Lok Sabha Question No. 114 (STARRED), answered on 2019-06-28
Subject: Rise in Ozone Levels
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Deepak Baij

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 114

TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.06.2019

## RISE IN OZONE LEVELS

## *114. SHRI DEEPAK BAIJ:

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

- (a) the number of times Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has released data regarding rise in ozone levels beyond its prescribed limit in National Capital Region (NCR) during the last three years;
- (b) the  details  of  adverse  effects  on  human  health  witnessed  as  a  result  of  rise  in  ozone levels;
- (c) the  details  of  steps  taken  by  the  Government  from  time  to  time  to  control  the  rise  in ozone levels;
- (d) whether the rise in ozone level beyond the prescribed limit poses threat to human life; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

(a) to (e) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

***

## STATEMENT REFEERED TO IN REPLY TO PARAS (a) TO (e) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  114  FOR  28.06.2019  REGARDING  'RISE  IN  OZONE LEVELS' RAISED BY SHRI DEEPAK BAIJ

- (a) The monitoring data of ozone in Delhi-NCR is regularly displayed on Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) website on real time basis. The analysis of AQI for Delhi reveals that during last three years (2016-2018), ozone was reported as prominent pollutant for 95 days in Delhi and 11, 48, 8 and 49 days in Faridabad, Gurugram, Ghaziabad and Noida respectively. Data is attached as Annexure -1.
- (b),  (d)  &  (e) Rise  in  ozone  levels  is  considered  as  one  of  the  triggering  factors  for  respiratory ailments and associated diseases. Irritation can occur in respiratory system causing coughing, and uncomfortable  sensation  in  chest.  It  may  reduce  lung  function  and  make  breathing  difficult. There  are  no  conclusive  data  available  in  the  country  to  establish  direct  correlation  of mortality/morbidity exclusively due to rise in ozone levels.
- (c) Ozone is a secondary pollutant which is formed through atmospheric reactions and responsible factors  are  high  temperature  and  emissions  of  oxides  of  nitrogen  (NOx)  &  Volatile  Organic Compounds  (VOCs).  Major  sources  for  NOx  include  vehicles,  power  plants  and  burning  of fuel/waste. VOCs are emitted from vehicles, petrol pumps, use of solvents and burning of waste. The Government has taken several measures to control NOx and VOCs emissions which include the following:
-  Leapfrogging from BS-IV to BS-VI fuel standards since 1st April, 2018 in NCT of Delhi and from by 1st April, 2020 in the rest of the country which will reduce NOx emissions of heavy duty diesel vehicles by 88.5% in comparison to BS-IV vehicles.
-  Installation of vapour recovery systems in petrol pumps.
-  Introduction  of  cleaner  /  alternate  fuels  like  gaseous  fuel  (CNG,  LPG  etc.),  ethanol blending.
-  Promotion of public transport and improvements in roads and building of more bridges to ease congestion on roads.
-  Operationalisation of  Eastern Peripheral Expressway & Western Peripheral Expressway to divert non-destined traffic from Delhi which results in smooth traffic flow and reduces emissions.
-  Streamlining the issuance of Pollution Under Control Certificate.
-  Banning of burning of biomass and garbage.
-  3 Waste-to-Energy (W-t-E) plants are currently operational in Delhi with a total capacity of 5100 Tonnes Per Day(TPD).
-  Notifications of 6 waste management rules covering solid waste, plastic waste, e-waste, bio-medical waste, C&D waste and hazardous wastes issued in 2016.
-  Notification of stricter emission norms for power plants.
-  Closure of Badarpur thermal power plant in Delhi.

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## CENTRAL POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD Ambient Air Quality Data Air Quality Index Status of Ozone in Delhi-NCR

Total number of days with ozone reported as Prominent pollutant

| City      | Prominent Parameter   | 2016   |   2017 |   2018 |   2019 (Till 31 st May, ) |
|-----------|-----------------------|--------|--------|--------|---------------------------|
| Delhi     | Ozone                 | 36     |     14 |     45 |                        23 |
| Faridabad | Ozone                 | 3      |      0 |      8 |                        55 |
| Gurugram  | Ozone                 | 43     |      0 |      5 |                         6 |
| Ghaziabad | Ozone                 | --     |      0 |      8 |                         3 |
| Noida     | Ozone                 | --     |     33 |     16 |                         0 |

## Annexure -1