Status of Pollution Control in National Capital Region
To combat stubble burning and promote more sustainable crop residue management, the government has explored policy interventions that encourage environmentally sound practices. This includes the use of crop residue as supplementary fuel, offering additional sources of income to farmers, improving air quality, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and creating employment opportunities.
Government revises Crop Residue Management Guidelines
As per the revised guidelines, techno-commercial pilot projects for Paddy Straw Supply Chain will be established under the bilateral agreement between the Beneficiary/Aggregator (Farmers, rural entrepreneurs, Cooperative Societies of Farmers, Farmers Producer Organizations (FPOs) and Panchayats) and Industries utilizing the paddy straw.
Guidelines on Design, Construction, O&M and Annual Certification of Coal Ash Ponds
The Guidelines state that because of economic viability, thermal power stations most widely dispose both precipitated fly ash and bottom ash together as a slurry to the pond in which it stored for a longer period. Therefore safe disposal and gainful utilization are the prime concerns to safe guard the interest of environmental system.
Delhi Witnesses Improved Air Quality in First Half of 2023
During the first six months of this year, Delhi experienced a notable increase in the number of days with ‘Good to Moderate’ air quality on the AQI. In fact, excluding the period of significantly reduced anthropogenic, industrial, and commercial activities in 2020 due to the Covid-19 lockdown, the current year has witnessed the highest number of ‘Good to Moderate’ air quality days in the past eight years (2016-2023).
CPCB issues Draft Environmental Guidelines for Stone Crushing Units
The growth in infrastructure leads to increase in demand of raw materials, thereby resulting in the need to set up new stone crushing units or increase production from existing units. This poses a challenge to maintain the ambient air quality, which is possible if environmental guidelines predetermined by the industry concerned are followed.
Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas regulates use of DG Sets
The revised schedule for regulation of DG sets would come in force in the entire NCR strictly from 1st October, 2023 and Retro-fitment of dual fuel kits or ECDs, wherever warranted, must be targeted to be completed latest by 30th September, 2023, failing which the use of the Diesel genset shall not be permitted under any circumstances, anywhere in the entire NCR.
CPCB organizes 35th Analytical Quality Comparison Exercise for Environmental Laboratories
This exercise specifically focuses on testing pesticide compounds in water matrices. In line with this initiative, the CPCB has requested all laboratories registered for the program to ensure their readiness to undertake the analysis.
Environment (Protection) Third Amendment Rules, 2023
The Amendment Rules aim to minimize environmental pollution and promote sustainable practices within the CPC industry. They set out more stringent standards for the operation of Calcined Petroleum Coke (CPC) units.
