CAQM bans use of coal in Delhi-NCR from next year

• The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has issued directions to ban the use of coal in industrial, domestic and other miscellaneous applications in the entire Delhi-NCR region from January 1, 2023.

• However, the use of low-sulphur coal in thermal power plants has been exempted from the ban.

• Around 1.7 million tonnes of coal is used annually in industrial applications in NCR, with about 1.4 million tonnes being consumed in six major industrial districts alone. 

• The CAQM order said the ban on the use of coal will come in force with effect from October 1 in areas having PNG infrastructure and supply and from January 1, 2023 in areas where the PNG supply is still not available.

• The panel had earlier invited suggestions from the general public and experts in the field to find a permanent solution to the air pollution problem in Delhi-NCR.

What is CAQM?

• The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in the national capital region and adjoining areas has been constituted through promulgation of an ordinance in October 2020 to replace multiple committees and streamline public participation, inter-state cooperation, expert involvement, research and innovation so as to mitigate the issue of air pollution.

• The Commission is mandated for a coordinated approach to address the problem of air pollution emanating from all such sources, which inter-alia include power, agriculture, transport, industry, residential and construction. 

• The broad-based Commission to have a dedicated and participative mechanism, adopting a collaborative and participatory approach involving relevant central ministries/ departments, state governments, local bodies and other stakeholders to tackle air pollution.

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Agartala-Kolkata bus service via Dhaka resumes after two years

• The Agartala-Kolkata bus service via Dhaka resumed after a hiatus of over two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. State Transport Minister Pranajit Singha Roy flagged off the international bus service at the integrated check post at Akhaura. 

• The cross-border bus service will boost cooperation between India and Bangladesh.

• The bus will cover a distance of around 500 km from Agartala to Kolkata via Dhaka in around 19 hours. A train journey between the two destinations via Guwahati takes around 35 hours.

• The bus facility on this route was suspended in March 2020 after the pandemic struck. 

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Govt launches national awards portal

• The ministry of home affairs has launched the National Awards Portal (Rashtriya Puruskar Portal). 

• Several civilian awards have been instituted by various ministries/departments/agencies of the government to recognise people who have excelled and made exceptional contributions in their fields.

• The portal (awards.gov.in) has been developed by the government to bring together all the awards under one digital platform to ensure transparency and public partnership.

• The portal aims to facilitate citizens to nominate individuals/organisations for various awards instituted by the government.

• Information regarding all national awards would be available to the public on a single digital platform including their eligibility criteria, selection procedure, and details of past awardees.

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Cabinet approves MoU between ARIES and Japanese institute

• The Union Cabinet was apprised of the signing of MoU to establish collaborative guidelines between the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES) and Japan’s National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES) for joint research on air quality and climate change.

Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES)

• The Nainital-based ARIES is an autonomous research institute under the department of science and technology. It carries out research on air pollution and climate change on earth, formation and evolution of sun, stars and galaxies. 

• The researchers are involved in design and development of sophisticated and advanced scientific instruments and it is supported by a team of engineers and technical personnel who are involved in building and operating instruments at both the campuses — Manora Peak and Devasthal.

National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES)

• The National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES) is a research institute in Japan that undertakes a broad range of environmental research in an inter-disciplinary and comprehensive manner. NIES works to produce scientific findings on environmental protection. 

• It is working on research projects that include consolidating the institute's research foundation through basic research, data acquisition and analysis, preservation and provision of environmental samples.

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