Lok Sabha passes Air Quality Commission Bill for NRC Adjoining Areas

Lok Sabha passes Air Quality Commission Bill for NRC Adjoining Areas

Subject: Environment

Context: The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed the Bill to formalize the Commission for Air Quality Management for National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas.

About the Bill:

• Commission for Air Quality Management for National Capital Region would be a ‘permanent’ body to address pollution in the National Capital Region Delhi and address sources of pollution in Delhi, Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
• It also dissolved the Environment Pollution Prevention and Control Authority established in the NCR in 1998.
• While the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and its State branches have the powers to implement provisions of the Environment Protection Act for air, water and land pollution, in case of dispute or a clash of jurisdictions, the Commission’s writ would prevail specific to matters concerning air pollution.
• The government has decriminalised the act of stubble burning, an important contributor to noxious air quality.
• However, environmental compensation fees are levied on those who are found to be engaged in stubble burning, including farmers.
• The all-powerful body assumed several powers to coordinate action among States, levy fines  ranging up to ₹1 crore or five years of prison  to address air pollution.

Composition: 

• Full time chairperson
• Members consist of both representatives from several Ministries as well as independent experts from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Civil Society.

Powers:

• The new body will have the power to issue directions and 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 lay down parameters for control of air pollution (such as permissible levels of emissions and discharge of pollutants).
• It will 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 have the powers to overrule directives issued by the state governments in the region that may be in violation of pollution norms.