Polluters in Delhi now face five years in jail, Rs 1 crore fine

20-member commission formed to control pollution, disbanded EPCA formed by Supreme Court order

(PTI) New Delhi, Ta. Thursday, October 29, 2020

The Center on Thursday introduced a new law through an ordinance in the wake of rising air pollution in Delhi-NCR. Implementation will begin with immediate effect. Under the Act, spreading pollution in Delhi-NCR is now punishable by five years and Rs. A penalty of Rs 1 crore has been provided.

The Environmental Pollution (Prevention and Control) Mechanism (EPCA) has been disbanded under an ordinance announced by the Law and Justice Ministry on Thursday and its commission will be made up of a commission of more than 20 members.

The ordinance will probably be named 'Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjusting Area Ordinance 2020'. The law will apply to the territory of the national capital and surrounding areas as long as it relates to air pollution in the NCR. The ordinance was signed by the President on Wednesday.

According to the ordinance, the law will also apply to Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh in and around Delhi and the NCR. The areas of these states are also covered under the law as the sources of pollution in these areas in Delhi and NCR adversely affect the air quality in the region of National Capital Delhi.

A commission comprising 20 members will be formed to strictly enforce the law, the ministry said. Violation of any order or directive issued by the Commission will be a punishable offense and a fine of up to Rs one crore can be imposed for imprisonment for up to five years.

Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar has announced an important step for the commission set up to suggest measures to curb the rising lethal pollution in the national capital Delhi and adjoining states.

"The formation of this commission is an important step," Javadekar said after the Union Cabinet meeting. The Punch will have the power to take various measures to prevent pollution. This will help reduce pollution in the surrounding areas, including the capital.

The Punch will have the power to set air quality standards, remove environmental pollutants, inspect law-breaking premises, order the closure of non-compliant industries, units, etc. Pollution in Delhi-NCR has become increasingly serious.

The Air Quality Standard (AQI) 402 was recorded in Delhi at 2 pm on Thursday. The 24-hour average of AQI was 297 on Wednesday, 312 on Tuesday, 353 on Monday, 349 on Sunday, 345 on Saturday and 366 on Friday.

AQI between zero and 50 is considered good, between 51 and 100 is considered satisfactory, between 101 and 200 is considered moderate, between 201 and 300 is considered bad and between 301 and 400 is considered 'very bad' and 401 to 500 is considered severe.

Why not a law on pollution for the whole country?

New delhi date. 29

Over the last few years, air pollution has become a major problem in the country, especially in Delhi. As a result, the central government on Thursday came forward with an ordinance enacting a law to curb pollution in Delhi-NCR. While this decision of the Center is welcome, it raises the question as to why the implementation of this law has been limited to Delhi-NCR only when the problem of air pollution is also present in other states of the country. Delhi is home to leaders, including the Prime Minister, the President, Supreme Court judges and top bureaucrats. Is that why the implementation of this law is limited to Delhi-NCR? In fact, when the problem of air pollution is in many cities, including Mumbai, Ahmedabad, this law should be implemented across the country.