A bill that seeks to establish a statutory authority with appropriate powers to deal with air pollution in the National Capital Region (NCR) and adjoining areas was passed by the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. To consider and pass the ‘Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and Surrounding Areas Bill, 2021′, introduced by Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav last week, amid the Pegasus espionage controversy and uproar by opposition members over the farmers’ issue was introduced.
Introducing the bill, Yadav said it is an important mechanism to tackle pollution in NCR and urged all the members to support the law. Several amendments introduced by opposition members were rejected by voice vote and the bill was passed amid sloganeering.
Once passed by the Rajya Sabha, the bill will replace an ordinance issued in the recent past. It is observed that a sustainable, dedicated and participatory mechanism adopting a collaborative and participatory approach involving relevant central ministries, state governments, local bodies and other stakeholders, states is lacking. To tackle air pollution in NCR and adjoining areas.
“It has been observed that the sources of air pollution, especially in the National Capital Region, are caused by a variety of factors that are beyond the local limits of the National Capital Region.
“Special attention needs to be given to all sources of air pollution that are associated with various economic sectors including electricity, agriculture, transport, industry, residential and construction,” it read.
As air pollution is not a local phenomenon, its impact is felt even in areas far from the source, creating the need for regional level initiatives through inter-state and inter-city coordination in addition to multi-sectoral synchronization . objects said.
For a permanent solution and to set up a self-regulated, democratically monitoring mechanism to tackle air pollution in NCR, urgent legislative to set up a Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and adjoining areas Measures were considered necessary. It will replace the old panels for public participation, inter-state collaboration, expert participation and streamlining continuous research and innovation.
As Parliament was not in session and there was an urgent need for legislation in this regard, the Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and adjoining areas Ordinance, 2020 was promulgated on October 28, 2020.
But a bill to replace the ordinance could not be introduced in Parliament. Consequently, the ordinance lapsed on March 12, 2021. Subsequently, the Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and adjoining areas, Ordinance, 2021 was promulgated on April 13, 2021.
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