CAQM inspects 17 Urban Road Stretches in Noida and Greater Noida

Why in news

The Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) recently conducted a special inspection drive in Noida and Greater Noida to assess the redevelopment of urban roads in accordance with its Standard Framework, reiterating the need for proper paving and timely completion of works.

Exam relevance

GS3, GS2 · Environment & Ecology, Governance · Prelims · Mains

Key facts

1. The Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) conducted a special inspection drive in Noida and Greater Noida.
2. The inspection aimed to assess the redevelopment of urban roads as per CAQM's Standard Framework.
3. 17 road stretches, spanning approximately 46.87 kilometres, were inspected.
4. Out of 17 stretches, 9 were found to have end-to-end paving, while 8 lacked complete end-to-end paving.
5. Four Flying Squads were deployed for the inspection.
6. The inspection covered road stretches under the jurisdiction of the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority (GNIDA) and the Noida Authority.
7. Under GNIDA, 11 road stretches were inspected; 5 had end-to-end paving, and 6 did not.
8. Under the Noida Authority, 6 road stretches were inspected; 4 had end-to-end paving, and 2 did not.
9. The inspected roads included Right of Way (RoW) categories of 10-15 metres and greater than 15 metres.
10. CAQM emphasized the need for proper paving of roads and adjoining pathways and timely completion of redevelopment works.

Prelims pointers

• CAQM is the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas.
• CAQM conducts special inspection drives to assess urban road redevelopment.
• The purpose of the inspection was to ensure compliance with CAQM's Standard Framework for urban roads.
• The inspection covered road stretches in Noida and Greater Noida.
• Dust from unpaved roads contributes to air pollution.

Mains practice question

Critically analyze the role of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in addressing urban air pollution, with specific reference to its recent inspection drives. What challenges persist in ensuring compliance with air quality norms by urban local bodies?

Static linkage

The Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) is a statutory body established to address air pollution in the National Capital Region and its adjoining areas. Its mandate includes coordinating efforts, conducting research, and enforcing measures to improve air quality. Urban road infrastructure, particularly paving and maintenance, plays a crucial role in controlling dust pollution, which is a significant contributor to ambient air pollution in the NCR.

Significance

Such inspections by CAQM are crucial for ensuring compliance with environmental norms and improving urban infrastructure. Proper paving of roads and pathways helps in mitigating dust pollution, a major component of PM2.5 and PM10, thereby directly contributing to better air quality. These drives also promote accountability among urban local bodies like GNIDA and Noida Authority, pushing them to adhere to prescribed standards and complete redevelopment works in a timely manner. This proactive approach is vital for public health and sustainable urban development in the highly polluted NCR region.