Brain Booster for UPSC & State PCS Examination (Topic: National Clean Air Programme)

Brain Booster for UPSC & State PCS Examination

Current Affairs Brain Booster for UPSC & State PCS Examination

Topic: National Clean Air Programme

National Clean Air Programme

Why in News?

  • The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has slammed the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) over its report on the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) which proposes 20-30 per cent reduction of air pollution by 2024.

National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)

  • The Central Government has launched NCAP under the Central Sector “Control of Pollution” Scheme as a long-term, time-bound, national level strategy to tackle the air pollution problem across the country in a comprehensive manner with targets to achieve 20 % to 30 % reduction in PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations by 2024 keeping 2017 as the base year for the comparison of concentration.
  • 102 non-attainment cities mostly in Indo-Gangetic Plains have been identified based on ambient air quality data for the period 2011 – 2015 and WHO report 2014/2018.
  • An Apex Committee at the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) at the national level, and at the Chief Secretary level in the States oversee implementation.
  • The cities which fall short of National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for more than five years are called "Non-attainment cities".

NGT on NCAP

  • A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice A K Goel said the stand of the MoEF that pollution cannot be controlled except to the extent of certain per cent is directly hit by the Constitutional and statutory mandate.
  • Right to clean air stands recognized as part of right to life and failure to address air pollution is denial of right to life under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution.
  • The tribunal said the enforcement of 'Sustainable Development' principle and 'Public Trust Doctrine' requires stern measures to be adopted to give effect to the mandate of international obligations for which the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and other laws have been enacted.
  • Under the NCAP, target is to achieve norms in 10 years and reduce load to the extent of 35 per cent in first three years with further reduction of pollution later.
  • It means for 10 years pollution will remain unaddressed which is too long period of tolerating violations when clean air is right to life. Further, it is not clear what type of pollutants or all pollutants will be reduced the bench observed.
  • The tribunal said that NCAP for reduction of air pollution does not fully meet the mandate of sustainable development. Targeted time of reduction of pollution loads needs to be reduced and planned steps need to be sternly implemented on the ground. MoEF may take further action as per law.

National Green Tribunal

  • The National Green Tribunal has been established on 18.10.2010 under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 for effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources including enforcement of any legal right relating to environment and giving relief and compensation for damages to persons and property and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
  • It is a specialized body equipped with the necessary expertise to handle environmental disputes involving multidisciplinary issues.
  • The Tribunal shall not be bound by the procedure laid down under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, but shall be guided by principles of natural justice.
  • The Tribunal's dedicated jurisdiction in environmental matters shall provide speedy environmental justice and help reduce the burden of litigation in the higher courts.
  • The Tribunal is mandated to make and endeavour for disposal of applications or appeals finally within 6 months of filing of the same.
  • New Delhi is the Principal Place of Sitting of the Tribunal and Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata and Chennai shall be the other four place of sitting of the Tribunal.