#ENVIRONMENT ■ Adopt ISRO protocol to track stubble burning d | UPSC Current Affairs Daily

#ENVIRONMENT

■ Adopt ISRO protocol to track stubble burning data

Ahead of the harvesting season, the Commission for Air Quality Management in the NCR and Adjoining Areas has directed Delhi and its neighbouring states to adopt and implement a standard protocol that has been developed by the ISRO for the estimation of crop residue burning fire events using satellite data.

This protocol is based on remote sensing technology, by which all states can now collect data in an organized and cohesive manner.

● Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM):

It was constituted for better coordination, research, identification, and resolution of problems related to air quality in the National Capital Region (NCR) and adjoining areas.

The commission looks at the mitigation and management of stubble burning in the NCR, which leads to high levels of air pollution and poor air quality every winter.

Its coverage areas are the NCR and the areas adjoining the NCR in the States of Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, where any source of pollution is located.

There will be three sub-committees to assist the commission,

sub-committee on monitoring and identification

sub-committee on safeguarding and enforcement

sub-committee on research and development.

● Functions of the Commission:

co-ordinating actions taken under the Ordinance 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.

● Causes of air pollution in NCR:

Vehicular emission

stubble burning in neighboring states

heavy industry such as power generation,

small-scale industries like brick kilns,

suspended dust on the roads due to vehicle movement and construction activities,

open waste burning,

combustion of fuels for cooking, lighting, and heating,

in-situ power generation via diesel generator sets

Over-population

firecrackers.

SOURCE - THE HINDU