Centre’s Air Quality Commission 

Centre’s Air Quality Commission 

Part of: Prelims and GS-III- Environment

In News: The Supreme Court approved the measures taken by the Centre’s Air Quality Commission to create an ‘Enforcement Task Force’ and flying squads to prevent and penalise polluters in Delhi NCR. 

• The task force was formed on December 2. The task force has two independent members. It will meet at 6 p.m. everyday. The task force will take action on behalf of the commission against violators.
• Also, 17 flying squads (which will increase to 40) to conduct surprise check was formed that would directly report to the task force.

About Centre’s Air Quality Commission

• The Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region (NCR) and Adjoining Areas act, 2021 established the said commission.
• The objective of the commission is for better coordination, research, identification, and resolution of problems related to air quality in the NCR and adjoining areas.   
• Adjoining areas have been defined as areas of Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh adjoining the NCR where any source of pollution may cause adverse impact on air quality in the NCR.   
• It also dissolves the Environment Pollution Prevention and Control Authority established in the NCR in 1998.  

Functions of the Commission:   

• Co-ordinating actions by concerned state governments (Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh)
• Planning and executing plans to prevent and control air pollution in the NCR
• Providing a framework for identification of air pollutants 
• Conducting research and development through networking with technical institutions
• Training and creating a special workforce to deal with issues related to air pollution
• Preparing various action plans such as increasing plantation and addressing stubble burning. 

Powers of the Commission:   

• Restricting activities influencing air quality
• Investigating and conducting research related to environmental pollution impacting air quality
• Preparing codes and guidelines to prevent and control air pollution
• Issuing directions on matters including inspections, or regulation which will be binding on the concerned person or authority.  
• It may impose and collect environment compensation from farmers causing pollution by stubble burning.  This compensation will be prescribed by the central government.