There being increasing air pollution problems across the country, it is found that 102 cities where air quality does not meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards , The National Green Tribunal has directed 23 states and Union Territories including the National capital Delhi and Chandigarh to prepare action plans within two months to resolve the problem at least to the extent of bringing the air quality standard within the prescribed limit. Air Quality Monitoring Committee comprising Directors of Environment, Transport, Industries, Urban Development, Agriculture Departments and member – secretary of state pollution control boards will look after the matter.
It is encouraging to note that due cognizance is taken of increasing levels of air pollution and personal accountability is tagged with each of the functionaries. In other words, Chief Secretaries of the states and administrators of the Union Territories will be personally responsible and accountable for failure to formulate action plans. Jammu and Kashmir state is among the states asked to prepare action plans as in this state the problem is assuming proportions to evolve action plans and ways to fight the same before the same assumes alarming proportions.
Public awareness is too important to be stressed upon and towards that a concerted action plan is needed to be evolved. Vehicle pollution, industrial emissions and population density , extent of construction and construction activities are other important factors to be associated with fighting air pollution . As regards requirement of funds, the same are proposed to be made available by the Environment Ministry.
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