NGT seeks govt response on steps to regulate ozone levels in Delhi
The National Green Tribunal has sought the Centre’s response to questions related to the “feasibility and mechanism” for implementing the recommendations made by the Central Pollution Control Board to control ozone levels in Delhi, which have been found to exceed permissible limits in some areas.
This followed orders by NGT which had directed CPCB, among other agencies, to submit data explaining why ozone levels have crossed permissible limits. NGT had also sought targeted measures in the specific areas of Delhi where the pollution level was reported at alarming levels.
CPCB Report on Controlling Ozone Levels
As part of a report dated 20 December 2024, the CPCB has reported on measures undertaken for the control of ozone levels, and while reporting in that document also has recommended lower content levels of precursors causing ozone. The CPCB has mentioned that to mitigate ozone levels, its precursors are to be maintained viz NOx and VOCs, methane, and CO. However, CPCB observed that it could not be the case to regulate local sources too as both ozone and its precursors could travel long distances.
Different national programs have been initiated by the report to control these pollutants. Some of them have been transferred from the National Clean Air Program launched in 2019. This is likely to reduce the level of air pollution in the states. Under NCAP, clean air action plans for the city-specific type have been launched in a total of 130 million cities, which include Delhi, thereby bringing in air quality.
The CPCB also has data related to action plans prepared by the ULBs to regulate NOx emissions. They have a plan in the area of waste management as well as controlling emission by the sectors like transport, power plants, and industries. The CPCB also tracks efforts towards checking biomass burning mainly paddy straw burning in the northern India that accounts for the pollution in the northern region.
Detailed Study Required
According to its own report, the different contributory factors could be responsible, like high ozone levels that could be happening during the lockdown period due to COVID-19. Other possible contributory reasons concerning transboundary pollution soil and biogenic sources too. Considering the contributory reason for higher levels of ozone at various locations at Delhi, the CPCB recommends a detailed study in its report associating and coordinating with experts in this field of air quality studies. The NGT agreed that such a study was necessary to throw the correct assessment on the contributing factors and devise effective control strategies.
The NGT pointed in its order that the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change needs to be impleaded in the matter so as to receive a response as regards the feasibility and implementation of the recommendations of the CPCB. It further directed a renewed report from the CPCB as to how the initiatives announced by the Centre were being effectively executed. This too shall turn into an important factor on whether the strategies so evolved would prove to be sufficient enough in minimizing the ozone pollution in Delhi.
This matter has been listed further for hearing by the NGT on 21 April 2024 to assess action in this regard.
Very High Ozone Levels in Delhi
The increased ozone concentration in Delhi has lately turned out to be an issue that continues on. NGT, suo motu in September 2023, took note of a news report wherein it was pointed out that the level of ozone in some districts of Delhi had crossed the national limit. According to the DPCC’s report in 2023, ozone levels shot up beyond the permissible limit at most monitoring stations in the city. The past year, seven monitoring stations have observed breeches in ozone levels while nine stations reported similar violations in the summer of 2023.
The most populated and busy road Nehru Nagar reported the highest concentration of ozone, which was 224.9 micrograms per cubic meter. This is more than three times the national standard of 100 micrograms per cubic meter for an eight-hour time frame. In most of the areas, including Patparganj and Aurobindo Marg, the ozone concentration reached a danger level of 188.3 micrograms per cubic meter and 175.4 micrograms per cubic meter, respectively.
These high levels of ozone are alarming since ozone at the ground level is one of the really dangerous air pollutants, causing respiratory problems and aggravating asthma condition, destroying lung tissue. It really poses a deadly threat to vulnerable people, particularly children, the elderly, and people with pre-existing health conditions.
Role of CPCB and MoEFCC:
As the central environmental regulatory body in the country, the CPCB plays an extremely important role, specifically in monitoring air quality and suggesting measures for controlling pollution. In that matter, as the CPCB has already been looking into sources of all precursors of ozone and has attempted to counter strategize their emissions, it would be quite challenging since ozone happens to be a transboundary pollutant, and its precursors are far from being localized. Thus, ozone levels have to be regulated at both national and regional levels.
MoEFCC will have to take a decision whether the recommendations of CPCB are feasible and whether the measures are properly implemented. The order by NGT to MoEFCC is an important step toward accountability of the role of the government in the betterment of air quality in Delhi and curbing ozone pollution in the city.
Conclusion
The intervention by NGT on the case of elevated ozone levels in Delhi reveals growing concern over the aspects of air quality in the national capital. Even ozone levels are crossing permissible limits in various areas; thus, the need for focused measures on the topic arises. Recommendations by the CPCB in coordination with the current government’s efforts will be beneficial in response to ensuring that the quantity of ozone pollution is decreased and health for the people of Delhi is improved.
The government would decide on the fate of the proposed measures with the report from the CPCB and the government response to its feasibility. In this respect, what the next step in controlling this environmental challenge will be will only be known by having the report and response from the government. To date, effective actions will be taken in controlling ozone levels and preventing further damage to the health of the public.
Source: National Green Tribunal (NGT), Delhi