Citizens urge agencies to curb air pollution in Dhanbad

| | Ranchi
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Citizens urge agencies to curb air pollution in Dhanbad

Friday, 30 October 2020 | PNS | Ranchi

All agencies responsible for implementing Dhanbad’s clean air action plan need to play a proactive role in improving the air quality in the city, was highlighted at the discussion ‘How robust is Dhanbad’s clean air plan?’ organised by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) and the Centre for Environment and Energy Development (CEED).

As the responsibilities to implement Dhanbad’s clean air plan fall under multiple agencies, it is important for all departments to work together to ensure that we improve the city’s air quality significantly and sustain it. Citizens can also play a huge role by being active monitors, educating themselves and by making lifestyle changes that could serve the cause of clean air.

Under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), 122 non-attainment cities in India, including Dhanbad (the only city identified in Jharkhand), are required to prepare city-specific clean air plans as a primary mitigation measure for reducing particulate concentration by 20 to 30 per cent by 2024. According to a new independent CEEW-Urban Emissions study that assesses the 102 publicly available clean air plans, Dhanbad’s plan currently lists 37 action points to be implemented by seven different agencies, risking fragmented accountability. Cross-department coordination, however, would be the key to executing the action points.

Speaking at the discussion, Tanushree Ganguly, Programme Associate at CEEW, said, “Dhanbad’s plan is different from the other city action plans as it identifies location-specific sources of pollution.   

Further, it includes action points for prevention and control of pollution in the coal washeries of BCCL and the Tata Steel coal mines in Jharia. The plan has several positives, but strategic implementation and systematic progress tracking would be key if results are to be seen on the ground.”

Dhanbad’s action plan does not outline the budgetary requirements for executing the actions listed. However, it states that the requirements would be incorporated in the plan once the departments concerned finalise their respective budgets. In FY 2019-20, Dhanbad received Rs10 crore for the execution of pollution mitigation activities. The 15th Finance Commission has recommended an amount of INR 52 crores for pollution mitigation in FY 2020-21.

Ankita Jyoti, Senior Program Officer, CEED, said Dhanbad has consistently encountered severe levels of air pollution especially during the winter season, mainly attributed to the adverse weather situation. While, nothing can be done to control the adverse weather conditions, however the strict implementation of the Clean Air Action Plan may provide some relief to the people. We urged the government to consider some new additions to the Clean Air Action Plan to make it more effective and ensure accountability. The scope of regional air quality management should also be brought under the jurisdiction.

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