Centre’s pollution plan calls for stricter parking norms

The News

• The final Comprehensive Action Plan (CAP) to combat air pollution in Delhi-NCR in the long run was released by the Ministry of Environment and Forest in line with the recommendations of the SC-appointed Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority.

 

Background

• In accordance with the Supreme Court’s order in November 2016, the CPCB and Supreme Court appointed EPCA framed a graded response action plan to measure and suggest measures to tackle air pollution.
• Further in the aftermath of the landmark Vardhaman Kaushik v/s Union of India, GRAP was framed by CPCB.
• However GRAP was more curative and post-mortem in approach.
• Thus a need for a “preventive plan” was felt to tackle the problem of air pollution in Delhi-NCR in the long run.
• Thus the apex court had directed the appointment Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority to make recommendations to tackle air pollution in Delhi-NCR in the long run.

 

About Comprehensive Action Plan

 

 

• According to EPCA report 5 key sources of air pollution in Delhi are:

1. Vehicles
2. Combustion in power plants and industries using dirty fuels, like pet coke,coal and biomass
3. Garbage burning, both in landfills and other places
4. Dust management on roads, construction sites etc
5. Crop residue burning because farmers do not have alternatives for use of straw

• The Comprehensive Action Plan provides for source-wise clean air action plan and compliance strategy for Delhi and NCR to meet clean air standards.

 

1. Air quality monitoring

• Setting up of more real time monitoring stations.
• Enforce Graded Response Action Plan for uniform measurement of air quality levels.

 

2. Vehicular Emissions: Action to reduce vehicular emissions:

For New Vehicles

• Implementation of BS VI fuel and emission standards.
• Expand CNG programme across NCR including introduction of H-CNG.
• Introduce battery operated vehicles in targeted segments of two-wheelers, three-wheelers and buses.
• Install vapour recovery systems to reduce benzene emissions in NCR.

For Vehicles on-road

• Tighten PUC norms for post-2000 vehicles.
• Link PUC certificates with annual vehicle insurance to ensure 100 per cent compliance.
• Divert truck traffic.
• Strategies to reduce vehicle numbers on roads
• Improve Public transport.
• Augment the service of Metro for carrying more passengers
• BRTS to be implemented in targeted high frequency routes.
• Fare integration and common ticketing by introducing common mobility cards.
• Prepare and implement zonal plans for developing a Non-motorized transport network.
• Parking policy to reduce congestion and pollution.
• Traffic management: Introduce early alarm system during traffic congestion.

 

3. Power plants and industries

• Progressively close the older and more polluting thermal power plants in NCR and to move to cleaner natural gas.
• Permanent closure of Badarpur Power Plant
• Ban on furnace oil, pet coke, which are dirty industrial fuels with high Sulphur and heavy metals.

 

4. Open burning (including solid waste and agricultural residues)

• Take stringent action against open burning of biomass / leaves / tyres etc. to control such activities.
• Ensure proper collection of horticulture waste (biomass) and composting cum gardening approach

 

5. Domestic chulha burning and open eateries

• Prohibit use of coal in hotels and restaurants.
• Eliminate use of kerosene for cooking in NCR and incentivize move to LPG.

 

6. Control measures for road and construction dust