubble burning share in PM2.5 in the entire region of NCR, including Noida and adjoining regions was estimated to 36 per cent. “The stubble burning share in PM2.5 is estimated as 36 percent for today…Increased surface wind speed and better ventilation conditions are likely to significantly improve the situation by 31st October,” said a SAFAR statement.

On way out, EPCA lists what remains — starting with curbing crop burning

More than 22 years after it was set up on the orders of the Supreme Court, the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) has been superseded by a bigger, more powerful, and more representative body. In a letter written to Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar on Thursday, members of the outgoing EPCA listed the achievements of the authority over the years — early phase-in of BS VI emission norms, and the Graded Action Response Plan (GRAP) — and mentioned the tasks that lay ahead for the new Commission for Air Quality Management in the NCR: action on stubble burning and bio-medical waste management in the light of the Covid-19 pandemic, among others. “In the next phase of the agenda for clean air, fourth generation reforms need to be deliberated upon and implemented. That will necessitate the massive augmentation of intra-city public transport and move industries, power plants and other users away from polluting fuels, like coal, to natural gas, electricity and renewables to ensure clean combustion,” the letter said. The two-member EPCA, which was tasked with monitoring air pollution over the National Capital Region (NCR), was chaired by retired IAS officer Bhure Lal, and included environmentalist Sunita Narain, director general of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). Set up by the central government on January 29, 1998, EPCA has played a crucial role in the drafting of the long-term Comprehensive Action Plan (CAP) for combating air pollution, and the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), a set of emergency measures that kick in as the air quality in the NCR deteriorates. One of EPCA’s biggest achievements was the phase-wise replacement of Delhi’s public transport fleet from diesel to CNG, starting in 1998. In recent times, the early rollout of the BS VI grade fuel and emission standards has been an action with far reaching impact. After EPCA’s recommendations to the Union government and Supreme Court, the country skipped the BS V stage and rolled out the BS VI fuel by April 2020. BS VI fuel is estimated to have 80% less sulphur content than BS IV — from 50 parts per million (ppm) to 10 ppm. EPCA had also recommended building two bypasses to move traffic not destined for Delhi away from the city in 2004. These roads, now known as the Eastern and Western Peripheral Expressways, were commissioned in 2019, and were credited by Javadekar for preventing thousands of vehicles from from entering Delhi per day. A number of other measures, including a ban on pet coke and furnace oil in NCR states, setting up standards for sulphur dioxide (SO2) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx), and closure of the coal-based Badarpur power plant in Delhi, were taken by EPCA. Lal told The Indian Express, “We were satisfied with the work we did, and the government gave us space and means to do it… We share the government’s concern on air pollution, and the creation of the new Commission will be a good step, which will make work happen on a big scale.” In the letter to Javadekar, EPCA has listed the work that remains to be done — and this includes action to control stubble burning. “EPCA had endorsed the Union government’s plan for management of stubble in Haryana, Punjab and UP… Report number 117 details the current steps taken and what needs to be done for in-situ and ex-situ management of crop residue. This needs to be monitored closely…” Other pending work includes implementation of the parking policy in Delhi-NCR, augmentation of buses in Delhi, pollution control in hotspots of Delhi-NCR, and bio-medical waste management in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. “We believe that the Commission… with its increased participation from different Ministries and much more enhanced role and powers, will be able to make a huge difference and bring us, citizens, the much needed relief from breathing toxins,” the letter said.

