In August 2021, the government formed the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) as a statutory agency to serve as the primary authority for managing air quality in Delhi NCR. The body has been in the headlines a lot because air pollution is a common concern in Delhi and the surrounding areas.
significant improvement
Air Quality Management: According to the AQI Bulletin provided by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi's daily average Air Quality Index (AQI) was 231 at 4 PM on Monday. The Sub-Committee for Operationalization of Actions Under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) of the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR & Adjoining Areas (CAQM) met on Monday to review the current air quality scenario in the region and make an appropriate decision regarding the preventive/restrictive actions under Stage-II of GRAP already in place in the entire National Capital Region (NCR) since October 21, 2023. This decision was made in light of the significant improvement in Delhi's average air quality over the previous few days, as well as the taking into consideration the meteorological/weather forecasts by IITM/IMD.
What is the Air Quality Management Commission?
The Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas, Act 2021 established the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), a statutory agency.
The Act, which was ratified by the president in August 2021, basically took the place of the Ordinance, which the government had previously issued in April 2021.
The primary goals of the Commission are improved research, identification, and resolution of air quality-related issues in the National Capital Region (NCR) and its surrounding areas.
The terms "adjoining areas" allude to regions in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan, the NCR's neighboring states.
Before the CAQM was founded, a number of organizations were in charge of monitoring and controlling the air quality in the Delhi-NCR area. The Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) of the National Capital Region (NCR), the state pollution control boards, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), and the relevant state governments were among the organizations involved.
The Supreme Court and the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change keep a close eye on these organizations as well.
Since the CAQM is now the main authority responsible for safeguarding and enhancing the quality of the air in Delhi and the National Capital Region, the Act now unifies all the bodies involved.
This will improve the coordination and efficiency of air quality control.
Through a number of cases, the Center also aims to relieve the Supreme Court of the burden of continuously monitoring pollution levels.
The Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA), which was chosen by the SC and in operation for 22 years, has been superseded by the CAQM.
According to the Center, the EPCA was no longer necessary and productive. Furthermore, it had no criminal provisions that the CAQM has been granted access to.
Any violation of the Commission's orders or directions may result in a fine of up to Rs. 1 crore or a prison sentence of up to five years.
Civil courts will not have the authority to consider cases affecting the CAQM; only the National Green Tribunal will.
The Sub-Committee noted the following while thoroughly examining Delhi-NCR's overall air quality parameters:
Delhi's average air quality index (AQI) has significantly improved over the past four to five days. It has been consistently below 300 since February 15 and as of 4:00 PM on February 19, or roughly 70 AQI points below the level that requires the GRAP Stage-II steps to be triggered (Delhi AQI 301-400).
Based on the IMD/IITM forecast, Delhi's average AQI is anticipated to remain in the 'Moderate/Poor' category in the upcoming days, with light rain or drizzle.
The Sub-Committee for Operationalization of Actions under GRAP therefore unanimously decided to revoke Stage-II of GRAP in the entire NCR with immediate effect, taking into account the trend of improvement in Delhi's overall AQI as well as the forecasts by IMD/IITM that do not indicate Delhi's average air quality moving to the 'Very Poor' category in the coming days (for which forecast is available).
Nonetheless, all agencies involved in the NCR will continue to invoke and oversee the implementation, monitoring, and review of Stage-I of GRAP actions. They will also maintain strict vigilance and step up their efforts under Stage-I of GRAP to avoid having to implement Stage-II of GRAP actions because the AQI level has fallen even further into the "Very Poor" category.
Since October 21, 2023, the entire NCR has been subject to activities under Stage-II of GRAP, based on the decision made by the CAQM Sub-Committee for the operationalization of GRAP. In order to avoid having to reimpose Stage-II of GRAP in the NCR, the Commission implores all agencies in charge of carrying out the various measures outlined under Stages I of GRAP as well as citizens and residents to carefully implement and obediently observe the provisions/charter of GRAP under Stage-I.
Authority & Duties of the Commission for Air Quality Management
The Commission has been granted broad authority to carry out its job. It is a strong body whose decisions take precedence over provisions in other laws.
To "protect and improve the quality of air in the National Capital Region," the Commission will have the authority to take action, give instructions, and consider complaints.
It will also establish guidelines for air quality and the emission or discharge of environmental pollutants, as well as coordinate state actions against air pollution.
It will also have the power to impose restrictions on industries operating in any given region and to randomly check any building, including factories. In the event of non-compliance, it may even close down an industry or turn off the water and electricity supplies.
Additionally, CAQM will keep an eye on the state-taken measures to avoid stubble burning.
Members of the Commission for Air Quality Management
The Chairperson of the Commission shall be a person with at least fifteen years of expertise in the field of pollution control and environmental protection, or twenty-five years of experience in administration.
An official from the Environment Ministry will also be among the members, along with one full-time member who currently serves as or has previously served as a joint secretary, five ex-officio members who are chief secretaries or secretaries from Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, three full-time independent technical members with expertise in air pollution, one full-time member who currently serves as or has previously served as a joint secretary, one representative from the NITI Aayog, and three members from non-governmental organizations that address air pollution.
Three additional members of the commission will be representatives of various ministries, including Power, Road Transport & Highways, Housing & Urban Affairs, Petroleum & Natural Gas, Commerce and Industry, and Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, in addition to stakeholders from the industry, agriculture, transportation, and construction sectors.
Additionally, representatives from any association in the business or industry sector will be present.
There will be a minimum of three subcommittees under the CAQM: identification and monitoring, research and development, and enforcement and safeguarding.
Air Quality Management Commission Issues
Some have voiced reservations about specific aspects of the Commission for Air Quality Management's formation.
Environmentalists have voiced their concerns on what appears to be a central government power consolidation.
Concern has also been raised about the Commission's membership, specifically the nominal participation of NGOs and environmental organizations. Bureaucrats are overwhelmingly prevalent.
The federal government is heavily represented, whereas state governments only have one representative each.
States have voiced concerns about the broad authority granted to the CAQM.
The administration has removed the judiciary's jurisdiction over the problem of air pollution by dissolving the EPCA.
Sources: http://caqm.nic.in/
Note for UPSC Aspirants: For UPSC aspirants interested in exploring further, here are some keywords to guide your research:Commission for Air Quality Management, CAQM, Air pollution, Delhi NCR, Environment, Pollution control, EPCA, Statutory agency, Environmental pollutants, Coordination, Industry restrictions, Stubble burning, Government authority, NGO participation, State concerns, Judiciary jurisdiction removal.
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