Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA)

Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA)

Context: EPCA ban on construction activities

• SC mandated body tasked with taking various measures to tackle air pollution in the National Capital Region.
• notified in 1998 by Environment Ministry under Environment Protection Act, 1986.
• mandate is to protect and improve quality of environment and prevent and control environmental pollution in NCR. 
• mandated to enforce Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in NCR.
• Former IAS officers Bhure Lal will continue to be Chairman.
• Besides the chairman, the EPCA has 14 members

Graded Response Action Plan

• In Delhi-NCR’s region
• Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) - will monitor air quality of various station
• Daily reports will sent to - Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) - implementin authority
• If data of any station shows a sudden spike in pollution level - Accordingly, action would be taken 

• At the head of the table is the EPCA, mandated by the Supreme Court.
• It works only as an emergency measure.
• As such, the plan does not include action by various state governments to be taken throughout the year to tackle industrial, vehicular and combustion emissions.
• When the air quality shifts from poor to very poor, the measures listed have to be followed since the plan is incremental in nature.

• Chief secretaries of NCR states - nodal officers.