दिल्ली-NCR में वायु प्रदूषण पर नियंत्रण के लिए केंद्र सरकार का नया कानून

नई दिल्ली। दिल्ली-एनसीआर में वायु प्रदूषण की गहराती समस्या के बीच केंद्र ने अध्यादेश के जरिए नया कानून लागू किया है। इसके तहत विभिन्न अधिकारों से लैस एक निकाय का गठन किया जाएगा और प्रावधानों का उल्लंघन करने पर 5 साल तक जेल की सजा या एक करोड़ रुपए का जुर्माना या एक साथ दोनों सजा हो सकती है। विधि और न्याय मंत्रालय द्वारा गुरुवार को जारी अध्यादेश के तहत पर्यावरण प्रदूषण (रोकथाम और नियंत्रण) प्राधिकरण (ईपीसीए) को भंग किया गया है और इसके स्थान पर 20 से ज्यादा सदस्यों वाले एक आयोग का गठन किया है। केंद्रीय पर्यावरण मंत्री प्रकाश जावडेकर ने संवाददाताओं से कहा कि दिल्ली-एनसीआर में वायु प्रदूषण पर नियंत्रण के लिए अध्यादेश के जरिए कानून लाना एक महत्वपूर्ण फैसला है और इससे शहर तथा आसपास के क्षेत्रों में प्रदूषण घटाया जाना सुनिश्चित होगा। जावडेकर ने कहा कि यह असरदार और कामयाब होगा। राजधानी में प्रदूषण के लिए जिम्मेदार पड़ोसी क्षेत्रों में प्रदूषण रोकने के लिए यह आयोग बनाया गया है। आयोग अध्यादेश का उल्लंघन करने वालों के खिलाफ कड़ी कार्रवाई करेगा। मैं आश्वस्त हूं कि नए कानून से दिल्ली-एनसीआर में प्रदूषण घटाया जाना सुनिश्चित होगा। इसमें कहा गया कि अध्यादेश को राष्ट्रीय राजधानी क्षेत्र और इससे जुड़े क्षेत्रों में वायु गुणवत्ता प्रबंधन के लिए आयोग अध्यादेश 2020 कहा जा सकता है। यह राष्ट्रीय राजधानी क्षेत्र और आसपास के उन इलाके तक लागू होगा, जहां वायु प्रदूषण से संबंधित मुद्दे हैं। आयोग का गठन अध्यादेश के जरिए किया गया है जिस पर राष्ट्रपति ने बुधवार को हस्ताक्षर किए। अध्यादेश के मुताबिक दिल्ली और एनसीआर से जुड़े इलाके, आसपास के क्षेत्र जहां यह लागू होगा उसमें पंजाब, हरियाणा, राजस्थान और उत्तरप्रदेश हैं। आयोग के पास वायु गुणवत्ता, प्रदूषणकारी तत्वों के बहाव के लिए मानक तय करने, कानून का उल्लंघन करने वाले परिसरों का निरीक्षण करने, नियमों का पालन नहीं करने वाले उद्योगों, संयंत्रों को बंद करने का आदेश देने का अधिकार होगा। इसमें कहा गया कि आयोग के किसी भी प्रावधान या नियमों या आदेश या निर्देश का पालन नहीं करना दंडनीय अपराध होगा जिसके लिए 5 साल जेल की सजा या एक करोड़ रुपए जुर्माना या एक साथ दोनों सजा हो सकती है। कुछ दिन पहले ही सुप्रीम कोर्ट में एनसीआर के प्रदूषण से जुड़े मुद्दे पर सुनवाई के दौरान केंद्र की ओर से सॉलिसिटर जनरल तुषार मेहता पेश हुए थे। उन्होंने कहा था कि केंद्र राष्ट्रीय राजधानी क्षेत्र और आसपास के इलाके में वायु गुणवत्ता के प्रबंधन के लिए नया कानून लाएगा। केंद्र ने गुरुवार को सुप्रीम कोर्ट को अवगत कराया कि वह प्रदूषण रोकने के लिए एक अध्यादेश लाया है और यह लागू हो चुका है। नए कानून के मुताबिक सुप्रीम कोर्ट द्वारा नियुक्त निकाय ईपीसीए को भंग कर दिया गया है और उसके द्वारा उठाए गए कदम पर अध्यादेश के संबंधित प्रावधानों के तहत कदम उठाए जाएंगे। ईपीसीए का 1998 में गठन हुआ था। ईपीसीए दो सदस्यीय निकाय था। इसके अध्यक्ष भुरेलाल और सुनीता नारायण सदस्य थीं। आयोग के एक अध्यक्ष भी होंगे। आयोग में दो पूर्णकालिक सदस्य होंगे जो केंद्र सरकार के संयुक्त सचिव होंगे। इसके अलावा 3 पूर्णकालिक स्वतंत्र तकनीकी सदस्य होंगे जिन्हें वायु प्रदूषण संबंधी वैज्ञानिक जानकारी होगी। केंद्रीय प्रदूषण नियंत्रण बोर्ड (सीपीसीबी) के एक तकनीकी सदस्य भी होंगे, तथा इसरो एक तकनीकी सदस्य को नामित करेगा। वायु प्रदूषण रोकने के संबंध में अनुभव रखने वाले एनजीओ के तीन सदस्य भी होंगे। आयोग सहयोगी सदस्यों को भी नियुक्त कर सकता है। आयोग में निगरानी और पहचान, सुरक्षा और प्रवर्तन तथा अनुसंधान और विकास में प्रत्येक से एक-एक के साथ तीन उप कमेटी होंगी। आयोग के अध्यक्ष तीन साल तक या 70 साल उम्र होने तक पद पर रहेंगे। आयोग के पास वायु (प्रदूषण रोकथाम और नियंत्रण) कानून 1981, और पर्यावरण (संरक्षण) कानून 1986 जैसे मौजूदा कानूनों के तहत निवारण के लिए मामलों का स्वत: संज्ञान लेने, शिकायतों पर सुनवाई, आदेश जारी करने का अधिकार होगा। (भाषा)

