Air Pollution Accountability App launched by EPCA

‘Hawa Badlo’ allows people in NCR to report on incidences of air pollution such as garbage burning and sends these to officials who will then take action. This is in compliance with directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court on air pollution control 

New Delhi, October 21, 2016

The Supreme Court of India-appointed Environmental Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority for Delhi & NCR (EPCA) mandated to improve the air quality in Delhi-NCR, introduced the Hawa Badlo App here today. According to Shri Bhure Lal, chairperson, EPCA: “The App aims at an inclusive participation of citizens in reporting incidences of leaf and garbage burning, building and construction dust and unpaved road dust, and thereby makes them part of the city’s fight to curb toxic air pollution.”

Said Sunita Narain, member, EPCA: “The app is expected to act as an accountability, public information dissemination and public engagement mechanism.” The App is designed to filter out false complaints by creating a reputation system – similar to what is used in online product ratings. Each complaint is geo-referenced and will provide information about the time and location where the evidence of violation has been collected and submitted. EPCA will forward the complaint to the official-in-charge, who is identified through the location and also type of violation. 

The app has been designed by EPCA, along with the municipal corporations and concerned departments of the state governments of Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. The App also includes Hawa Badlo for officials, which they can then use to resolve cases and then upload evidence about what has been done, including the copy of the challan. The concerned officer will have to provide proof in the form of photos tagged with GPS locations as conclusive proof of resolution of a case. Hawa Badlo generates weekly reports on the status of the cases and action taken. This will be sent to the concerned top officials of the Central and state pollution control boards and municipalities. In addition, EPCA will analyse this information to submit its report to the Supreme Court on actions taken in compliance with its orders. 

The Supreme Court in its order dated December 16, 2015 had given specific directions on construction and road dust and garbage burning as follows: 

“CPCB norms regarding prevention of pollution by putting curtains and other devices at construction sites must be strictly enforced by the enforcement agencies concerned. We direct accordingly.” 

“We direct the Government of NCT of Delhi to take immediate steps for repair of pavements and make pavements wherever the same are missing and also to take immediate steps for procurement of the requisite vacuum cleaning vehicles for use on Delhi roads expeditiously but not later than 1st April, 2016”.

“We direct that the State Government and the local bodies concerned including MCD., NDMC and all other institutions that are generating solid waste shall take steps to ensure that no part of such waste is burnt and that proper arrangements are made for disposal of such waste in a scientific way without causing any hazard to environment”. 

Hawa Badlo is currently focused on pollution through construction activities, garbage burning and maintenance of roads, but has the scope to include other pollution-linked violations. 

The app has been made publicly available on the iOS and Android app stores, and is expected to play an active role in increasing public engagement and accountability in reducing winter pollution this year.

See also

• EPCA Report on Winter 2016 (pdf)  

• To access the app, please go to http://www.epca.org.in/

• Download Hawa Badlo directly from Apple Appstore and Google Play Store  

• To know more about the app and about EPCA’s work, contact – Ankush Tewani, Central Pollution Control Board, 98712 32021, ankush.cpcb@nic.in / Nazim Uddin, Central Pollution Control Board, 9411232637, nazim.cpcb@nic.in