6.2 Emergency response actions

Communication and Implementation Strategy

Atask force committee withrepresentationfrom variousline departments should be formed, tomonitor and implementthe CMs.The air-quality monitoring committee shouldkeep a check on the functioning of thetask force committee. The task force committee should beheaded by the Chief Secretary of the state. The main objective of the committee will be “to reduce the emissionslevelsin Patna region tothe target setbyNCAP”. The committee shouldmeet everyquarter to discuss the (a)implementation status of theCMs, (b) new policy changes,and (c) required future steps. The respective representative from line departments should coordinate the implementation strategies within their departments within the stipulated time. Alongside other stakeholders and funders, various available schemes at the central level need to be considered forcreating the corpusneeded to implementthe action plan.

6.2 Emergency response actions

Despiteour best efforts,theremay beepisodes where pollution levels may increase drastically due to anthropogenic and natural phenomena.

To control this unexpected increase in pollution levels,CMsare suggested in Table 26. These measures,if implementedon an emergency basis, couldsafeguard our environment.

Table 26: Emergency response action plan

Severe Pollution (ambient PM2.5 concentration values of 250 µg/m3 and above) Agency Responsible / Implementation Agency

Temporarilystop all construction activities Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BSPCB) Temporarilyshutdown brick kilns and hot mix plants BSPCB Temporarily shutdown schools and colleges

Very Poor Pollution (ambient PM2.5 concentration values of 121–250 µg/m3) Agency Responsible / Implementation Agency

Increase frequency of mechanised cleaning of roads and sprinkling of water on unpaved sectionsof roads Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) Increase public transport frequency and restrict operation of diesel autorickshaws Department of Transport, Govt of Bihar Increase parking fee to 3–4 times the current value PMC Strict vigilance and no tolerance for visible emissions—stop operations of visibly polluting vehicles by imposingheavy fines Traffic police Stringently enforce all pollution-control regulations in brick kilns and industries BSPCB

Moderate to poor (ambient PM2.5 concentration values of 61–120 µg/m3) Agency Responsible / Implementation Agency

Stop burning of solid waste PMC and BSPCB Periodic mechanised sweeping and water sprinkling on unpaved roads PMC