Commission for Air Quality Management

Why in NEWS ?

• To tackle air pollution crisis in Delhi-NCR, the President of India on 28 th October,2020 signed an ordinance brought in by the Centre to form a commission for air quality management.

About

• The President of India gave his assent to the formation of a commission for air quality management.
• According to a government notification, this commission for air quality management will replace the EPCA (environment pollution and prevention control authority) which was formed by the Supreme Court as the apex monitoring body in matters of pollution in the country.
• Commission will be constituted for air quality management in Delhi-NCR and adjoining areas for better coordination, research, identification and resolution of problems surrounding the air quality index.
• This commission will also replace all other committees in order to streamline public participation, interstate cooperation in managing air pollution in NCR and adjoining areas.

Commission for Air Quality Management

Composition

• The 17-member-commission will be headed by a chairperson appointed by the Centre.
• The commission will be chaired by a government official of the rank of Secretary or Chief Secretary and will include the Secretary Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change and five other Secretary/Chief Secretary level officials as ex-officio members.
• The commission will have 3 sub-committees :
  1. Sub-committee on monitoring and identification
  2. Sub-committee on safety and enforcement
  3. Sub-committee on research and development

Area under Commission

• It will include representatives from Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Rajasthan.

Power

• The commission has been given executive powers to act upon those found violating directions set by it to curb the pollution crisis.
• The commission will also have the power to issue directions to abate pollution crisis, take up matters suo moto on basis of complaints, stop power supply or take action against any entity or industry.

Penalty

• There will be a penalty imposed for non-compliance to the commission's orders.
• The code of criminal procedure shall apply to anyone found stopping the officer from performing his/her duty as a member of the commission.
• The offence could be punishable with imprisonments upto a term or 5 years, with fine which may extend to RS 1 crore or more.
• Offence under the ordinance shall be non-cognizable and be triable under the national green tribunal act in the court of the national green tribunal (NGT).

Need

• Solicitor General Tushar Mehta had said that the Centre is considering bringing legislation on air quality management in NCR and adjoining areas, amidst a hearing related to stubble burning.
• Stubble-burning share in Delhi PM 2.5 concentration was 23% on 27 th October due to favourable transport-level wind direction and speed. It was 16% on 26 th October, 19% on 25 th October and 9% on 24 th October showing relatively upward trend.
• The city recorded average air quality index (AQI) which falls in the " very poor" category.