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

CM Rekha Gupta presents the CAG report in Delhi Assembly, on Tuesday. Pic/PTI

Delhi's 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 revealed.

According 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 capital.

More than 1.08 lakh vehicles were issued PUC certificates despite them emitting carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbons (HC) beyond permissible limits, the report stated.

PTI 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 other.

Between 2015 and 2020, nearly 4,000 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 revealed.

Of 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 5.

Report criticises previous AAP regime for failing to conduct real-time studies to identify exact sources of pollution

The recent report stated that the city's 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 measures.

According 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 effectively.

The CAG report criticised the previous AAP (Aam Aadmi Party) Government for failing to conduct any real-time studies to identify the exact sources of pollution, a crucial step in formulating targeted solutions.

"Vehicles are one of the major local contributors to Delhi's poor air quality," the report stated.

Of the 47.51 lakh overage vehicles required to be de-registered from 2018-19 to 2020-21, the government only de-registered 2.98 lakh vehicles, which is merely 6.27 per cent of the end-of-life-vehicle (ELV), while a majority 93.73 per cent (44.53 lakh) of ELVs had "active" registration status as of March 2021, the report revealed, indicating that such vehicles were still plying on Delhi roads.

None of the 347 impounded vehicles were scrapped by March 2021, and the capacity of impounding pits remains grossly inadequate with space for only 4,000 vehicles compared to over 41 lakh vehicles awaiting scrapping, it added.

CAG's report raises concerns over management of funds meant for improving parking infrastructure

Inadequate enforcement is another major challenge, the report revealed.

The transport department's enforcement branch does not have sufficient staff or vehicles equipped with pollution-checking devices, making it difficult to monitor violations effectively, it further highlighted.

Apart 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 report.

The CAG report also said that in the absence of input data regarding location-wise vehicular load, the deployment of the few ill-equipped enforcement teams was also bound to be sub-optimal.

Additionally, the development of ISBTs (Inter-State Bus Terminal) at the entry points is another issue.

The CAG report for the year ending March 31, 2018, highlighted that the Supreme Court's 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 diesel-powered inter-state buses beyond the periphery were not complied with.

The 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 Court's directions.

In the absence of ISBTs at the entry points, diesel-operated inter-state buses were forced to traverse the city to reach the existing ISBTs (at Sarai Kale Khan and Kashmiri Gate).

The 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 department).

The 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 utilised.

Multiple plans existed but implementation was poor: CAG report

Poorly managed parking contributes to congestion and increased vehicle emissions, further worsening the city's air quality, the report stated.

Despite 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 itself.

The 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 report.

It also pointed to vehicular emissions, industrial pollution, construction dust, and stubble burning as primary contributors to the deteriorating air quality in the national capital.

Additionally, improper waste disposal, biomass burning, and limited green cover further aggravate the situation.

The report further highlighted the government's response and policy gaps, mentioning that multiple policies and action plans existed but they lacked strict enforcement and interdepartment coordination.

It also highlighted the need for better monitoring, stricter pollution control measures, and improved public awareness.

(With PTI inputs)