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UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS | THE COMMISSION FOR AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT (CAQM) RELEASED THE POLICY TO CURB AIR POLLUTION IN THE DELHI NCR: | 15TH JULY | PIB

/ July, 2022, UPSC Daily Current Affairs

SYLLABUS SECTION: GS III (ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY)

WHY IN THE NEWS?

Recently, Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR & Adjoining Areas (CAQM) has formulated a Comprehensive Policy to abate the menace of air pollution in Delhi-NCR.

MORE DETAILS:

  • It is a crucial step towards overall amelioration of the air quality management of the National Capital Region (NCR) through differentiated geographical approach and timelines of action.
  • This policy contains sector-wise recommendations for Agencies and Departments of Central Government,
  • NCR State Governments and GNCTD along with Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and State Pollution Control Boards (PCBs) of NCR
  • It aims to prevent, control and abate air pollution in the NCR including industries, vehicles/ transport, construction and demolition (C&D), dust from roads and open areas, municipal solid waste burning, crop residue burning etc.
  • The policy framed by CAQM also deals with thermal power plants (TPPs), clean fuels & electric mobility, public transportation, road traffic management, diesel generators (DGs), bursting of fire crackers and abating air pollution through greening and plantation.
  • Owing to a deficit in infrastructure and systems across sub-regions of the NCR, wide variations in baseline actions, and varying levels of urbanization, a differentiated approach and timelines have been suggested for various sub-regions. These sub-regions include:
  • The National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi
  • The NCR districts near Delhi — Gurugram, Faridabad, Sonipat, Jhajjar, Rohtak, Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddha Nagar and Baghpat

Other NCR districts

  • The entire state of Punjab and the non-NCR districts of Haryana, primarily for addressing episodic events of stubble burning
  • The critical areas of transformation aimed for meeting the national ambient air quality standards include:
  • Widespread access to affordable clean fuels and technology in industry, transport and households
  • Mobility transition including through mass transit, electrification of vehicles, building walking and cycling infrastructure and reducing personal vehicle usage etc
  • Circular economy for material recovery from waste to prevent its dumping and burning
  • Dust management from C&D activities, roads/Right of Ways (RoW) and open areas with appropriate technology, infrastructure and greening measures
  • Strict time-bound implementation, improved monitoring and compliance.

SOURCE: PIB