Late Diwali makes crackers more toxic

A late Kali Puja and Diwali this year means the air quality that day could be more toxic than previous years as pollutants released from firecrackers will float in cool air for a longer duration, air quality management specialists have warned. If firecrackers are burst indiscriminately this year, too, the effect on the air quality will be far more severe, the specialists said. Kali Puja and Diwali fall on November 14 this year. Last year, Diwali was on October 28 and Kali Puja the day before. Air quality management experts have urged the authorities to widely publicise the need to refrain from bursting firecrackers. If people are not aware, no regulatory body can enforce the ban on the bursting of illegal firecrackers, they said. The Covid-19 pandemic has made it all the more necessary to prevent a spurt in air pollution during Diwali, the experts pointed out. Doctors said inhaling toxic air could affect the functioning of the lungs. K. Srinath Reddy, the president of the Public Health Foundation of India, said: “The innate immunity of a person decreases in cold weather. It makes people more vulnerable to infections. Inhaling pollutants released by firecrackers can cause inflammation. If the novel coronavirus infects such a person, the likelihood of de-veloping complications is more.” Reddy, also a member of the National Task Force on Covid-19 management, called for “a smoke free Diwali and Kali Puja”. Anupam Debsarkar, a professor at Jadavpur University’s civil engineering department, who specialises in environmental engineering, explained why pollutants lingered in the air for a longer duration in winter. “During winter, the surface temperature is lower than other seasons. As a result, the air close to the ground is also cooler. Cool air is heavy and it stays close to the ground, instead of rising. The pollutants released by human activities remain trapped close to the ground as the cool, heavy air does not move away quickly.” During summer the warm air closer to ground rises and cooler air fills the vacuum. Because of the air circulation, the pollutants get dispersed in summer, something that does not happen in winter, said Debsarkar. Anumita Roy Chowdhury, the executive director of New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), said “the levels of PM2.5 reach 10 to 15 times the permissible limit in Calcutta immediately after Kali Puja and Diwali every year”. PM2.5 are tiny particulate matters that can go deep inside the lungs and disrupt their functioning. Prolonged exposure to PM2.5 can lead to severe diseases, including cancer, doctors said. An official of the West Bengal Pollution Control Board told Metro that they were not being able to raid firecracker factories like previous years because of the Covid pandemic. “The raids have been fewer this year. But we have information that firecrackers are being manufactured in lesser numbers in our state. We are not sure though about the level of production in Tamil Nadu’s Sivakashi and China,” said the official. “Apart from the locally manufactured ones, a lot of firecrackers that are sold in Bengal are made in Sivakasi and China.” Reddy said he apprehended crowding during Diwali, which could further increase the risk of the spread of Covid-19. “As cold air takes longer to disperse, crowding will mean clouds of the novel coronavirus released by an infected person would float for a prolonged period. Even in an outdoor environment, the risks of getting infected will remain,” added Reddy.

