The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in NCR and adjoining areas has issued directives to the Pollution Control Boards of NCR states and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) to streamline their efforts in addressing public complaints related to air quality. The initiative aims to enhance coordination and ensure faster, more effective responses to complaints lodged through social media platforms and other channels.

According to the new guidelines, when the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) or NCR Pollution Control Boards, including the DPCC, receive a public complaint about air quality through social media, they will not only assign it to the relevant implementing authority but also tag CAQM. This will allow CAQM to monitor how quickly and effectively each authority addresses the complaint. The responsible authority must also upload the compliance report or provide a reason for non-compliance on the same platform, tagging both CAQM and CPCB in the update.

This system is designed to create greater transparency and accountability in the handling of air pollution-related issues. It allows CAQM to track response times and ensure that public complaints are resolved in a timely manner. By tagging both CAQM and CPCB in each complaint’s resolution or explanation, the system provides a clear mechanism for monitoring and oversight.

Additionally, the state Pollution Control Boards of NCR, along with the DPCC, have been directed to give widespread publicity to this mechanism through various means, including social media. This outreach is intended to inform the public about how they can file complaints and seek redress for air quality concerns in their area.

As part of this larger initiative, the Chief Secretaries of the NCR State Governments and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) have been instructed to sensitize the various authorities responsible for enforcing air pollution control measures. The goal is to ensure that all relevant bodies are aligned in their efforts to mitigate air pollution in the NCR region, improving both the environment and public health.

The directive is part of a broader effort by the CAQM to improve air quality management through enhanced monitoring, accountability, and enforcement. Given the recurring air pollution issues in the NCR region, especially during the winter months, timely action on public complaints is seen as a critical step toward more effective air quality control.

This move reflects the growing emphasis on addressing air pollution in a more transparent and efficient manner. With improved coordination between the different state and central agencies, the initiative is expected to lead to quicker resolutions and greater public satisfaction. Moreover, it places greater accountability on local and state pollution control bodies, ensuring they act swiftly and efficiently to address the public’s concerns about air quality.

Overall, this directive from CAQM represents a proactive approach to tackling one of NCR’s most persistent environmental challenges, empowering the public to voice their concerns and ensuring those concerns are met with timely, actionable responses.

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Ankur Deka/MSM)