{"id":12436,"date":"2021-08-10T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-08-10T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/current_affairs\/uncategorized\/10-08-2021\/commission-for-air-quality-management-in-the-national-capital-region-and-adjoining-areas-bill-2021\/"},"modified":"2024-08-16T18:21:59","modified_gmt":"2024-08-16T12:51:59","slug":"commission-for-air-quality-management-in-the-national-capital-region-and-adjoining-areas-bill-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/10-08-2021\/commission-for-air-quality-management-in-the-national-capital-region-and-adjoining-areas-bill-2021","title":{"rendered":"Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Bill, 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><u>In News\u00a0<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Recently, the Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Bill, 2021 was passed by both Houses amid ongoing protests.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><u>Need for Bill\u00a0<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Lack of a Permanent Mechanism:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">There was a lack of a <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>permanent, dedicated and participative mechanism to <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">adopt a <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>collaborative and participatory approach<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> that involves relevant central ministries, state governments, local bodies and other stakeholders to tackle air pollution, in the NCR and adjoining areas.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Piecemeal Approach:\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The monitoring and management of air quality in the <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Delhi-NCR region<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> have been done in pieces by multiple bodies, including :<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: square;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #1155cc;\"><u>Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: square;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">States pollution control boards<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: square;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">State governments in the region, including Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan, and <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA)<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> of the National Capital Region.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">They all are monitored by the <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Union Ministry of Environment and Forests and Climate Change (MoEF)<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">, and t<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>he Supreme Court which monitors air pollution as per the judgment in the \u2018MC Mehta vs Union of India\u2019 case in 1988.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Issues in Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA):<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Over the years, the\u00a0 Supreme Court-<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>appointed Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority EPCA\u2019s powers<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> had been waning and it was felt that the EPCA had become redundant and had been ineffective in addressing issues related to air pollution.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It is observed that sources of air pollution, particularly in the National Capital Region, consist of a variety of factors that are beyond the <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>local limits of the National Capital Region.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Therefore, it was deemed necessary to take up immediate legislative measures to set up a <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It would replace old panels to streamline public participation, inter-state cooperation, expert involvement and persistent research and innovation.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><u>Major Provisions of the Bill\u00a0<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0The bill dissolves the <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Environment Pollution Prevention and Control Authority(EPCA) <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">established in the NCR in 1998.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The Bill seeks to create an o<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>verarching body <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">to consolidate all monitoring bodies and to bring them on <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>one platform so that air quality management <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">can be carried out in a more <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>comprehensive, efficient, and time-bound manner.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The government seeks to <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>relieve the Supreme Court <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">from having to constantly<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong> monitor pollution levels through various cases.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; border: none; table-layout: fixed; width: 624px;\" cellspacing=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"background-color: #fff2cc; vertical-align: top; border: 1px solid #000000;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><u>Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control)Authority (EPCA)<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In 1998, on the orders of the Supreme Court of India in <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>MC Mehta vs Union of India (1985)<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> constituted EPCA for Delhi NCR.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It is not a statutory body: The EPCA was not, however, supported by a legal framework in the form of a law.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">EPCA has derived its powers from section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It did have the power to enforce penal provisions.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Its mandate was limited as it had no participation from the concerned state.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><u>Composition of the New Commission<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Headed by: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>full-time chairperson with experience<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> of not less than <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>15 years in the field of environmental protection and pollution control or having administrative experience<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> of not less than 25 years.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Members<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">: an o<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>fficial from the Environment Ministry<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Five ex-officio members who are either chief secretaries or secretaries from Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">One full-time member who is or has been a joint secretary<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Three full-time independent technical members who are experts in air pollution<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">One technical member each from the Central Pollution Control Board and Indian Space Research Organisation.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Three members from non-governmental organisations who deal in air pollution and one representative of the National Institution for Transforming India.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The commission will have at least three sub-committees \u2014monitoring and identification, safeguarding and enforcement, and research and development.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><u>Powers and Functions of the New Commission<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Overriding Powers: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The rulings by the commission on air pollution will <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>override anything<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> contained in any other law. The powers of the commission will also <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>supersede that of any other body<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> in matters of air pollution.