New law to curb air pollution in Delhi-NCR: Rs 1 crore fine

Morning commuters make their way near India Gate in heavy smoggy conditions in New Delhi. Pic/ AFP

The Centre has issued an ordinance, making pollution an offence with a jail term, which can go up to 5 years and a penalty up to Rs 1 crore. The ordinance, was issued on Wednesday night after the approval of the President. Earlier, this week Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, during the hearing of a PIL seeking ban on stubble burning, had informed the Supreme Court that the Centre will enact a law to combat the menace of air pollution in Delhi-NCR, and urged the court to keep its order of a one-man panel of former apex court judge Justice Madan B. Lokur in abeyance to monitor steps to contain stubble burning. The top court is scheduled to hear this PIL later in the day.

According to the ordinance, a Commission for Air Quality Management will be set up for the National Capital Region (NCR) and adjoining areas in Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. "Any non-compliance of this Ordinance, rules made there under or any other order or direction issued by the Commission shall be an offence punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend up to five years or with fine which may extend up to one crore rupees or with both", said the ordinance.

The chairman of the Commission will be selected by a committee headed by minister for environment and forest and it will also comprise ministers for transport and commerce, science and technology as well as Cabinet secretary, as members. The 18-member Commission will be headed by a full-time chairperson who has been a secretary to the government of India or Chief Secretary of a state. Out of the 18 members, 10 will be bureaucrats while others are experts and activists.

The Commission will look into issues of stubble burning, vehicular pollution, dust pollution and all other factors, which contribute towards the deteriorating the quality of air in Delhi-NCR. One of the important aspect of the commission is that Centre has proposed to replace the Supreme Court-appointed EPCA and all other bodies with it, which will make this Commission an exclusive authority on air quality management for Delhi-NCR, and it submit annual reports to Parliament.

The commission will be a central body for all purposes.

Orders of the Commission can be challenged only before National Green Tribunal and not in any civil court.

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