Delhi: Why your app may show ‘clean’ air when you can’t even breathe

New Delhi: A resident of Karol Bagh in west Delhi keen on pollution information has to walk a few kilometres to the nearest air quality monitoring station on Mandir Marg. The same station also provides the pollution data for Connaught Place, Sadar Bazar and Paharganj, though each place has differing sources of localised pollutants. Residents of east Delhi’s Mayur Vihar, Patparganj, Laxmi Nagar and Geeta Colony too rely on the DPCC air quality monitoring station at Patparganj though the air quality is different in each neighbourhood. This lack of resources at the hyperlocal level is, according to experts, a crucial lacunae in the capital’s expanded pollution monitoring setup. When TOI tried to gauge air pollution readings in different localities, it found localised data hard to come by, with the nearest air monitoring station often several kilometres away from a neighbourhood. Janakpuri in west Delhi currently rely on an air station at NSIT, Dwarka, and south Delhi’s Vasant Vihar and Vasant Kunj on the station at IGI Airport. Ambee, an environmental intelligence company measuring real-time air quality data at the postcode level using onground sensors and a combination of American and European satellites, felt that local sources of pollution may not be possible through fixed monitors and hyper-local monitoring was necessary. “Traditional monitors are unable to offer neighbourhood- or street-level data and so fail to provide a complete picture of air quality in the immediate surroundings,” said Akshay Joshi, CEO and co-founder, Ambee. “Hyperlocal air quality monitoring makes a difference by providing granular level data to help people make informed decisions, say, a longer but noticeably cleaner route while driving or the right time and path for jogging.” The company said specific factors like dust due to construction, traffic and population density make hyper-local data more accurate, while also allowing government agencies a chance to act on such micro sources of pollution. When analysing the Ambee data, TOI realised AQI could vary 20-30 points within neighbourhoods barely kilometres apart. Golf Links in central Delhi recorded an average PM2.5 level of 142 micrograms per cubic metre (accepted standard level is 60 micrograms) in a 24-hour period between October 26 and 27. In the same period, Rohini recorded a PM2.5 average of 207 micrograms per cubic metre, while Ghazipur’s reading was 210 micrograms. Ronak Sutaria, CEO, Respirer Living Sciences, pointed out that low-cost sensors and monitors generally cost 150th the cost of an ambient air quality monitoring station, with the accuracy levels generally varying by around 10%. However, he added that the right balance of ambient air quality monitoring stations and low-cost sensors could help a city develop a dense network of monitors. “Generally, it is the citizens, not the monitoring body, that need the information at the hyper-local level,” Sutaria noted. “For CPCB, the 36 stations in Delhi are sufficient for long-term data collection. But the local pollution control board can benefit by using hyper-local monitoring to identify local sources of pollution.” Sutaria said that there should ideally be a monitoring station or sensor every 1 sq km. Meanwhile, Anumita Roy Chowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, Centre for Science and Environment, believed that standardisation of low-cost sensors was necessary before they could be deployed to measure the exposure to pollution at the ground level. “Long-term ambient air quality monitoring is important and that is what these ambient air quality monitors do,” she explained.

