NCAP draft lacks specificity, time-bound targets: Activists

NEW DELHI: While China has taken an important step forward in the battle against air pollution by releasing its second clean air action plan – a follow-up of the first plan in 2013 – to fight air pollution, that of India is yet to see the light of day.

India's National Clean Air Action Programme (NCAP), which focuses on curbing the severe air pollution of the Capital, has not yielded desired results yet.

The NCAP draft, released by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on April 17, did not set time-bound targets and also ignored incorporating emission targets for the most polluting sectors, such as thermal power plants and industries.

Emissions from thermal power plants are a major contributor to surging primary and secondary particulate matter levels in the country, with coal power sector being the prime contributor to air pollution.

In December 2015, the Ministry had set a deadline of December 7, 2017, for implementing new emission standard and water norms by all thermal power plants. However, it lapsed and led to more than 300 coal-based power plants units violating the emission standard norm.

Various environmental bodies and activists have sent recommendations to the Ministry for the implementation of the plan.

"The draft NCAP concept note lacks specificity and timelines. It has missed out on emission and sectoral targets, making it feeble, we hope that the Ministry incorporates all the recommendations and makes NCAP a truly comprehensive plan to tackle air pollution in a time-bound manner," said Sunil Dahiya, senior campaigner, Greenpeace India.

He added, "While China still has a long way to go to solve its air pollution problem, the progress of the past few years shows what works: region-wide, time-bound targets that hold decision-makers accountable, strong emission standards and strong enforcement, as well as a shift away from polluting energy sources."

"The Indian government should learn from these actions to curb air pollution levels internationally and must expedite enforcement of the National Clean Air Programme without further delay," Dahiya further said

China's first five-year air pollution action plan, implemented in 2013, saw an impressive 33 per cent fall in PM2.5 in 74 key cities.

Stricter emissions standards and a shift away from permitting new coal-fired power plants had a major impact. However, nationwide air quality improvements in China slowed in 2017, due to a smokestack industry rebound.