Compliance report by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in Original Application No. 681 of 2018 (News item published in the Times of India authored by Vishwa Mohan titled NCAP with multiple timelines to clear air in 102 cities to be released around August 15). The CPCB report was in compliance with the National Green Tribunal (NGT) order of August 21, 2020.

As per the direction of the NGT, 20 new Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) had been installed in non-attainment cities and as on date 193 CAAQMS had been installed in non-attainment cities. Other states were in the process of installation of the monitoring station. The proposal for setting up of 25 CAA QM Stations in non-attainment cities had been approved under EC funded project for Rs. 25 crores by the CPCB. Capital cost Rs. I crores per station has been sanctioned to 20 states/UTs for installation of CAAQM Stations in the identified 25 non-attainment cities.

As per information provided by states, Source Apportionment (SA) study was completed in 9 States (14 cities); under progress in 15 states (68 cities); and in proposal stage in 14 states (40 cities). Carrying capacity (CC) study was under progress in 9 states (42 cities); and in the proposal stage in 18 states (51 cities). Status for steps of prohibiting/shifting polluting activities which are found unsustainable/non-conforming and beyond carrying capacity of NACs had been provided by 22 states/UTs.

As per the order of the NGT, the CPCB had issued direction on January 27, 2021 to all SPCBs/PCCs:

• To provide complete list of legacy waste dumpsites in their states/UTs
• SPCB/PCCs to ensure that necessary action for bio-mining and bio-remediation of these dumpsites was done by the concerned local authorities in compliance with Provisions of SWM Rules, 2016
• SPCBs/PCCs to ensure that concerned local authorities engaged in the biomining process of legacy waste follow procedures as per CPCB Guidelines for disposal of legacy waste SPCBs/PCCs to ensure that the local bodies prepare a time targeted action plan for bio-mining/ bio-remediation of the dumpsite
• SPCBs/PCCs to ensure that no fresh waste was disposed of at these dumpsites and local authorities make proper arrangements for management of fresh solid waste
• SPCB to ensure that at least one legacy waste dumpsite was remediated in their jurisdiction which could be considered as model for compliance for other legacy waste dumpsites in Non-Attainment Cities (NAC).