• UGI USER
  • Dec 29, 2022
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Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) to take stringent action against use of heavy polluting fuels

Why in the News?

Beginning on January 1, 2023, the whole Delhi-NCR region would be coal-free in all industrial, home, and other uses, according to directives issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM).

 

Need for:

  • This step is taken to bring down greenhouse gas emissions in Delhi NCR. Delhi is among the world’s most polluted capital cities.
  • It will help save 1.7 million tonnes of coal annually.
  • It will also help reduce pollutants including particulate matter (PM), nitrogen oxide (NOx), CO2 and CO.

Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM):

  • In October 2020, the Commission was initially established by ordinance.
  • To make room for the Commission, the previous Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority, or EPCA, had been disbanded.
  • The Commission will have legal standing.
  • The Central and State Pollution Control Boards of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan will be replaced by the Commission.
  • The Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Bill was adopted by the Parliament in 2021.

 

Composition:

Chairperson: To be chaired by a government official of the rank of Secretary or Chief Secretary.

  • The chairperson will hold the post for three years or until s/he attains the age of 70 years.
  • It will have members from several Ministries as well as representatives from the stakeholder States.
  • It will have experts from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Civil Society.

 

Powers and functions:

  1. It will have the authority to provide these state governments instructions regarding matters like air pollution.
  2. In order to safeguard and enhance the quality of the air in the NCR and surrounding areas, it will consider complaints as appropriate.
  3. Additionally, it will establish guidelines for air pollution control.
  4. Additionally, it would be responsible for locating offenders, keeping an eye on local factories, industries, and other polluting facilities, and it will have the authority to close them down.
  5. Additionally, it will have the authority to veto any regional state government orders that may contravene pollution standards.