What’s in the news?

• A new video by Jhatkaa.org, titled #SaalBhar60, calls on citizens to participate in a nationwide digital movement on June 5, World Environment Day, by sharing photos from their city demanding “Clean Air for All.” A corresponding petition on the platform asks for the initiation of an autonomous “Clean Air Authority” who will solely be in-charge of reducing air pollution levels.
• The campaign demands that the Government put in place measures to ensure that the PM 2.5 levels in cities is 60 micrograms per cubic metre (μg/m3), which is the safe limit (for 24 hours) as prescribed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
• This will ensure a safe and healthy environment as well as boost the fight against COVID-19 post lockdown.
• This campaign will help in  better implementation of the National clean Air Programme undertaken by CPCB.

Jhatkaa.org

• Jhatkaa.org is a digital campaigning organisation committed to building grassroots citizen power across India in effective and innovative ways.

Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)

About

• The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), statutory organisation, was constituted in September, 1974 under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.
• Further, CPCB was entrusted with the powers and functions under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
• Principal functions of the CPCB, as spelt out in the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 are

1. To promote cleanliness of streams and wells in different areas of the States by prevention, control and abatement of water pollution, and
2. To improve the quality of air and to prevent, control or abate air pollution in the country

National Clean Air Programme

About

• It is a national-level strategy for reducing the levels of air pollution at both the regional and urban scales.
• The following are the objectives of the NCAP

Tenure

• In its first mid-term five year action plan with 2019 as base year it will be reviewed in 2024. It can be extended to 20-25 years in long term after mid-term outcomes.

Objectives:

• Stringent implementation of mitigation measures for prevention, control management of air pollution.
• Augment and strengthen air quality monitoring networks across the country.
• Augment public awareness and capacity building measures.

Target

• National level target of 20-30% reduction of PM 2.5 and PM 10 concentration by 2024.

Approach:

• Multi-sectoral and collaborative.
• Mainstreaming and integration into the existing policies and programmes of Government of India including NAPCC.
• Use Smart Cities framework to launch NCAP in the 43 smart cities falling in the list of 102 non-attainment cities.

IMPLEMENTATION OF NCAP

• The CPCB shall execute the nation-wide programme for the prevention, control, and abatement of air pollution within the framework of the NCAP.
• The NCAP will be institutionalized by respective ministries and will be organized through inter-sectoral groups, which include, in addition to the related ministries, the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Health, NITI Aayog, CPCB, experts from the industry, academia, and civil society.
• The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) acts as a nodal agency for the implementation of various provisions on control of air pollution from vehicles through Motor Vehicle Act, 1988, and Central Motor Vehicle Rules 1989
• The Apex Committee in the Ministry will periodically review the progress of these Components.