COMMISSION FOR AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT (CAQM)

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• Recently, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has directed NCR (National Capital Region) states to adopt a standard list of approved fuels to reduce air pollution.
• The standard list of fuels approved by the CAQM includes petrol, diesel, hydrogen/methane, natural gas, Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) and electricity.
• Many industries shifted to cleaner fuels such as PNG (Piped Natural gas) and biomass and many other industrial sectors such as food processing, distilleries and chemicals are already in the process of shifting to cleaner fuels.
• Shifting to cleaner fuels such as biomass and PNG in the industries of NCR region greatly contributes to reducing the load of pollution (e.g. industries of Alwar and Bhiwadi in Rajasthan).

CAQM

• CAQM is a statutory body formed under the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas, Act 2021.
• Earlier, the commission was formed through the promulgation of the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Ordinance, 2021.
• The Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas, Act 2021 also dissolved the Environment Pollution Prevention and Control Authority (EPCA) established in the NCR in 1998.
• To ensure better coordination, research, identification and resolution of problems surrounding the air quality index and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
• 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 an adverse impact on air quality in the NCR.
• 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:

1. Coordinating actions taken by concerned state governments (Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh).
2. Planning and executing plans to prevent and control air pollution in the NCR.
3. Providing a framework for identification of air pollutants.
4. Conducting research and development through networking with technical institutions.
5. 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.

SOURCE: THE HINDU,THE ECONOMIC TIMES,MINT