In news– The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in the National Capital Region and its Adjoining Areas has recently cited grave concern about air pollution and said it has issued directions to all NCR states to adopt a standard list of permitted fuels.
Standard list of permitted fuels-
- The list will come into force from October 1 for the areas where Piped Natural Gas (PNG) supply is available and from January 1 in other areas.
- The approved fuels for NCR include petrol and diesel (BS VI and with 10 ppm sulphur), hydrogen/methane for vehicular and industrial purposes, natural gas (CNG, PNG and LNG), Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG), propane/butane, electricity, aviation turbine fuel, biofuels, refuse derived fuel for power plants, cement plants.
- Firewood or biomass briquettes will be permitted for religious purposes.
- Wood or bamboo charcoal will be permitted only for tandoors and grills of hotels, restaurants, banquet halls across NCR (with emission channelisation or control system) and at open eateries and dhabas.
- Wood charcoal will be permitted for cloth ironing as well. For crematoria, electricity, CNG, firewood and biomass briquettes are the permitted fuels.
- The CAQM in June 2022 announced the ban on the use of coal in industrial, domestic and other miscellaneous applications in the Delhi-NCR region from January 1.
- The use of low-sulphur coal in thermal power plants was exempted from the ban.
- The order said a specific requirement of any other fuel by a class or category of industries, owing to technical or technological requirements, can be considered on merits.
- It added a specific category of industries outside Delhi will be permitted the use of low sulphur fuels namely LSHS, very low sulphur fuel oil and ultra-low sulphur fuel oil for metal smelting, melting, refining and heating furnaces.
- Metallurgical coke has been permitted for industrial purposes in standalone cupola-based foundries and biomass, agricultural refuse and pellets/briquettes for industrial boilers, power plants, biofuel projects, cement Industry.
Commission for Air Quality Management(CAQM)-
The Commission was set up for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas for better co-ordination, research, identification and resolution of problems surrounding the air quality index and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
The Commission have exclusive jurisdiction in the National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas i.e. States of Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, adjoining the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
Composition of the commission-
- Full-time Chairperson.
- One ex-officio representative from Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
- Government of India.
- Five ex-officio Members from Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
- Four full-time members, including three independent technical members.
- Full-time Member Secretary.
- One ex-officio technical member from CPCB.
- One ex-officio technical member from ISRO.
- Three members from non-Governmental organizations.
- One representative from National Institution for Transforming India.
- Three stakeholder members from agriculture, industry, transport or construction sectors.
Powers & functions of the commission-
- Co-ordination of actions with five State/UT Governments, officers and authorities.
- Planning and execution of programme for the region.
- Laying down parameters for the quality of air.
- Laying down parameters for emission and discharge of environmental pollutants.
- Restriction of areas in which any Industries, operations or processes or class of industries, operations or processes, that have implications on air quality in the region.
- Investigation and Research.
- Inspection of any premises, plant, equipment, machinery, manufacturing or other processes materials or substances.
- Giving directions to authorities or persons to take steps for the prevention, control and abatement of air pollution.
- Collection and dissemination for information in respect of matters relating to air pollution.
- Preparation of manuals, codes, guides relating to prevention, control and abatement of air pollution.
