The Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Bill, 2021
The Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Bill, 2021
Recently, The Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Bill, 2021 has been introduced in Lok Sabha.
- The Bill will replace the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) Ordinance, 2021, promulgated earlier in the National Capital Region and adjoining areas. It was promulgated by the President in April 2021.
- Nearby areas include Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, where there are multiple sources of pollution, adversely affecting the air quality in the NCR.
Key Provisions:
- The CAOM will replace the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) mandated by the Supreme Court.
- The mandate of this bill is to tackle the menace of toxic air in NCR and adjoining areas. Also, three sub-committees have been constituted to assist the Commission.
- This commission can levy and collect environmental compensation on farmers who pollute the air by burning agricultural waste.
Air pollution status in Delhi:
- According to the World Air Quality Report released by IQAir, Delhi has been the most polluted capital city in the world for the third year in a row.
- High levels of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides have been found in the toxic air of Delhi. Delhi needs to reduce it by 65% to meet the national standards of PM2.5.
Structure:
- The commission will be headed by an officer of the rank of Secretary to the Government of India or Chief Secretary to the State Government.
- The Chairman shall hold office for a term of 3 years or till he attains the age of 70 years.
- The commission will include representatives from various ministries as well as stakeholder states.
- In this, experts from Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and civil society will also participate as members.
Other initiatives to control air pollution in Delhi-NCR:
- Graded Response Action Plan:GRAP
- Comprehensive Action Plan and National Clean Air Programme.
- Odd-Even scheme.
- SAMEER app provides hourly updates on National Air Quality Index.
Source – The Hindu
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