Pollution control measures

What is the issue?

• Despite various pollution control measures by the government, air quality is still in the 'very poor' or 'severe category'.
• A multidimensional approach to addressing the menace of deteriorating air quality is vital.

What are the policy shortfalls?

• Dirty fuels - Currently, crude oil, petrol, diesel, jet fuel or aviation turbine fuel (ATF) and natural gas are not included in the GST.

• The sale and supply of these continue to attract earlier taxes like excise duty and VAT.
• So, while industries that use furnace oil-type fuel (dirty and toxic) are given the benefit of input tax credit, those on natural gas (clean) are left out under GST.
• Such policy anomalies dissuade industries from being environmentally conscious.
• Pet Coke - US has banned the use of this dirtiest fuel due to domestic pollution concerns, and China has stopped importing this fuel.
• On the other hand, India continues to import pet coke from the US and allows it under the Open General Licence (OGL).
• While the SC recently banned Pet Coke’s use in the Delhi NCR, industries are trying hard to circumvent the orders.
• Automobiles – Automobiles are the biggest contributor to pollution, and significantly, diesel emissions are cancer causing.
• Currently, per vehicle emission is being reduced by improving engine efficiency, fuel quality and vehicle systems maintenance.
• However, a lot more vehicles are being added on roads, rendering the above measure meaningless.
• Besides these, the lack of regulations on construction procedures, garbage burning, crop burning, etc leads increasingly to deteriorating air quality.

What are the possible solutions?

• Industrial, trade, tax and emission policies should be designed to promote environment friendly practices.
• Efforts to ramp up public transport on massive scale are essential.
• Policies for promoting cycling and improving last-mile connectivity can also help in this regard.
• Farmers should be facilitated with alternative use for crop residue to address the concerns with crop burning.
• Waste segregation according to their recyclability and appropriate processing can reduce the risk of garbage fires in mounting garbage dumps.

Quick Facts

Pet Coke

• Petroleum coke or petcoke is a carbonaceous solid delivered from oil refinery coker units or other cracking processes.
• It is a key input material for cement producers and a highly polluting fuel.
• It is sometimes a source of fine dust, which can get through the air passage and lodge in the lungs, causing serious health problems; though not proven to be carcinogenic(cancer causing).

Open General Licence (OGL)

• An Open General Licence (OGL) is a type of export licence issued by the government to domestic suppliers.
• These licences are issued with minimal restrictions.

Source: Business Standard