Major programmes to control Air Pollution

National Clean Air Programme?

• It was launched by the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in January 2019.
• It is the first-ever effort in the country to frame a national framework for air quality management with a time-bound reduction target.
• The NCAP's goal is to reduce average particulate matter (PM) concentrations by 40% by 2026 in 131 cities. Initially aimed for a 20-40% reduction by 2024, the target was later extended to 2026

It covers 131 non-attainment cities which were identified by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

Non-attainment cities are those that have fallen short of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for over five years.

• • • NAAQs are the standards for ambient air quality with reference to various identified pollutant notified by the CPCB under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
    • List of pollutants under NAAQS: PM10, PM2.5, SO2, NO2, CO, NH3, Ozone, Lead, Benzene, Benzo-Pyrene, Arsenic and Nickel.

PRANA ( Portal for Regulation of Air-pollution in Non-Attainment cities), is a portal for monitoring of implementation of NCAP.

Graded Response Action Plan: The action plan which was formulated in 2016 and notified in 2017 for Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR).

• The plan was formulated after several meetings were held by Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) with state government representatives and experts.
• These are institutionalized measures to be taken when air quality deteriorates, hence works only as an emergency measure.
• GRAP includes the measures which will be taken by different government agencies to prevent worsening of Air Quality of Delhi-NCR and prevent PM10 and PM2.5 levels to go beyond the ‘moderate’ national Air Quality Index (AQI) category.
• If air quality reaches the severe+ stage, GRAP talks about shutting down schools and implementing the odd-even road-space rationing scheme.

Environment Pollution Control Authority

It was notified in 1998 under the Environment Protection Act, 1986. EPCA is a Supreme Court mandated body tasked with taking various measures to tackle air pollution in the National Capital Region.

New Commission for Air Quality Management

Tne new bill, provides for the constitution of a Commission for better coordination, research, identification, and resolution of problems related to air quality in the National Capital Region (NCR) and adjoining areas.

Adjoining areas have been defined as areas in the states of Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh adjoining the NCR where any source of pollution may cause adverse impact on air quality in the NCR.

It also dissolves the Environment Pollution Prevention and Control Authority established in the NCR in 1998.

Composition:

The Commission will be headed by a full-time chairperson who has been a Secretary to the Government of India, or a Chief Secretary to a State government. The chairperson will hold the post for three years or until s/he attains the age of 70 years.

It will have members from several Ministries as well as representatives from the stakeholder States.

It will have experts from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Civil Society.

Functions:

• • Coordinating actions taken by concerned state governments (Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh).
  • Planning and executing plans to prevent and control air pollution in the NCR.
  • Providing a framework for identification of air pollutants.
  • Conducting research and development through networking with technical institutions.
  • Training and creating a special workforce to deal with issues related to air pollution.
  • Preparing various action plans such as increasing plantation and addressing stubble burning.

Powers:

• • The new body will have the power to issue directions and entertain complaints as it deems necessary for the purpose of protecting and improving the quality of the air in the NCR and adjoining areas.
  • It will also lay down parameters for control of air pollution (such as permissible levels of emissions and discharge of pollutants).
  • It will also be in charge of identifying violators, monitoring factories and industries and any other polluting unit in the region, and will have the powers to shut down such units.
  • It will also have the powers to overrule directives issued by the state governments in the region, that may be in violation of pollution norms.

SAFAR: System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research, known as "SAFAR", for greater metropolitan cities of India to provide location specific information on air quality in near real time. It was introduced by the Ministry of Earth Science.

AQI: Air Quality Index (AQI) is a tool for effective communication of air quality status to people in terms, which are easy to understand. There are six AQI categories, namely Good, Satisfactory, Moderately polluted, Poor, Very Poor, and Severe. AQ sub-index has been evolved for eight pollutants (PM10, PM2.5, NO₂, SO₂, CO, O₃, NH₃, and Pb) for which short-term (upto 24-hours) National Ambient Air Quality Standards are prescribed.

National Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP) based dashboard, built on data from the Central Pollution Control Board’s National Ambient Air Quality Monitoring (NAAQM) Network which was started in 1984-85 and covers 344 cities/towns in 29 states and 6 UTs. Under the NAMP, each station records about 104 observations a year covering four pollutants– Sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), suspended particulate matter (SPM), and respirable suspended particulate matter (RSPM).

State pollution control boards and the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nagpur carry out the monitoring, and the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change oversees the operation under the NCAP.

What to do more to prevent Air Pollution?

Introduce Air Quality Bonds: Mandate industries and other major polluters to purchase Air Quality Bonds, where the bond amount is proportional to their emissions.

• • The funds collected can be used for remediation efforts, public awareness campaigns, and subsidies for clean technologies.
  • Non-compliance would lead to penalties or loss of the bond amount.

Biochar Brigade: Empowering rural communities, particularly women's self-help groups, to create and distribute biochar, a charcoal-like substance produced by burning organic waste in a controlled environment.

• • Biochar can be mixed with soil to improve fertility and sequester carbon. It can also be used as a fuel source, reducing dependence on polluting firewood.
  • The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana distributes LPG cylinders to rural households, reducing firewood use. A similar program could promote biochar production and utilization.

Increasing Urban Forest Canopy Cover: Launching a national competition among cities to increase their urban forest canopy cover.

• • Cities with the most significant increase in green spaces within a set timeframe win grants for further greening initiatives.
  • Curitiba, Brazil, is known for its innovative urban planning with a focus on green spaces. India could adapt similar strategies specific to its climate and urban environments.

Air Quality-Based Tolling: Implementing dynamic toll pricing on highways and bridges based on real-time air quality data.

• • This strategy can regulate traffic flow and reduce emissions during high-pollution days. Revenue generated can be used for public transport improvement or clean air initiatives.
  • Stockholm, Sweden, has implemented a similar system to manage traffic congestion. India can adapt this concept with a focus on air quality management.

National Air Quality Awareness Corps: Create a dedicated National Air Quality Awareness Corps comprising trained volunteers and professionals who can conduct grassroots awareness campaigns, educate communities, and promote citizen engagement in air pollution mitigation efforts.

Building with Biomimicry: Building construction can be revolutionized through biomimicry. For instance, incorporating natural ventilation systems modeled after termite mounds or developing facades with microstructures inspired by leaves can enhance airflow naturally.

• • Integrating greenery such as vertical gardens and rooftop plantings not only adds aesthetic value but also acts as natural air purifiers, absorbing harmful gases and particulate matter.
  • Green City Solutions from Europe that has introduced tree benches across major city landmarks is a significant example. These benches, coated with moss, effectively absorb pollutants from the air, offering a unique solution to combat pollution.