Lok Sabha Question No. 1245 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-22
Subject: Permissible Level for Pollutants
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: KRISHN PRATAP SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION N0. 1245

TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.12.2017

## Permissible Level for Pollutants

## 1245. DR. KRISHAN PRATAP:

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

- (a) whether the  Government has issued guidelines  regarding  the maximum permissible level for more than one dozen gases and pollutants;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the  extent  to  which  the  said  guidelines  are  likely  to  be  helpful  in  checking  air  and other types of pollution in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

(a)  to  (c)    Government  of  India  has  laid  down  National  Ambient  Air  Quality  standards (NAAQS) for twelve air pollutants, namely, PM10, PM2.5, Carbon Monoxide (CO), Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), Ammonia (NH3), ground level Ozone (O3), Lead, Arsenic, Nickel, Benzene and Benzo (a) Pyrene.  The relevant standards are annexed.  The NAAQS helps in assessment of air quality with respect to various pollutants and development of preventive and corrective measures for mitigation.  Compliance with NAAQS can lead to significant abatement of air pollution in the country.  Further, the Government has notified 115  emission  /  effluent  standards  for  104  different  industrial  sectors  besides  32  general ambient standards for various pollutants.  Compliance to the notified environment standards is likely to protect and improve the quality of the environment.

***

## ANNEXURE

ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  to  (c)  OF  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION N0. 1245 DUE FOR REPLY ON 22/12/2017 REGARDING  PERMISSIBLE  LEVEL  OF  FOR  POLLUTANTS  RAISED  BY  DR. KRISHAN PRATAP, HON'BLE MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT

## National Ambient Air Quality Standards

| Pollutant                                                   | Time Weighted Average   | Concentration in Ambient Air                   | Concentration in Ambient Air                                 |
|-------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------|------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------|
| Pollutant                                                   | Time Weighted Average   | Industrial, Residential, Rural and Other Areas | Ecologically Sensitive Area (notified by Central Government) |
| Sulphur Dioxide (SO 2 ), µg/m 3                             | Annual* 24 hours**      | 50 80                                          | 20 80                                                        |
| Nitrogen Dioxide (NO 2 ), µg/m 3                            | Annual* 24 hours**      | 40 80                                          | 30 80                                                        |
| Particulate Matter (size less than 10 µm) or PM 10 µg/m 3   | Annual* 24 hours**      | 60 100                                         | 60 100                                                       |
| Particulate Matter (size less than 2.5 µm) or PM 2.5 µg/m 3 | Annual* 24 hours**      | 40 60                                          | 40 60                                                        |
| Ozone (O 3 ) µg/m 3                                         | 8 hours* 1 hour**       | 100 180                                        | 100 180                                                      |
| Lead (Pb) µg/m 3                                            | Annual* 24 hours**      | 0.50 1.0                                       | 0.50 1.0                                                     |
| Carbon Monoxide (CO) mg/m 3                                 | 8 hours* 1 hour**       | 02 04                                          | 02 04                                                        |
| Ammonia (NH 3 ) µg/m 3                                      | Annual* 24 hours**      | 100 400                                        | 100 400                                                      |
| Benzene (C 6 H 6 ) µg/m 3                                   | Annual*                 | 5                                              | 5                                                            |
| Benzo(a)Pyrene (BaP)- particulate phase only, ng/m 3        | Annual*                 | 1                                              | 1                                                            |
| Arsenic(As), ng/m 3                                         | Annual*                 | 6                                              | 60                                                           |
| Nickel (Ni), ng/m 3                                         | Annual*                 | 20                                             | 20                                                           |

## Note:

* Annual arithmetic mean of minimum 104 measurements in a year at a particular site taken twice a week 24 hourly at uniform intervals.

** 24 hourly or 8 hourly or 1 hourly monitored values, as applicable, shall be complied with 98% of the time, they may exceed the limits but not on two consecutive days of monitoring.