Governance
Steps Towards Abatement of Air Pollution: CAQM
- 27 Sep 2021
- 4 min read
Why in News
The State Governments of Punjab, National Capital Region (NCR) States and Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) have developed detailed monitorable action plans based on the framework by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to tackle the problem of air pollution.
- The newly constituted commission (CAQM) has sweeping powers in controlling air pollution in Delhi-NCR.
- Also, recently, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has released new Global Air Quality Guidelines (AQGs).
Key Points
- Framework of the Commision: The CAQM has directed for implementation of the action, based on following components of the framework:
- In-situ Crop Residue Management- Supported by the CRM (Crop Residue Management) Scheme of the Ministry of Agriculture.
- Ex-situ Crop Residue Management.
- Prohibition of Stubble/Crop Residue Burning.
- Effective monitoring/enforcement.
- Plans/Schemes to reduce the generation of paddy straw.
- Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities for the Plan of Action.
- Action Plans:
- Recording Fire Counts: Adopting a Standard protocol developed by ISRO for recording and monitoring the fire counts owing to Stubble burning.
- In- situ Crop Residue Management : The PUSA Bio-Decomposer technology application is planned in NCR States.
- Ex-situ Crop Residue Management: Promoting utilization of Paddy Straw Pellets/Briquettes for Co-firing in Thermal Power Plants.
- Abatement of Dust: Establishing a “Dust Control and Management Cell’’.
- Monitoring construction and demolition through a dedicated Web-portal and Video fencing of projects.
- Installation of Anti-smog guns and screens at construction sites, dust-suppressants and water mist, transportation of materials in covered vehicles, installation of air quality monitoring sensors in project sites and Self-audit and certification mechanism by the project agencies are the key steps towards management of dust from construction and demolition project activities.
- Industrial Pollution: Shifting of Industries to Piped Natural Gas (PNG)/Cleaner Fuels should be a priority.
- Vehicular Pollution: The Commission has issued an advisory for “Mandating procurement of zero emission and e-vehicles” to give a further push to clean technologies in the transport sector and a gradual shift towards zero emission vehicles/e-mobility and progress reviewed.
- All the identified 124 border entry points of Delhi have now been provided with RFID system to facilitate cashless toll/ cess collection thus avoiding huge traffic congestions and resultant heavy air pollution at the border points.
- Monitoring:
- A dedicated taskforce envisaged in each NCR state to continuously monitor and take steps regularly to ensure smooth traffic management, including developing an “Intelligent Traffic Management System” (ITMS).
- Petrol/Diesel vehicles more than 15/10 years old are not permitted to ply in NCR and progress is reviewed periodically.
- State- wise action plans have also been prepared for control of Biomass/Municipal Solid Waste Burning and fires in Landfill Sites.
- A Decision Support System (DSS) for Air Quality Emergency response.
