Members of air quality panel ‘surprised’ at dissolution

Members who were part of the Commission for Air Quality Management said they were taken aback by the sudden dissolution of the body, constituted last October and via an ordinance.

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The commission was headed by M.M. Kutty, a former Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

The dissolution happened despite the nodal Union Environment Ministry submitting the paper work to the Union Cabinet Secretariat, required to give legal backing to the commission.

The body came into being in last October on the back of an ordinance — a temporary measure — and the law requires that a formal Bill be presented to Parliament within six weeks of it reconvening — in this case — January 29 when the Budget Session began. Before a Bill is tabled in Parliament it needs to be approved by the Union Cabinet.

However in spite of several Cabinet meetings since January, it wasn’t taken up for discussion due to which, the tenure of the body expired, without ever making it to Parliament. It is still technically possible to revive the body during the ongoing Parliament session.