Knowing About DPCC

DPCC simply stands for Delhi Pollution Control Committee. It is considered to be a regulatory body that has an autonomous nature. This body became functional starting from 01.06.1991 after it was notified by the Central Pollution Control Board, dated 15.03.1991.

Accordingly, as per the notification, all the powers and functions were delegated to DPCC, as provisioned under Section 4(4) of the Water Act together with Section 6 given under Air Act.

Pertaining to the NCT of Delhi, DPCC behaves as a regulatory body, such that Pollution Control and other Environmental Laws can be implemented.

The reconstitution of the DPCC took place as specified under the notification as dated on 14.6.12. In total, it consists of sixteen members which can range from Chairman to the experts in numerous fields like Environment.

What are the main functions of DPCC?

Given below are some of the functions that are to be performed by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee, as laid down by the Government of India in accordance with the Water and Air Act and also the Noise Pollution rules:

1. The first function relates to making advice to the Delhi Government, with respect to the matter that deals with the prevention and control of water and Air pollution and also takes care in improving the air quality.
2. The next function relates to organizing the awareness program in the context of prevention or control of air and water pollution.
3. To be able to collect and publish the data that has technical or statistical data with respect to the prevention and control of water and air pollution.
4. To be able to disseminate information pertaining to subjects like water and Air pollution.
5. To be able to specify the requisite guidelines that relate to the treatment of the sewage and its disposal.
6. To be able to develop such methods, which must be reliable and economical for treating the sewage and carefully dispose of it.
7. To be able to issue the requisite authorization to different entities like Hospitals and Blood banks.
8. To be able to issue consent certificates to the industries that fall under the Green and orange categories.

Delhi Pollution Control Committee: Latest Update

Central Pollution Control Board is the entity in respect of all the Union Territories, wherein it has the responsibility of exercising powers and necessary functions which are provisioned under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.

As per the notification, dated 15/03/1991, there has been a delegation of powers and all the functions, by the Central Pollution Control Board to the Delhi Pollution Control Committee. The such delegation has been made under the Garb of Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.

Certain directions have been laid down by the National Green Tribunal in the case of Manoj Mishra V. Union Of India. These directions pertained to the subject of control of pollution while simultaneously taking into account the context of the rejuvenation of the Yamuna River, which is situated in Delhi. 

It has been identified that if the soaps and detergents are indiscriminately used, wherein, no conformity has been maintained with respect to the BIS standards, then this would act as one of the contributing factors for causing deterioration to the water quality of river Yamuna. Probably, such chemical substances are employed for manufacturing the soaps, which do not comply with the BIS standards, and accordingly, there is the probability that harm might be caused to the aquatic life and in turn, the human beings would get affected.

Given below are some of the directions issued by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee, keeping in mind the need to minimize pollution with respect to river Yamuna, situated in Delhi:

1. In the first place, there is complete prohibition with respect to the sale and other marketing activities related to soaps and detergents in the NCT of Delhi, such that they do not adhere to the revised BIS standards.
2. The compliance of the directions as mentioned above, must be ensured by the concerned departments and other local bodies which entail control over the shops and other establishments.

If in any case, there is non-compliance to any of the directions as mentioned above, penal action would get attracted under section 41 of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, which stands amended till date.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, it can be concluded that with respect to the above-mentioned directions, compliance should be observed by the concerned departments and local bodies as given under section 41 of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.