Lok Sabha Question No. 6182 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-04-11
Subject: Action Plan on Air Pollution
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: VINCENT H PALA, RAJESH RANJAN  (PAPPU  YADAV), NINONG ERING, GOPALAKRISHNAN CHINNARAJ

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.6182

TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.04.2017

## Action Plan on Air Pollution

## 6182.    SHRI VINCENT H. PALA: SHRI RAJESH RANJAN: SHRI NINONG ERING: DR. C. GOPALAKRISHNAN:

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

- (a) whether the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has any plan to execute a nationwide programme to curb air pollution and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the  status  of  implementation  of  the  'graded  response  action  plan'  to  tackle  different levels of pollution in Delhi;
- (c) whether the said action plan is likely to be implemented at the National level and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d) whether the CPCB has organised a comprehensive programme through mass media to tackle pollution, if so, the details thereof and if not, the corrective steps taken thereon; and
- (e) whether the Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) has conducted inspection of 962 Pollution Under Control (PUC) Centres in Delhi, if so, the outcome thereof along with  similar  measures  proposed  to  be  taken  at  the  National  level  as  well  as  the  steps taken  to  ensure  PUC  compliance  and  linking  of  PUC  certificate  with  insurance  of vehicles?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  (INDEPENDENT  CHARGE)  FOR  ENVIORNMENT,  FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI ANIL MADHAV DAVE)

(a) As  a  nationwide  action  plan,  CPCB  has  issued  a  comprehensive  set  of  directions under section 18 (1) (b) of Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1986 comprising of action  points  to  counter  air  pollution  in  major  cities  which  include  control  and  mitigation measures  related  to  vehicular  emissions,  re-suspension  of  road  dust  and  other  fugitive emissions,  bio-mass/municipal  solid  waste  burning,  industrial  pollution,  construction  and demolition  activities,  and  other  general  steps.    The  State  Pollution  Control  Boards  have initiated  steps  towards  implementation  of  these  directions.  In  addition,  CPCB  has  taken several other steps to address the issue of pollution which inter alia, include notification of National Ambient  Air Quality Standards; launching of National Air Quality index; installation of on-line continuous (24x7) monitoring devices by major industries; issuance of advisories for ban on bursting of sound emitting crackers between 10 PM  to 6 AM;notification of graded response action plan for Delhi and NCR etc.

(b) &(c) Government has notified a Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) for Delhi and  NCR,  formulated  on  the  basis  of  inputs  from  CPCB.  The  task  of  implementation  of GRAP  has  been  assigned  to  Environment  Pollution  (Prevention  and  Control)  Authority (EPCA). A Task Force on GRAP has been constituted to review air quality status including weather and air quality forecast, and suggest additional measures during emergency.

(d)  CPCB brings  out  National  Air  Quality  Index  with  respect  to  major  cities  covered  by Continuous Air Quality Monitoring Stations on daily basis which has been widely covered by media and has led to mass awareness.  Further, CPCB has also published data regarding air pollution from time to time which has been well covered in media.

(e)    EPCA has been directed by Supreme Court to carry out inspection of Pollution Under Control (PUC) Centres in Delhi NCR.  Irregularities have been observed in issuance of PUC certificates.    Appropriate  directions  in  the  matter  have  been  issued  to  States  and  Union Territories.

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