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Therefore, in cases where <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>conflict may arise between orders or directions<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> issued by the<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong> other state governments, state pollution control boards o<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">r even the Central Pollution Control Board, the orders of the c<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>ommission will prevail<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Improving the quality of air:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> The Commission will have the power to<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong> take measures, issue directions and entertain complaints<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> \u201cfor the purpose of protecting and improving the quality of air in the National Capital Region\u201d.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Coordination: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It will also coordinate action taken by states on air pollution and will lay down parameters for <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>air quality and emission or discharg<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">e of environmental pollutants.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Inspections: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0It will also have <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>powers to restrict industries<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> in any area, carry out random inspections of any premises including factories and be able to close down an industry or cut its power and water supply in case of non-compliance.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">M<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>onitoring: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It will also be m<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>onitoring the measures taken by the states to prevent stubble burning<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><u>Issues\u00a0<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Decriminalizing <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/current-affairs\/06-08-2021\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #1155cc;\"><strong><u>stubble burning<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong> for farmers<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The protests against a section of the Bill that <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>proposes penalization for <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/current-affairs\/06-08-2021\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #1155cc;\"><strong><u>stubble burning<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><u> <\/u><\/a><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">had started during the farmers\u2019 protests when unions had raised their voices against it. The Centre had conceded to their demands by decriminalizing stubble burning for farmers, or any other means of polluting.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: square;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">These offences earlier had a penal provision of imprisonment of up to 5 years and a fine of Rs 1 crore, the stiffest penalty that the Ministry has issued on air pollution offences so far.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: square;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">While the penalty still exists for other sectors and individuals, imprisonment is no longer imposed on the farming community.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: square;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">These changes were made in the April ordinance after negotiations with farmers and carried through to the Act.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: square;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">However, while <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Clause 14 of the Act <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">says that \u201cthe provisions of this section shall not apply to any farmer for causing air pollution by stubble burning or mismanagement of agricultural residue\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The very next clause says that the commission \u201cmay impose and collect environmental compensation from farmers causing air pollution by stubble burning, at such rate and in such manner, as may be prescribed\u201d.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Concentration of power:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Environmentalists have raised concerns over the concentration of power with the Central Government.\u00a0 They have also criticized the <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>overwhelming number of bureaucrats in the commission,<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> with \u201conly a token representation\u201d of <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>environmental bodies and non-governmental groups.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Jurisdiction issue:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The Act further says that <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>no civil court will have jurisdiction to entertain any suit, <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">proceeding or dispute pertaining to or arising out of the actions taken or directions issued by the commission and that orders of the commission can only be contested before the National Green Tribunal.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: square;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Environmentalists believe that this restricts legal action that can be taken on environmental matters as citizens so far could approach the Supreme Court and other courts directly with these issues.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><u>Way Forward\u00a0<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">There is a need to evolve and implement a consolidated approach for monitoring, <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>tackling and eliminating the causes for air pollution<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> and identifying, specifying and rigorously enforcing measures for <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>elimination and mitigation of air pollution<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It should be aimed at controlling or eliminating the activities of stubble burning, vehicular pollution, industrial emissions, road dust, biomass burning and urban construction.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Therefore, It is necessary to have a <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>statutory authority with appropriate powers <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">and charged with the <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>duty of taking comprehensive measure<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">s to tackle air pollution with power to coordinate with c<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>oncerned States and the Central government and issue directions to statutory authorities established under various laws\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Source:<\/span><\/span><\/span><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/explained\/delhi-air-quality-commission-explained-7444052\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #1155cc;\"><u> IE<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In News\u00a0 Recently, the Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Bill, 2021 was passed by both Houses amid ongoing protests.\u00a0 Need for Bill\u00a0 Lack of a Permanent Mechanism: There was a lack of a permanent, dedicated and participative mechanism to adopt a collaborative and participatory approach that involves [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12437,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[60,26,42],"class_list":["post-12436","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-current-affairs","tag-environmental-pollution-degradation","tag-gs-3","tag-literature"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2023\/07\/1770256current-affairs.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12436","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12436"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12436\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27401,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12436\/revisions\/27401"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12437"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12436"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12436"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12436"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}