Lok Sabha Question No. 94 (STARRED), answered on 2016-11-22
Subject: Pollution Index
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: SUNIL KUMAR SINGH

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

## LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION N0. 94

TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.11.2016

## Pollution Index

## *94. SHRI SUNIL KUMAR SINGH:

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

- (a)   the salient features of the National Air Quality Index (AQI) launched in the country;
- (b)  the data compiled on the basis of the AQI in respect of metro cities indicating the category and likely health impacts;
- (c)   the various efforts made/being made/ proposed to be made by the Government to reduce the rising air pollution in metro cities of the country; and
- (d) the outcome of the said efforts?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

(SHRI ANIL MADHAV DAVE)

- (a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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Statement  referred  to  in  reply  to  Lok  Sabha  Starred  Question  No.  94  due  for  reply  on 22.11.2016  regarding  'Pollution  Index'  by  SHRI  SUNIL  KUMAR  SINGH,  Hon'ble Member of Parliament

(a) The National Air Quality Index (AQI) is the web-based system designed to provide AQI on real time basis considering eight pollutants i.e. Sulphur Dioxide, Nitrogen Dioxide, Lead, Ozone, PM10,  PM2.5,  Carbon  Monoxide  and  Ammonia  for  short  term  (upto  24  hourly)  norms  as prescribed in the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS-2009). It is an automated system that captures data from continuous monitoring stations without human intervention, and displays AQI based on running average values (e.g. AQI at 6 am on a day will incorporate data for 6 am on previous day to the current day). The AQI is being calculated on average of 24 hours for the criteria pollutants. There are six AQI categories, namely Good, Satisfactory, Moderately Polluted,  Poor,  Very  Poor,  and  Severe.  Each  of  these  categories  is  decided  based  on  ambient concentration values of  air  pollutants  and  their  likely  health  impacts.  At  present,  32  cities  are connected to the web-based system of National AQI.

The AQI values and corresponding ambient concentrations  (health breakpoints) is enclosed at Annexure I.

(b) The average AQI values for the period of November, 2015 to October, 2016 for 32 cities is enclosed at Annexure II. The associated health impacts of AQI is enclosed at Annexure III.

(c) & (d) The major steps taken by Government to reduce the rising air pollution in metro cities of  the  country inter  alia include  notification  of  National  Ambient  Air  Quality  Standards; formulation  of  environmental  regulations  /  statutes;  setting  up  of  monitoring  network  for assessment  of  ambient  air  quality;  introduction  of  cleaner  /  alternate  fuels  like  gaseous  fuel (CNG,  LPG  etc.),  ethanol  blending;  promotion  of  cleaner  production  processes;  launching  of National Air Quality index; universalization of BS-IV by 2017; leapfrogging from BS-IV to BSVI fuel standards by 1st April, 2020; comprehensive amendments to various Waste Management Rules  and  notification  of  Construction  and  Demolition  Waste  Management  Rules;  banning  of burning of leaves, biomass, municipal solid waste; promotion of public transport and network of metro, e-rickshaws,  promotion  of  car  pooling, Pollution Under  Control  Certificate,  lane discipline, vehicle maintenance; regular co-ordination meetings at official and ministerial level with Delhi and other State Governments within the NCR; issuance of directions under Section 18(1)(b)  of  Air  (Prevention  and  Control  of  Pollution)  Act,  1981  and  under  Section  5  of Environment  (Protection)  Act,  1986;  installation  of  on-line  continuous  (24x7)  monitoring devices by major industries; collection of Environmental Protection Charge on more than 2000 CC diesel vehicles; and ban on bursting of sound emitting crackers between 10 PM to 6 AM etc.

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Annexure I ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARA  (a)  OF  THE  LOK  SABHA STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  94  DUE  FOR  REPLY  ON  22.11.2016  REGARDING POLLUTION  INDEX  BY  SHRI  SUNIL  KUMAR  SINGH,  HON'BLE  MEMBER  OF PARLIAMENT

*One hourly monitoring (for mathematical calculations only), Concentrations of all the parameters except CO in µg/m 3 .

