CPCB report on steps to contain air pollution in India, 06/03/2020
Compliance report by the Central Pollution Control Board in Original Application No. 681/2018 in the matter of news item published in the Times of India authored by Vishwa Mohan titled "NCAP with multiple timelines to clear air in 102 cities to be released around August 15."
The CPCB report was in pursuance to the NGT order of October 8, 2018, wherein all the states and Union Territories with non-attainment cities must prepare appropriate action plans within two months aimed at bringing the standards of air quality within the prescribed norms within six months from date of finalization of the action plans and approved by state level six member Air Quality Monitoring Committee (AQMC) and final approval by Chairman, CPCB on the recommendation of three member Committee.
Main Features of the Compliance Status filed by CPCB:
CPCB along with State Pollution Control Boards (SPCB) and Pollution Control Committees (PCC) were monitoring ambient air quality manually at 793 locations covering 344 cities and towns in 28 states and 7 Union Territories (UT) across the country under National Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP) and through real time stations in 219 stations covering 123 cities in 18 states and 2 UTs under Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring.
Further, the SPCBs/PCCs were also monitoring ambient air quality manually at 126 locations covering 86 cities and towns in 13 states under State Air Quality Monitoring Programme (SAMP). Twelve air pollutants like sulphur dioxide (SO2), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), Particulate Matter (PM10), PM2.5 and eight air quality parameters were monitored in Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) on real time basis.
The draft framework for Source Apportionment (SA) was shared with air experts and based on the inputs received from experts, framework for Source Apportionment study was finalized and circulated to all SPCBs/PCCs on October 10, 2019 through E-Samiksha. As per information provided by states, Source Apportionment study was awarded and completed in 45 cities and study was on in MOU/proposal stage in 35 cities. The methodology for assessment of Environmental Carrying Capacity (CC) was shared with concerned SPCBs/PCCs on December 16, 2019.
Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh and Telangana had provided details of carrying capacity. In addition, Bihar, Assam, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat had given report on the status for shifting of industrial units from residential areas and Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Punjab, Telangana and Nagaland had provided action point regarding shifting of polluting industries in city action plans.
CPCB officials inspected dumpsites with respect to bio remediation in Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Many shortcomings were noticed in the procedures adopted by different municipal corporations and the concerned municipal corporations were informed to follow the CPCB Guidelines on disposal of legacy waste, specifically with reference to stabilization of waste, proper screening of waste, action plan to include proposed destination for utilization of different fractions, leachate management system and testing of bio-earth, the CPCB stated in the report filed before the NGT.
States like Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh and Mizoram are coordinating with State Disaster Management Authorities and Meteorological Departments which would include emergency as a part of disaster management and Emergency Response System (ERS) developed accordingly. Also, under Multi Hazard Risk Assessment Project in Jammu & Kashmir had established State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) and District Emergency Operation Centre (DEOCs) for the purpose.
Note: The report was uploaded to the NGT site on June 9, 2020