Lok Sabha Question No. 2394 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-09
Subject: Air Pollution
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: KALIKESH NARAYAN SINGH DEO

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION N0. 2394

TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.03.2018

## Air Pollution

## 2394. SHRI KALIKESH N.SINGH DEO:

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 nation-wide 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;
- (e) whether the Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA)  has  conducted inspection of Pollution Under Control (PUC) Centres in Delhi; and
- (f) 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  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

- (a) The  government  has  formulated  National  Clean  Air  Programme  (NCAP)  as  a  long term time bound national level strategy to tackle the increasing air pollution problem across the country in comprehensive manner. The overall objective is to augment and evolve  effective  ambient  air  quality  monitoring  network  across  the  country  besides ensuring comprehensive management plan for prevention, control and abatement of air pollution.  The  NCAP  focuses  on  collaborative  and  participatory  approach comprising  all  sources  of  pollution  and  coordination  between  relevant  Central Ministries, State Governments, local bodies and other stakeholders.Central Pollution Control  Board  (CPCB) is  monitoring  ambient  air  quality  in  691  locations  covering 303  cities/towns  in  29  States  and  6  Union  Territories  across  the  country  under National Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP).
- (b) Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) notified by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on 12.01.2017 is being implemented by Environment Pollution

(Prevention  and  Control)  Authority  (EPCA)  to  redress  the  air  pollution  problem  in Delhi & NCR and directions given by EPCA from time to time is being followed by concerned agencies.

- (c) At  present,  there  is  no  proposal  to  implement  GRAP  at  the  National  level  as  its specific for Delhi NCR.
- (d) A Clean Air Campaign in Delhi was organized by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) in collaboration with Delhi Government covering all  11  districts  for  improving  ground  level  mitigation  actions  and  creating  mass awareness. Teams comprising officials from MoEF&CC, CPCB and Delhi Government  inspected  areas  with  focus  on  implementation  of  measures  relating  to various sources of air pollution viz construction activities,  road  dust,  open  burning, vehicular pollution and traffic congestion etc.
- (e) Environment  Pollution  Control  Authority  EPCA  has  carried  out  inspection  of Pollution Under Control (PUC) centres in Delhi- NCR in compliance of the Hon'ble Supreme Court orders dated January 17, 2017, and February 6, 2017 in the matter of W.P. (Civil) 13029 of 1985: M.C. Mehta vs Union of India.
- (f) EPCA based on the inspection of PUC centres and further review of the effectiveness of the PUC programme being implemented in Delhi-NCR submitted its recommendations to Hon'ble Supreme Court.Accordingly, on the basis of direction of Hon'ble  Supreme  court,  Ministry  of  Road  Transport  and  Highways  (MoRTH)  has issued  various  advisories  to  the  state  governments  for  proper  functioning  of  PUC centres.The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) has informed that directions for linking of PUC certificate with the insurance of vehicles has been issued to all insurers. Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways has issued a draft notification GSR 196 (E) dated 28.02.2018 for the linking of PUC certificate with the VAHAN database which will help in proper implementation of PUC regime.

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