Noida’s air quality improves, though still in very poor category

Meteorological conditions a day earlier helped improve the air of Noida and Ghaziabad on Wednesday, but Greater Noida’s dipped. Noida breathed the cleanest air since the past week for a while but as the wind speed dropped, the quality dropped again. According to the weather analysts, it’s only between October 30 and November 1 that the wind speed will rise again thereby improving the air quality. “The wind speed on Wednesday was low and around 6 to 8 kilometre per hour (kmph), however on Tuesday it was moderate at a speed of 18 to 20 kmph that had its effect today as well. This is the major reason that the air quality improved on Wednesday as well because the pollutants were dispersed. However, as the wind speed is set to drop, the pollutants may aggregate again,” said Kuldeep Srivastava, head, regional weather forecasting centre, India Meteorological Department (IMD). According to the data from Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB), the air quality index (AQI) of Noida, on a scale of 0 to 500, was 301 against 320 a day earlier and 376 before that. The AQI for Greater Noida also saw improvement from 332 a day earlier to 324 on Wednesday. The AQI of Ghaziabad however dropped from 306 a day earlier to 317 on Wednesday. “The improvement is remarkable however it’s due to the meteorological conditions a day earlier. The wind speed helped with the dispersion of pollutant both PM2.5 and PM10,” said Shambhavi Shukla, program officer, air pollution, centre for science and environment (CSE).

DG sets are banned under the Graded Response Action Plan (Grap) implemented from October 15 to tackle air pollution from slipping to ‘very poor’ and ‘severe’ category during winter months Earlier this week, Epca chairman Bhure Lal directed the Haryana pow

दिल्ली में साल 2019 में PM10 के स्तर में 2016 की तुलना में 25% और PM2.5 में 19% की कमी दर्ज की गई थी. मगर न तो इन दो प्रमुख वायु प्रदूषकों की गिरावट की गति और न ही राष्ट्रीय स्वच्छ वायु कार्यक्रम (National Clean Air Programme) के तहत मौजूदा लक्ष्य 2024 तक शहर की हवा को सांस लेने योग्य बनाने के लिए पर्याप्त है. NCAP ने पार्टिकुलेट मैटर के स्तर को कम करने का लक्ष्य रखा है. एनसीएपी (NSAP) ने साल 2017 के वायू प्रदूषण (Air Pollution) के स्तर से लेकर 2024 तक – पीएम 2.5 और पीएम 10 के स्तर को 20-30% तक कम करने का लक्ष्य निर्धारित किया है, लेकिन अगर दिल्ली (Delhi) अपने इस लक्ष्य को पूरा कर भी लेती है, तो भी इन खतरनाक प्रदूषकों का स्तर राष्ट्रीय परिवेश वायु गुणवत्ता मानकों की तुलना में काफी अधिक ही होगा. सभी प्रदूषकों जैसे पीएम, सल्फर डाइऑक्साइड और नाइट्रोजन ऑक्साइड में PM2.5 तक होता है, जो सबसे खतरनाक माना जाता है. ये सभी प्रदूषक फेफड़ों में गहराई से प्रवेश कर सांस संबंधी परेशानियों को विकसित करते हैं. केंद्रीय प्रदूषण नियंत्रण बोर्ड (Central Pollution Control Board) के आंकड़ों के अनुसार, 2019 में वार्षिक औसत PM 2.5,.. 40 माइक्रोग्राम प्रति घन मीटर (/g / m3) के राष्ट्रीय परिवेश वायु गुणवत्ता मानक के दोगुने से अधिक था, जबकि पीएम 10 का स्तर तीन गुने से अधिक था. सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (Centre for Science and Environment) की कार्यकारी निदेशक अनुमिता रॉयचौधरी ने कहा, ‘राष्ट्रव्यापी वायु गुणवत्ता मानक (national ambient air quality standards nationwide) को पूरा करने में सक्षम होने के लिए, हमें NCAP और शहरों में स्वच्छ वायु कार्य योजनाओं के कार्यान्वयन के लिए एक मजबूत अनुपालन और निवारक ढांचे की आवश्यकता है’.उसने कहा, “अपशिष्ट प्रबंधन के लिए बिजली और इंडस्ट्री सेक्टर, ट्रांसपोर्ट सेक्टर, क्लीन फ्यूल मूल्य निर्धारण और नगरपालिका रिफॉर्म में समयबद्ध सुधारों पर ध्यान देना अधिक महत्वपूर्ण है’. दिल्ली में प्रमुख प्रदूषकों के स्तर में लॉकडाउन के दौरान काफी कमी आई है, मगर अनलॉक के कारण आर्थिक गतिविधियों के शुरु होने के चलते ये स्थिति ज्यादा दिन तक सामान्य नहीं रहेगी. प्रदूषण के विभिन्न स्रोतों जैसे निर्माण कार्य और इमारत ढहाए जाने के बाद धूल का उड़ना, बायोमास जलना, इंडस्ट्रियल और वाहन से बड़ी मात्रा में प्रदूषक पदार्थों का निकलना, ये सारी गतिविधियां मुश्किलें खड़ी कर सकती है.

