CAG report tabled in Assembly flags lapses in Delhi's pollution control measures

Delhis worsening air pollution has been exacerbated by lapses in its pollution control mechanisms including irregularities in the issuance of PUC Pollution Under Control certificates unreliable air quality monitoring systems and poor enforcement of pollution control measures a CAG Comptroller and Auditor General of India report tabled in the Assembly on Tuesday revealedAccording to news agency PTI the report on Vehicular Air Pollution in Delhi tabled by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta highlighted major policy gaps and weak enforcement and poor coordination among agencies as key reasons behind the worsening pollution scenario in the national capitalMore than 108 lakh vehicles were issued PUC certificates despite them emitting carbon monoxide CO and hydrocarbons HC beyond permissible limits the report statedPTI reported that the report further highlighted that in many cases multiple vehicles were issued certificates at the same time sometimes within a minute of each otherBetween 2015 and 2020 nearly 4000 diesel vehicles that exceeded pollution limits were still certified as compliant allowing them to remain on the road despite their high emission levels the report revealedOf the 14 CAG reports on the performance of the previous Aam Aadmi Party AAP dispensation in Delhi eight including on excise and health have been tabled in the legislature so far by the BJP Bharatiya Janata Party Government which assumed charge of Delhi after more than 26 years following a landslide victory in the Assembly polls held on February 5Report criticises previous AAP regime for failing to conduct realtime studies to identify exact sources of pollutionThe recent report stated that the citys Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations CAAQMS do not meet the requirements set by the Central Pollution Control Board CPCB leading to concerns about inaccuracies in pollution control measuresAccording to PTI it also noted that Air Quality Index AQI values reported every day may not always reflect the actual pollution levels making it difficult for the authorities to respond effectivelyThe CAG report criticised the previous AAP Aam Aadmi Party Government for failing to conduct any realtime studies to identify the exact sources of pollution a crucial step in formulating targeted solutionsVehicles are one of the major local contributors to Delhis poor air quality the report statedOf the 4751 lakh overage vehicles required to be deregistered from 201819 to 202021 the government only deregistered 298 lakh vehicles which is merely 627 per cent of the endoflifevehicle ELV while a majority 9373 per cent 4453 lakh of ELVs had active registration status as of March 2021 the report revealed indicating that such vehicles were still plying on Delhi roadsNone of the 347 impounded vehicles were scrapped by March 2021 and the capacity of impounding pits remains grossly inadequate with space for only 4000 vehicles compared to over 41 lakh vehicles awaiting scrapping it addedCAGs report raises concerns over management of funds meant for improving parking infrastructureInadequate enforcement is another major challenge the report revealedThe transport departments enforcement branch does not have sufficient staff or vehicles equipped with pollutionchecking devices making it difficult to monitor violations effectively it further highlightedApart from the shortage of staff the enforcement teams did not have vehicles mounted with PUC equipment to check visibly polluting vehicles resulting in inadequate coverage of the entry points to the national capital indicating a weak enforcement regime as per the reportThe CAG report also said that in the absence of input data regarding locationwise vehicular load the deployment of the few illequipped enforcement teams was also bound to be suboptimalAdditionally the development of ISBTs InterState Bus Terminal at the entry points is another issueThe CAG report for the year ending March 31 2018 highlighted that the Supreme Courts directions 1998 to the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi GNCTD for setting up two ISBTs at the southwest and north entry points to the national capital to prevent the entry of dieselpowered interstate buses beyond the periphery were not complied withThe report also alleges that the Delhi Government did not establish the two new ISBTs at Dwarka and Narela even after two decades following the Supreme Courts directionsIn the absence of ISBTs at the entry points dieseloperated interstate buses were forced to traverse the city to reach the existing ISBTs at Sarai Kale Khan and Kashmiri GateThe transport department said in November 2021 that proposals for the development of two new ISBTs were being worked out and it has been decided that the Dwarka ISBT would be developed by the PWD public works departmentThe CAG report also raises concerns over the management of funds meant for improving parking infrastructure The report said that while money was collected through taxes for parking facilities there was no official record as to how the amount was utilisedMultiple plans existed but implementation was poor CAG reportPoorly managed parking contributes to congestion and increased vehicle emissions further worsening the citys air quality the report statedDespite years of government interventions and action plans the report said the pollution crisis in the national capital was not just a result of external factors such as crop burning in the neighbouring states but is also fuelled by systemic failures in regulation and enforcement within the city itselfThe findings showed that while authorities have introduced measures to control pollution poor enforcement and lack of coordination among agencies prevented meaningful progress as per the reportIt also pointed to vehicular emissions industrial pollution construction dust and stubble burning as primary contributors to the deteriorating air quality in the national capitalAdditionally improper waste disposal biomass burning and limited green cover further aggravate the situationThe report further highlighted the governments response and policy gaps mentioning that multiple policies and action plans existed but they lacked strict enforcement and interdepartment coordinationIt also highlighted the need for better monitoring stricter pollution control measures and improved public awarenessWith PTI inputs