A review of the process for setting the emission standards in India: a policy perspective
Student name: Ms Himani Malhotra
Guide: Dr Suresh Jain
Year of completion: 2016
Host Organisation: Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation, New Delhi
Supervisor (Host Organisation): Mr Kunal Sharma
Abstract: Air quality is one of the major causes for concern in India. The major air pollutants include Particulate Matter (PM), Nitrogen oxides (NOx), Sulphur dioxide (SO2), Ozone (O3) and Carbon Monoxide (CO). These air pollutants get added up in the atmosphere through a number of sources which keep changing the composition of atmosphere. The pattern of air pollution keeps changing temporally and spatially due to changes in meteorological and topographic conditions at different locations. Industrialization along with the number of polluting sources which includes thermal power plants, automobile emissions, landfills, solid waste combustion, emissions from the brick kilns etc., has entered into the atmosphere in the form of toxic materials, which not only affect the ecosystem but are also threat to human health. To limit the deteriorating Air Quality, Government of India enacted Environmental (Protection) Act, 1986 to protect all the aspects of the environment. Another act, called the Air (Prevention and Control) Act, 1981 was enacted by the government to ensure the moderated pollution concentration and safety in terms of ambient air quality. Many countries follow a multi-tiered approach, usually there is a mix of the technology based and the health based limitations.
The Air Act provides for the prevention, control and abatement of air pollution. With a framework similar to the Water Act, the Air Act gave the central and state boards authority to issue consents to industries operating within designated air pollution control areas. States also prescribe emission standards for stationary and mobile sources. The study highlights the role and the contribution of different State Pollution Control Boards in setting of the emission standards.
The study highlights different considerations signifying the role of states through PESTEL analysis. The study concludes with the understanding that even though the SPCBs have the authority to lay down emission standards in consultation with central pollution control board, they choose not to involve or contribute in the process. Also, the states have complete power to go beyond the minimum national standards notified by MoEF. But, the state PCBs prefer not to go beyond it. In USA, states have enormous power in setting their own standards and coming with more technological innovations different from the federal CAA.
