Article:
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has instructed the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to reassess and improve the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP). The NCAP, which was launched in January 2019, has a goal of reducing air pollution in India by 20-30% by 2024. However, the NGT has deemed these targets insufficient and is calling for stricter measures.
Understanding the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)
The NCAP is an initiative by the MoEFCC aiming at improving the quality of air across the country. The programme is a pioneer in establishing a national framework for managing air quality with a time-bound reduction target.
The initiative is focused on decreasing the concentration of coarse particles, known as particulate matter of diameter 10 micrometer or less (PM10), and fine particles of diameter 2.5 micrometer or less (PM2.5). The NCAP plans to cut these concentrations by a minimum of 20% in five years, starting from 2017.
The programme encompasses 102 cities that have failed to meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) over a five-year period. These non-attainment cities fall across 23 different states and Union territories and were identified based on their ambient air quality data between 2011 and 2015.
The NGT’s Perspective
According to the NGT, enforcing the ‘Sustainable Development’ principle and the ‘Public Trust Doctrine’ means adopting stringent measures for environmental quality. They argue this is necessary to adhere to international obligations relating to environmental quality under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
In essence, the Public Trust Doctrine suggests that the state holds the responsibility of managing resources for people’s benefit. As such, the right to clean air falls under the Right to Life, and not addressing air pollution connotes a denial of this right, as specified in Article 21.
NGT’s Recommendations
The NGT has expressed its view that the current timeline for air pollution reduction needs to be shortened and the reduction goal needs to be enhanced. It has recommended a review of measures including the transition to e-vehicles and CNG vehicles, development of public transport systems, mechanical cleaning of roads, increased public parking facilities, improvement in fuel quality, and better traffic management.
Furthermore, the NGT has directed state pollution control boards to guarantee the assessment and installation of the necessary number of real-time online continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Systems within six months. Additionally, an expert team from the Central Pollution Control Board has been instructed to design a model for source apportionment and carrying capacity assessment within two months. This model may then be replicated across all non-attainment cities.
About Source Apportionment and Carrying Capacity
Source apportionment, in environmental terms, refers to the practice of gathering information about pollution sources and quantifying their contribution to ambient air pollution levels. On the other hand, carrying capacity pertains to determining how many people an area can sustain without causing environmental degradation.
National Green Tribunal (NGT)
The NGT is a specialist body formed under the National Green Tribunal Act of 2010. Its primary function is to ensure quick disposal of cases related to environmental protection and conservation of forests and natural resources. The tribunal operates under the principles of Natural Justice and is obligated to dispose of appeals or applications within six months of filing. The NGT holds court in five locations – New Delhi, Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata, and Chennai, with New Delhi being the principal seat.