How To Not Waste A Crisis

Pollution mitigation is a matter of necessity and not choice. How to sustain the air quality gains post-Covid pandemic is a big challenge. By Anumita Roychowdhury This unprecedented public health emergency and economic disruption due to the raging COVID-19 pandemic have given us a new prism to understand the air pollution -challenge and its solutions. With vehicles off the road, -factories closed and construction activities halted, we have collectively observed the quick healing and rapid reduction in pollution. We have understood the scale of change that is needed to make the skies blue, and the air and lungs clean. While air quality has improved by default, the systems needed to sustain the air quality gains are under severe economic stress. This has made linking of postpandemic recovery with pollution mitigation a matter of necessity and not choice. Yet, there is not enough conversation on green recovery. With the economy reopening, the -‘retaliatory emissions’ are bound to increase as is already evident. This casts shadow on the viability of meeting the National Clean Air Programme (NACP) target of -reducing particulate pollution by 20-30 per cent by 2024 or meet the tougher target of national ambient air quality -standards nation-wide. What lessons do we draw from this disruption and -unintended experiment to shape the future action for clean air? This crisis cannot go waste Clean air action has to move quickly beyond the city limit to clean up the air shed of the larger region. Clean blue sky during the lockdown was possible because the regional -influence on local air quality could also be minimised. But the vast majority of the122 non-attainment cities -implementing multi-sector clean air plans under NCAP are small municipalities or industrial areas—just small specks in the air shed. This virtually amounts to hotspot pollution management without much regional impact. Moreover, effective clean-up needs a clear strategy for green recovery across all sectors. In the power sector, close to 70 per cent of coal power plants cannot meet the new emissions standards by 2022. How can clean air targets be met when coal power plants are responsible for over 60 per cent of particulate emissions, 45 per cent of sulphur -dioxide, 30 per cent of nitrogen oxides and over 80 per cent of mercury emissions from the industrial sector? Even though the new -economic recovery package for the power sector has -supported the cash-strapped power distribution -companies, this is not linked to sector reforms for more fund flow to enable a quicker uptake of emissions control systems, or to make these -projects more bankable or catalyse quicker retirement of old plants. The command-and-control -approach must also combine -incentives. Adopt first-run policy so that only those plants that meet the emission standards are allowed to sell power. Co-join this with cleaner fuels—gas power or renewable power trajectory. The -Covid-induced -economic -disruption showed the scale of change needed to make skies blue, and air and lungs clean. Moreover, economic recovery measures to support the energy sector also threaten to worsen -industrial pollution. Ease of doing business in the coal sector will bring cheap and low-quality coal, and increase industrial coal consumption in the small and medium-scale units. It will be harder for these units to install emission-control systems. Clearly, the post-pandemic recovery requires a clean -industrial fuel strategy. But cleaner natural gas cannot compete with cheaper coal as coal is taxed lower under GST. But natural gas is outside GST and loaded with state taxes. Bring natural gas under GST and reduce its tax -burden. Remove coal from open general licensing so that imports can be regulated and its use can be monitored. It is also clear that post-pandemic clean air action will be deeply affected by system failures. This is starkly evident in the transportation sector, which is already plagued by -enormous infrastructure deficit. Public transport systems have collapsed during lockdown due to the fear of contagion. Evidence from 14 state road transport undertakings -surveyed by UITP (International Association of Public Transport) shows 90 per cent reduction in ridership from the pre-Covid level with net losses escalating by 48 per cent. Viability gap-funding requirement from the -government has increased by 69 per cent for bus transport agencies. Urban India has only 48,000 buses when it needs at least 188,500 buses. How can bus transport recover -without reform-based bailout packages to meet higher level of ambition in clean air action plans? Similarly, mobility policies will have to be nimble enough to respond to the growing public interest in -walking and -cycling as contact--free travel, and also institutionalise the grand -experiment with -working from home to reduce travel requirements and emissions. Overall, curbing of vehicular emissions can be a challenge if the stimulus policies do not counter industry pushback on tighter real world emissions regulations linked with BSVI standards and commitment to a roadmap for at least 30-40 per cent electrification by 2030. Going forward, the biggest -hangover from the pre-pandemic era will be the lack of strategy and weak institutional capacity to curb pollution from all streams of waste—municipal and industrial waste and fugitive dust. The -current obsession with spot-fixing approach of inspection to find waste, removing and shifting waste does not work as there are no -systemic answers to where to take the waste, what to do with it, where is the infrastructure for recycling and material -recovery. Same is the challenge of the seasonal crop -residue burning. At the onset of the winter pollution, therefore, while we are seeking speed of action for emergency response to -winter smog episodes, it is clear that the big answers are possible only if deep-rooted reforms in industry, power plant, transportation, waste and household sectors are linked with green economic recovery and affordable clean energy access. This requires deeper community awareness and strong political support.

