Commission for Air Quality Management

Why is in news? Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change holds a meeting on air pollution with Environment Ministers of NCR States, GNCTD and Punjab

Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, held a virtual meeting with the Environment Ministers of NCR States, GNCTD and Punjab to review the activities being undertaken and planned by the States to manage the issue of air pollution in NCR.

The meeting was organized to ensure coordinated action and cooperation of all stakeholders to combat air pollution that affects Delhi NCR region in this season.

Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) made a detailed presentation on different aspects and challenges with regard to controlling air pollution in the NCR region.

The major sectors discussed in the meeting included agricultural stubble burning, industrial pollution, pollution from diesel generator sets, vehicular pollution, electric mobility, dust from road & open areas and dust from construction and demolition activity.

CAQM reiterated the comprehensive policy formulated and directed for targeted short/ medium/ and long-term action in various sectors by different agencies concerned.

CAQM further informed that several meetings have been undertaken with the agencies and State Governments to ensure awareness about management of air pollution, the Graded Response Action Plan and for monitoring and enforcement.

Commission for Air Quality Management:

The erstwhile Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority, or EPCA had been dissolved to make way for the Commission.

It is a statutory body formed under the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas, Act 2021.

The Commission basically aims at better coordination, research, identification, and resolution of problems related to air quality in NCR and adjoining areas.

Adjoining areas refer to areas in the neighbouring states of NCR namely, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.

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 she/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:

It will have the powers to issue directions to these state governments on issues pertaining to air pollution.

It will entertain complaints as it deems necessary for the purpose of protecting and improving the quality of the air in the NCR and adjoining areas.

It will also lay down parameters for control of air pollution.

It will also be in charge of identifying violators, monitoring factories and industries and any other polluting unit in the region, and will have the powers to shut down such units.

It will also have the powers to overrule directives issued by the state governments in the region, that may be in violation of pollution norms.