Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM)

Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM)

Subject – Environment

Context – Thermal plant closure on the cards when air quality worsens: Panel

Concept –

• The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) is deliberating partial or complete shutdown of thermal power plants in Delhi-NCR, as part of its emergency measures when air pollution hits its peak in winter.
• Even if power production is cut by thermal power plants, the gap could be filled by renewable energy sources.
• The emergency measure will be taken depending on pollution source data fed by a modelling portal called Decision Support System.
• The incremental step was part of the now dissolved Environ-ment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority’s Graded Action Plan until 2020.
• Some measures of GRAP could be retained in the coming post-harvest season.
• The reconstituted 18-member CAQM was set up by the Centre in April and can issue directions “for the purpose of protecting and improving the quality of air in the National Capital Region and adjoining areas” in Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Rajasthan.
• Another regional action plan suggested by the statutory body is asking coal-based industries to switch to cleaner PNG.
• CAQM has asked state governments to expedite incentive-based e-vehicle policy.
• On stubble burning, share of which in Delhi’s PM2.5 pollution rose to 40% last year, the member said the commission is focusing on in-situ management measures through farm machinery or the recently introduced bio-decomposer.
• To control dust pollution, the commission has taken a cue from the Noida model under which self-reporting and measuring of air pollution before and after major construction by companies is mandatory. It has directed other states to follow this model, data of which is relayed to the respective pollution control boards and the Central Pollution Control Board.
• CQMS Action Plan
  • — Partial or complete shutdown of thermal power plants in the NCR region as an emergency measure in winter
  • — Asking states to speed up EV policy
  • — Directing coal-based industries to switch to PNG
  • — Self-reporting by construction agencies to cut dust pollution
  • — In-situ management of crop residue until collection point infrastructure is ready
  • — Decision Support System, a real-time forecasting model on pollution sources. It will be upgraded by next year after which even ward level pollution sources could be identified.
  • — Ban on vehicles entering Delhi without RFID tags

About Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM)

• The Commission for Air Quality Management was formed by an ordinance in October 2020, the “Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Ordinance 2020”.
• Chairperson: To be chaired by a government official of the rank of Secretary or Chief Secretary.
• The Commission will be a statutory authority.
• The Commission will supersede bodies such as the central and state pollution control boards of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, UP and Rajasthan.
• It will have the powers to issue directions to these state governments on issues pertaining to air pollution.
• Exclusive jurisdiction over the NCR, including areas in Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, in matters of air pollution, and will be working along with CPCB and ISRO, apart from the respective state governments.