| AQI Category, Pollutants and Health Breakpoints   | AQI Category, Pollutants and Health Breakpoints   | AQI Category, Pollutants and Health Breakpoints   | AQI Category, Pollutants and Health Breakpoints   | AQI Category, Pollutants and Health Breakpoints   | AQI Category, Pollutants and Health Breakpoints   | AQI Category, Pollutants and Health Breakpoints   | AQI Category, Pollutants and Health Breakpoints   | AQI Category, Pollutants and Health Breakpoints   |
|---------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------|
| AQI Category (Range)                              | PM 10 24-hr                                       | PM 2.5 24-hr                                      | NO 2 24-hr                                        | O 3 8-hr                                          | CO 8-hr (mg/m 3 )                                 | SO 2 24-hr                                        | NH 3 24-hr                                        | Pb 24-hr                                          |
| Good (0-50)                                       | 0-50                                              | 0-30                                              | 0-40                                              | 0-50                                              | 0-1.0                                             | 0-40                                              | 0-200                                             | 0-0.5                                             |
| Satisfactory (51-100)                             | 51-100                                            | 31-60                                             | 41-80                                             | 51-100                                            | 1.1-2.0                                           | 41-80                                             | 201-400                                           | 0.5 -1.0                                          |
| Moderately polluted (101-200)                     | 101- 250                                          | 61-90                                             | 81-180                                            | 101-168                                           | 2.1- 10                                           | 81-380                                            | 401-800                                           | 1.1-2.0                                           |
| Poor (201-300)                                    | 251- 350                                          | 91-120                                            | 181- 280                                          | 169-208                                           | 10-17                                             | 381-800                                           | 801- 1200                                         | 2.1-3.0                                           |
| Very poor (301-400)                               | 351- 430                                          | 121- 250                                          | 281- 400                                          | 209- 748*                                         | 17-34                                             | 801- 1600                                         | 1200- 1800                                        | 3.1-3.5                                           |
| Severe (401-500)                                  | 430 +                                             | 250+                                              | 400+                                              | 748+*                                             | 34+                                               | 1600+                                             | 1800+                                             | 3.5+                                              |

Annexure II ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARA  (b)  OF  THE  LOK  SABHA STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  94  DUE  FOR  REPLY  ON  22.11.2016  REGARDING POLLUTION  INDEX  BY  SHRI  SUNIL  KUMAR  SINGH,  HON'BLE  MEMBER  OF PARLIAMENT

AVERAGE AQI OF CITIES FROM NOVEMBER 2015 TO OCTOBER 2016

|   Sr. No. | Cities        |   AVERAGE AQI |
|-----------|---------------|---------------|
|         1 | Delhi         |           246 |
|         2 | Faridabad     |           226 |
|         3 | Varanasi      |           223 |
|         4 | Lucknow       |           221 |
|         5 | Jaipur        |           216 |
|         6 | Kanpur        |           215 |
|         7 | Patna         |           208 |
|         8 | Muzzaffarpur  |           200 |
|         9 | Agra          |           199 |
|        10 | Jodhpur       |           189 |
|        11 | Gurgaon       |           176 |
|        12 | Gaya          |           149 |
|        13 | Pune          |           144 |
|        14 | Solapur       |           119 |
|        15 | Chandrapur    |           113 |
|        16 | Chennai       |           111 |
|        17 | Aurangabad    |            99 |
|        18 | Navi Mumbai   |            95 |
|        19 | Ahmedabad     |            92 |
|        20 | Mumbai        |            89 |
|        21 | Vishakapatnam |            89 |
|        22 | Bengaluru     |            87 |
|        23 | Hyderabad     |            86 |
|        24 | Panchkula     |            86 |
|        25 | Nagpur        |            85 |
|        26 | Thane         |            73 |
|        27 | Haldia        |            72 |
|        28 | Tirupati      |            71 |
|        29 | Rohtak        |            69 |
|        30 | Howrah        |            66 |
|        31 | Nashik        |            55 |
|        32 | Durgapur      |            47 |

Annexure III ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARA  (b)  OF  THE  LOK  SABHA STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  94  DUE  FOR  REPLY  ON  22.11.2016  REGARDING POLLUTION  INDEX  BY  SHRI  SUNIL  KUMAR  SINGH,  HON'BLE  MEMBER  OF PARLIAMENT

| AQI                   | Associated Health Impacts                                                                                                                                                                     |
|-----------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Good (0-50)           | Minimal Impact                                                                                                                                                                                |
| Satisfactory (51-100) | May cause minor breathing discomfort to sensitive people                                                                                                                                      |
| Moderate (101-200)    | May cause breathing discomfort to the people with lung disease such as asthma and discomfort to people with heart disease, children and older adults                                          |
| Poor (201-300)        | May cause breathing discomfort to people on prolonged exposure and discomfort to people with heart disease with short exposure                                                                |
| Very Poor (301-400)   | May cause respiratory illness to the people on prolonged exposure. Effect may be more pronounced in people with lung and heart diseases                                                       |
| Severe (401-500)      | May cause respiratory effects even on healthy people and serious health impacts on people with lung/heart diseases. The health impacts may be experienced even during light physical activity |

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