Lok Sabha Question No. 1130 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-22
Subject: List of Most Polluted Cities
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: E. AHAMED

## 1130. SHRI E. AHAMED:

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

- (a)   the names of cities in the country included in the list of the most polluted cities in the world;
- (b) the pollution index in each of such cities;
- (c) the contributing factors and the steps taken by the Government to prevent pollution; and
- (d)  the results achieved therefrom?

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1130

TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.11.2016

## List of Most Polluted Cities

## ANSWER

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

## (SHRI ANIL MADHAV DAVE)

(a) & (b) The methodology for calculation of pollution index in various parts of world is not same. Cities can be ranked on the basis of different criteria pollutants with different results. An ambient air pollution database released by the World Health Organisation in May 2016 indicates that 10 Indian cities fall among top 20 most polluted cities in the world in respect of PM2.5 (particulate matter) which is based on extrapolation of data relating to PM10 to arrive at PM2.5 data based on conversion factors in respect of cities where PM2.5 data is not measured. Therefore, care has to be exercised before drawing any inference. The names of Indian cities with concentration of PM2.5 reported by WHO and level of air pollution with available Air Quality Index monitored by CPCB is annexed.

(c) & (d) The major contributing factors to air pollution are road dust, vehicular emissions, construction and demolition activities, gensets, industrial emissions, garbage burning, stubble burning,  hot  mix  plants,  brick  kilns,  etc.  Air  pollution  also  depends  on  meteorological conditions including wind direction, wind speed, mixing height, temperature variation, etc. The major steps taken by Government to curb pollution in Delhi and NCR 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 BS-VI 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 ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARA (a) OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1130 DUE FOR REPLY ON 22.11.2016 REGARDING 'LIST OF MOST POLLUTIED CITIES' BY SHRI E. AHAMED, HON'BLE MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT Names of Indian cities, concentration of PM2.5 reported, their ranking by WHO

## and present level of air pollution monitored by CPCB

| Sl.   | Name of the   | Ranking made by   | PM 2.5 concentration Reported by WHO (in µg/m 3 )   | AQI (Avg. of Nov, 15 Oct, 16)   | Data monitored by CPCB (in µg/m 3 ) during 2015   | Data monitored by CPCB (in µg/m 3 ) during 2015   | Data monitored by CPCB (in µg/m 3 ) during 2015   | Data monitored by CPCB (in µg/m 3 ) during 2015   |
|-------|---------------|-------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------|
| No.   | Indian City   | WHO               |                                                     | to                              | PM 2.5                                            | PM 10                                             | SO 2                                              | NO X                                              |
| 1     | Gwalior       | 2                 | 176                                                 | NA                              | 77                                                | 125                                               | 10                                                | 14                                                |
| 2     | Allahabad     | 3                 | 170                                                 | NA                              | -                                                 | 250                                               | 4                                                 | 26                                                |
| 3     | Patna         | 6                 | 149                                                 | 208                             | -                                                 | -                                                 | -                                                 | -                                                 |
| 4     | Raipur        | 7                 | 144                                                 | NA                              | -                                                 | 188                                               | 13                                                | 36                                                |
| 5     | Delhi         | 11                | 122                                                 | 246                             | 96                                                | 220                                               | 5                                                 | 65                                                |
| 6     | Ludhiana      | 12                | 122                                                 | NA                              | -                                                 | 139                                               | 11                                                | 27                                                |
| 7     | Kanpur        | 15                | 115                                                 | 215                             | -                                                 | 201                                               | 6                                                 | 36                                                |
| 8     | Khanna        | 16                | 114                                                 | NA                              | -                                                 | 122                                               | 10                                                | 22                                                |
| 9     | Firozabad     | 17                | 113                                                 | NA                              | -                                                 | 194                                               | 9                                                 | 30                                                |
| 10    | Lucknow       | 18                | 113                                                 | 221                             | -                                                 | 169                                               | 8                                                 | 28                                                |

Note: '-'Data not received; 'NA' Data not available as the city not connected with NAAQMS.

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