MoEF asks States to finalise ‘time-bound’ action plans for critically polluted areas

Initiating urgent measures to tackle the issue of rising air pollution, Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has asked States in the country to ‘finalise the time-bound action plans’ for the identified critically and severely polluted areas in respective jurisdictions. The MoEF&CC has given a period of three months to the State Governments, Union Territories, State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs), and Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) for the purpose. The action plans are to be implemented in a time-bound manner ‘to restore environment quality within norms’.

A mechanism evolved after consultation with stakeholders for new activities/expansion by Red and Orange category of industries in critically or severely polluted areas has been devised, and the abovesaid direction has been issued as part of it. The Ministry has asked the SPCBs/PCCs to use ‘as warning tool’ the Comprehensive Environmental Pollution Index (CEPI) score assessment done by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). CEPI score assessment is to be used ‘to understand the severity of pollution existing’ and ‘to formulate appropriate action plan’.

The action plan is to be prepared by a committee constituted by Chief Secretary, and representatives of industries association may be included. The progress of implementation of action points may be reviewed by district and State-level monitoring committees every three months. The Ministry has asked the States/Union Territories to ‘ensure’ that there is ‘no slippage’ either in terms of time-frame or the activities to be completed relating to the action plan.

“In case of delay/inefficiency in implementation of action plan, the concerned State Government will take appropriate action against the responsible authorities, implementing agencies, industries etc,” states a letter issued by the Ministry in response to National Green Tribunal order issued in August earlier this year. Now, the SPCBs/PCCs have been asked to undertake environmental quality monitoring for evaluating CEPI in critically/severely polluted areas under their respective jurisdiction ‘through an outside third party recognised agency (laboratory).

The monitoring is suggested to be done twice a year -- pre-monsoon and post-monsoon. Interestingly, in the new guidelines, it has been suggested that the State Governments/Union Territories/SPCBs/PCCs concerned have to ‘place in public domain’ the action plans so prepared, environmental quality monitoring data, evaluated CEPI scores, and progress reports of committee meetings. CPCB also may carry out re-assessment of CEPI scores in critically polluted areas. Some stringent mitigation measures also have been suggested.

As far as air pollution mitigation measures are concerned, the Ministry in its new guidelines has suggested that stack emission levels should be ‘stringent than the existing standards’ in terms of identified critical pollutants. A detailed water harvesting plan has been sought to be submitted by the project proponent in case of proposals received for grant of environmental clearance. Besides, in case of domestic waste water generation of more than 10 KLD, the industry concerned ‘may install’ sewage treatment plant. As far as land component is concerned, dumping of waste (fly ash, slag, red mud etc) may be permitted ‘only at designated locations’ approved by SPCBs/PCCs concerned. In the recent past, CPCB and Maharashtra Pollution Control Board had a difference of opinion over CEPI score of Chandrapur.

Already, MPCB has launched Star Rating Programme. MPCB calls it ‘transparency initiative’, which discloses information on industrial particulate matter air pollution ‘in an understandable manner’. The least polluting industries are rated 5-stars and the most polluting industries are rated 1-star. MPCB had expressed displeasure over CPCB’s observations too. Against this backdrop, the new guidelines are significant for Maharashtra.