The Environment Pollution (prevention and control) Authority, set up by the government to enforce pollution control norms in Delhi, has become functional.
A notification to this effect was issued by the ministry of environment and forests on January 29.
The apex environment regulatory authority has suo moto powers to take action against individuals and companies violating pollution norms in the city.
It can search the industrial premises and seize materials and samples to enforce the emissions standards related to the discharge of environmental pollutants from any source.
The authority, which was set up under the order of the Supreme Court, has five functionaries, which includes Central Vigilance Commission secretary Bhure Lal as chairman and Central Pollution Control Board chairman D K Biswas as convenor.
The other three members are Delhi transport commissioner Kiran Dhingra, Centre for Science and Environment director Anil Agarwal and Maruti Udyog Ltd executive director Jagdish Khattar.
The authority has been given sweeping powers as it has been felt that environmental degradation in the region has reached alarming proportions and soft measures do not seem to be making much of a difference.
The authority, significantly, has been given powers under Section 5 of the Environment (protection) Act, 1986, to restrict areas where it thinks any industrial operation or process shall not be carried out or shall be carried out, but subject to certain safeguards. An order to this effect can be issued to any person, officer, or any authority and the recipient shall be bound to comply with the order.
It is empowered to direct:
l closure, prohibition or regulation of any industry, operation or process
l stoppage or regulation of supply of electricity, water or any other service
The authority will also lay down procedures and specifications to prevent environmental accidents, and to ensure safe handling of hazardous substances.
The other areas coming in the authoritys ambit are vehicular emissions and noise control. The authority will have to ensure that vehicles are fitted with the requisite pollution control equipment and that the instruments for testing emissions are accurately calibrated.
Apart from acting suo moto, the notification allows it to act on the basis of complaints made by individuals, representative bodies or environmental organisations.
Such complaints may be against any individual, association, company, public undertaking or local body carrying on any industry, operation or process.
