The Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) on Monday has empowered the Supreme Court -appointed Environment Pollution Control and Prevention Authority (EPCA) to enforce the graded response plan under which measures like, ‘car-rationing’ odd-even scheme, may be implemented in the Delhi-NCR region if pollution levels touch emergency proportions.
“This gives us the handle to respond very quickly. Now it has a legal backing and actions are now very transparent and clear. The emergency measures will be decided on case-to-case basis. This can act as a strong catalyst as the system has been very nimble to address the situation. This is a very important step for public health protection,” said Anumita Roychowdhury, Executive Director (Research and Advocacy), Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).
“This is meant for the entire NCR. The institutional arrangement on emergency action for the worst situation is that the EPCA and the task force will evaluate the situation and take a decision on a case-to-case basis and on when the emergency measures should be implemented,” she said.
A comprehensive plan, prepared by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), was submitted to the Supreme Court on December 2 last year. The apex court had accepted and asked the Centre to notify it.
“In pursuance of sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (29 of 1986), the Central Government hereby assigns the task of implementation of the Graded Response Action Plan to the EPCA...” said the January 12 notification.
As per the notification, high level of air pollution in Delhi and National Capital Region of Delhi has been a matter of serious concern and requires urgent measures to address the issue, particularly with reference to episodic rises in pollution levels.
Emergency measures like odd-even car rationing scheme and ban on construction activities will be automatically enforced in the city if level of PM 2.5 breaches 300 micrograms per cubic metre and PM 10 levels stay above 500 micrograms per cubic metre for two consecutive days.
The prescribed standards of PM 2.5 and PM 10 are 60 and 100 micrograms per cubic metre respectively.
During ‘very poor’ air quality, diesel generators
must be banned and parking free increased by 3 to 4 times, the plan also recommends among others.