India's capital chokes on 'severe' smog as farm fires soar

New Delhi was blanketed in noxious haze Friday as air pollution levels in parts of the city soared to "severe" levels, hours after US President Donald Trump described the air in the vast nation as "filthy". Smoke from agricultural burning, vehicle fumes and industrial emissions -- combined with cooler temperatures and slow-moving winds that trap pollutants over the city -- turns air in the Indian capital into a toxic soup every winter. The air quality index at Delhi's 36 pollution monitoring sites -- which monitors tiny PM2.5 and PM10 particles that get into the bloodstream and vital organs -- was between 282 and 446, pushing levels into the "severe" category, the Central Pollution Control Board said. The "good" category is between 0-50, the government's environmental watchdog added. A "significant increase in stubble fire count" to 1,213 in Haryana and Punjab states was the highest of this season and made up 17 percent of Delhi's PM2.5 levels, the state-run System of Air Quality Weather Forecasting and Research added Friday. "Further deterioration of (air quality) is expected for the two days," SAFAR said. This season's burning started earlier because of advanced sowing and harvesting by farmers amid fears of labour shortages during the coronavirus pandemic, officials said. The worsening conditions came as Trump complained that action on climate change was unfair to the US. "Look at China, how filthy it is. Look at Russia, look at India -- it's filthy. The air is filthy," Trump said at his presidential debate with Democratic rival Joe Biden. Scientists warned this year's pollution season would make Delhi's 20 million residents more vulnerable to the coronavirus. "Air pollution increases the risk of noncommunicable diseases -- the same underlying conditions that make people more likely to experience severe illness or death from Covid-19," epidemiologist Sumi Mehta from global non-profit Vital Strategies told AFP. Healthcare systems, stretched by the pandemic, could be further stressed by more hospitalisations from pollutionrelated illnesses, researchers added. "There are serious worries that during winter when higher air pollution levels in any case worsens respiratory illness and increases hospitalisation, the vulnerability to Covid-19 may be further enhanced," Anumita Roy Chowdhury of the Delhibased Centre for Science and Environment told AFP. The chief medical officer of Gurugram city near New Delhi, Virender Yadav, told The Times of India Thursday some recovering Covid-19 patients were experiencing a reoccurence of respiratory conditions triggered by the heightened air pollution.