The Central Government today (30 December) issued directions, to all agencies, under Section 18 of Air Act, 1981, to control air pollution and improve the Ambient Air Quality in Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR). The directions have been issued to state governments of Delhi, Rajasthan, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
Directions issued by the Government note that:
- one of the functions of the State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) and Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) is to plan comprehensive programmes for prevention, control or abatement of air pollution and to secure the execution thereof;
- levels of Particulate Matter (PM10 & PM2.5) exceed the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) 2009 in the National Capital Region (NCR);
- the primary sources of air pollution in NCR States are: a) vehicular emissions; b) burning of biomass, Crop residues, Municipal Solid Waste and Garbage, c) Road dust; d) Constructions and Demolitions; and g) Industrial emissions, etc.;
- serious concerns have been expressed by the Supreme Court, High Court of Delhi and the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in the matter from time to time and specific directions have been issued;
- there have been regular meetings between Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change with the Government of Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan to evolve and implement short and long-term action plans;
- the concerned State Governments have agreed to implement identified actions on short and long term basis;
- clean air is a matter of right and it is necessary to implement steps towards improvement of Air Quality in the National Capital Region;
- functions of the Central Pollution Control Board under Section 16 of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 include improvement of quality of air and to prevent, control or abate air pollution in the country;
- steps are urgently required to improve air quality adopting a multipronged and integrated approach including close monitoring of implementation;
In view of the above reasons, the Government issued the following directions in exercise of powers under section 18(1) (b) of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, in order to improve the air quality in Delhi and NCR:
(A) Control of Vehicular Emissions:
- Launch extensive awareness drive against polluting vehicles;
- Ensure Strict action against visibly polluting vehicles;
- Install weigh in motion bridges at Delhi borders to prevent overloading;
- Take steps to prevent parking of vehicles in the non-designated areas;
- Introduce early alarm system for benefit of commuters related to traffic congestion on major routes for route diversion ;
- Consider introducing plan for Flexi/staggered timings to minimize peak movement of vehicles on the road;
- Take steps for retrofitting of diesel vehicles with Particulate Filters;
- De-congest pathways;
- Synchronize traffic movements / Introduce intelligent traffic systems for lane-driving;
- Install vapor recovery system in fueling stations
- Take steps for installation of remote sensor based PUC system etc.;
- Formulate action plan for controlling decongestion of fuel stations including increasing number of dispensing machines;
- Prepare action plan to check fuel adulteration and random monitoring of fuel quality data;
- Prepare action plan for public transport on CNG mode;
- Undertake road widening and improvement of infrastructure for decongestion of road;
- Promote battery operated vehicles;
- Take steps to expedite early completion of Western and Eastern Peripheral expressway and submit completion schedule
(B) Control of Road Dust/Re-suspension of dust and other fugitive emission:
- Formulate action plan for creation of green buffers along the traffic corridors;
- Introduce wet/ mechanized vacuum sweeping of roads;
- Maintain pot holes free roads for free-flow of traffic to reduce emissions and dust;
- Introduce water fountains at major traffic intersection, wherever feasible;
- Undertake greening of open areas, gardens, community places, schools and housing societies.
- Take steps for blacktopping / pavement of road shoulders to avoid road dust;
(C) Control of Air Pollution from Bio-Mass Burning:
- Take stringent action against open burning of bio-mass/leaves/tyres etc to control such activities and submit periodic status reports;
- Ensure proper collection of horticulture waste (bio-mass) and composting–cum-gardening approach;
- Ensure strict enforcement of ban on burning of agriculture waste and crop residues
- Prohibit use of coal in hotels and restaurants and eliminate use of kerosene for cooking in Delhi;
(D) Control of Industrial Air Pollution:
- Ensure strict action against unauthorized brick kilns
- Ensure strict action against industrial units not complying with standards ;
- Enforce strict compliance of conversion of Natural draft brick kilns to induced-draft;
- Launch action plan for switching over to natural gas by industries, wherever feasible.
(E) Control of Air Pollution from Construction and Demolition Activities:
- Control dust pollution at construction sites through appropriate cover
- Undertake control measures for fugitive emissions from material handling, conveying and screening operations through water sprinkling, curtains, barriers and dust suppression units;
- Ensure carriage of construction material in closed/covered vessels;
(F) Other Steps to control Air Pollution:
- Set-up helpline in States/UT for taking action against reported non-compliance;
- Evolve a system of reporting of garbage /municipal solid waste burning through mobile based applications and other social media platform linked with Central and State level Control Rooms;
- Establish Standard Operating Procedure to provide quick and effective response to complaints
- Take steps for maximizing coverage of LPG / PNG for domestic cooking purposes with intention of achieving 100%;
- Ensure DG sets meeting the standards only be allowed to operate
- Promote use of LPG instead of coal in restaurants/ dhabas/ road side eateries;
- Undertake Satellite based monitoring for tracking and enforcing agriculture waste burning;
- Take steps for setting up of bio-mass based power generation units to avoid bio-mass burning.
Specific time-frames have been laid down in these directions for taking urgent action in this regard. The State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) / Pollution Control Committee (PCC) have been directed to communicate the status of the implementation of these directions before 31stJanuary 2016 supplemented with ambient air quality monitoring data being maintained by them.
