Lok Sabha Question No. 2628 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-01
Subject: Polluted Cities
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: PARASURAMAN K.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2628 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.08.2017

## Polluted Cities

## 2628. SHRI  K. PARASURAMAN:

Will  the  Minister  of  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND  CLIMATE  CHANGE  be  pleased  to state:

- (a)   whether the Government has taken note that 13 of the 20 most polluted cities in the world are in India;
- (b)   if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (c) whether it is a fact that Delhi is at the top with 153 micrograms of PM 2.5 per cubic meter and the life span of the inhabitants is likely to be reduced by three years;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to increase the usage of electric vehicles in metro cities;
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## (DR. HARSH VARDHAN )

(a)  &  (b)  A  number  of  reports  are  published  from  time  to  time  ranking  cities  on  various parameters. Such reports need to be scientifically scrutinized and validated before arriving at any conclusion.  Central  Pollution  Control  Board  (CPCB)  and  State  Pollution  Control  Boards (SPCBs) monitor ambient air quality in the country under the National Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP). Three air pollutants viz., Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) and Particulate Matter (PM10), are monitored at the 684 manual monitoring stations located in 302 cities / towns in 29 states and 5 union territories. Analysis of ambient air quality data of 42 million plus cities for last three years indicate that the values of SO2 were within the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) of 50 µg/m 3 (annual standard) in all the cities during 2016. The value of NO2  were within permissible NAAQS limit of 40 µg/m 3 (annual standard) in most of the cities. Exceedance was mainly observed with respect to particulate matter. However, the  analysis  of  time  series  data  of  particulate  matter  in  various  cities  does  not  show  any significant  rising  trend  despite  rise  in  population,  number  of  vehicles  and  other  economic activities.

(c) The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has been monitoring PM2.5 at 7 locations in Delhi under National Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP). The annual average ambient levels of PM2.5 in Delhi during 2012-2016 is ranged between 63-119 µg/m3. Air pollution is known to be one of the aggravating factors for  many  respiratory  ailments  and  cardiovascular disease.  Epidemiological  studies  indicate  an  association  between  particulate  air  pollution  and exacerbations of illness in people with respiratory disease.

(d) & (e) Yes Sir. Government of India (Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises) has launched  the  National  Mobility  Mission  Plan  (NEMMP)  2020  in  2013.  It  aims  to  achieve national fuel security by promoting hybrid and electric vehicles in the country. Government has launched  the  scheme  namely  Faster  Adoption  and  Manufacturing  of  (Hybrid  &)  Electric Vehicles (FAME India) under NEPPM 2020 in the Union Budget for 2015-2016 with incentive to  provide  a  major  push  for  early  adoption  and  market  creation  of  both  hybrid  and  electric vehicles in the country.

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