National Green Tribunal flags rising ozone air pollution in Indian cities

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken suo motu cognisance of a media report highlighting the alarming rise in ground-level ozone air pollution throughout main Indian cities, in response to an order dated September 26. 

Quoting a reply from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) dated September 25, the tribunal famous that the elevated ozone ranges are largely linked to emissions from the transport sector, energy vegetation, and industrial actions — all main contributors to nitrogen oxides (NOx) within the ambiance.

“The Delhi-NCR and Mumbai Metropolitan Region reported greater exceedances of ozone focus in contrast with different areas,” the CPCB report mentioned. It added that aside from human-made emissions, ozone precursors might also come up from pure sources comparable to biogenic risky natural compounds, soil-based NOx emissions, wildfire-related carbon monoxide, and methane from the biosphere.

The NGT additionally noticed that in a associated matter, the CPCB has proposed a research to determine and suggest focused measures for controlling ozone and its precursors. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has advisable the formation of an skilled committee to handle the problem.

The tribunal will now hear each issues on November 12, in step with a request from the CPCB, the order mentioned.