SC gives agencies 4 weeks to act on pollution measures, Pg3

Key Highlights:

• The Supreme Court directed state agencies to submit action plans within four weeks to implement long-term air pollution measures recommended by the CAQM.
• This directive follows a report by a CAQM-constituted expert team identifying the contribution of vehicular and other emissions to air pollution in Delhi-NCR.
• The CAQM report identified vehicular pollution as the most significant contributor to the worsening Air Quality Index (AQI).
• The CAQM proposed measures including phasing out polluting vehicles, enhancing emissions surveillance, expanding public transport, and accelerating the transition to electric vehicles (EVs).

Detailed Insights:

• The Supreme Court's order emphasizes the urgency of implementing long-term measures to combat air pollution in Delhi-NCR.
• The CAQM convened experts from various institutions to identify pollution causes and their proportional contributions through meta-analysis.
• Long-term measures suggested by the CAQM include expanding Metro and RRTS lines, revising EV policies, and expanding EV charging infrastructure.
• The Environment Compensation Charge fund may be used to ensure the smooth implementation of the pollution control measures.
• The court stated it would not entertain objections regarding the measures proposed by the CAQM.

Key Concepts Involved:

• CAQM (Commission for Air Quality Management): A statutory body responsible for air quality management in the National Capital Region and adjoining areas.
• AQI (Air Quality Index): A metric used to communicate the level of air pollution and associated health risks.
• Environment Compensation Charge: A fund created to collect compensation for environmental damage and utilize it for environmental protection and improvement.