Lok Sabha Question No. 609 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-20
Subject: Level of Air Pollution
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: ANJU BALA, KANWAR SINGH TANWAR, BHAIRON PRASAD MISHRA, RAMESH POKHRIYAL NISHANK, SRIRAM MALYADRI, ELUMALAI VELLAIGOUNDER, MEENAKASHI LEKHI, Tejpratap Singh,Yadav

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

## LOK SABHA UN-STARRED QUESTION N0. 609

TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.07.2018

## Level of Air Pollution

## 609. SHRIMATI ANJU BALA:

SHRI MALYADRI SRIRAM: SHRIMATI MEENAKASHI LEKHI: DR. RAMESH POKHRIYAL 'NISHANK': SHRI TEJ PRATAP SINGH YADAV: SHRI V. ELUMALAI: SHRI BHAIRON PRASAD MISHRA: SHRI KANWAR SINGH TANWAR:

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

- (a) whether the Government monitors the level of air pollution regularly in various cities including Delhi and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether air pollution has increased in Delhi and other States of the country during the last three years and the current year and if so, the details of the level of pollution in major cities of the country, State/UT-wise;
- (c) whether Delhi is world's most polluted city and Mumbai is fourth, according to air quality data compiled by the World Health Organization (WHO) and if so, the details thereof along with the Government reaction thereto;
- (d) whether the Government has authorized certain officers to monitor and keep check on the increasing air pollution in Delhi and if so, the details thereof along with the extent to which success has been achieved by such officers in controlling pollution; and
- (e) whether there has been reports of violations of norms by certain officers in this regard and if so, the action taken thereon along with the details of steps taken to control air pollution  and  promote  use  of CNG in Delhi  and other areas which regularly  report high level of air pollution?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

- (a) &  (b)  The  ambient  air  quality  is  being  monitored  at  703  ambient  air  quality monitoring  stations  covering  307  cities/towns  in  29  States  and  6  Union  Territories under National Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP). Under NAMP, three air pollutants  viz.,  Sulphur  Dioxide  (SO2),  Nitrogen  Dioxide  (NO2)  and  Particulate Matter (PM10) are being monitored at all the locations. Ambient air quality data for 46 million plus cities including Delhi is attached at Annexure-I

Analysis of data of 42 cities shows that SO2 levels were within the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) in all the cities during 2015-17. With respect to NO2, 14 cities showed an increasing trend, 12 cities showed a decreasing concentration, 15 cities  showed  a  fluctuating  trend  and  1  city  revealed  steady  concentration.  With respect to PM10, 12 cities showed an increasing trend, 7 cities showed a decreasing concentration, 23 cities showed a fluctuating trend. With respect to PM2.5, trends are available for 11 cities. Out of 11cities, 02 cities showed an increasing trend, 02 cities showed a decreasing concentration, 07 cities showed a fluctuating trend.

- (c) The  World  Health  Organization  (WHO)  released  the  WHO  Global  Ambient  Air Quality Database (update 2018). The 2018 version of the WHO ambient (outdoor) air quality  database  consists  mainly  of  urban  air  quality  data  annual  means  for  PM10 and/or PM2.5, covering more than 4000 human settlements in 108 countries for the years  from  2008  to  2016.  WHO does not rank  countries /  cities  on  the  basis  of  air pollution data. However, arranging WHO database for measured PM2.5 in descending order,  Delhi  comes  in  6th  position  and  Mumbai  in  97th  position.  Arranging  WHO database for measured PM10 in descending order, Delhi comes in 7th position and Mumbai in 170th position. These two cities are in the list of non-attainment cities.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest  and  Climate  Change  (MoEF&CC)  has formulated National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) for abatement of air pollution in the  country.  The  NCAP  aspires  to  strengthen  the  ongoing  government  initiatives targeted  towards  prevention,  control  and  mitigation  of  air  pollution.  It  lays  down  a comprehensive framework for management  of air quality in the country by augmentation  of  existing  air  quality  monitoring  network  and  devising  air  quality management plans for non-attainment cities based on detailed source apportionment (identification of pollution sources) studies for each city.

- (d) In  Delhi,  40  teams  from  Central  Pollution  Control  Board  were  deployed  to  various parts of Delhi for providing ground level feedback about sources causing air pollution and  on  the  level  of  implementation  of  actions  identified  under  Graded  Response Action Plan (GRAP). The field visits commenced on September 01, 2017. A total of 388 inspections have been conducted. On the spot reporting of polluting sources with location details to Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) was done by teams. In addition, weekly summarized reports on field feedback were also sent to DPCC for further necessary action.
- (e) According to reports submitted by teams & cumulative analysis of weekly feedback reports, construction activity &  open  storage of construction material, traffic congestion,  dumping  of  construction  &  solid  waste,  waste  burning  and  road  dust resuspension have been reiterated as major sources of air pollution in Delhi.

The Government has taken several steps to address air pollution which inter alia, include  notification  of  National  Ambient  Air  Quality  Standards;  setting  up  of monitoring network for assessment of ambient air quality; introduction of cleaner / alternate  fuels  like  gaseous  fuel  (CNG,  LPG  etc.),  ethanol  blending,  launching  of National Air Quality index; leapfrogging from BS-IV to BS-VI fuel standards from 1st April, 2018 in Delhi and from 1 st April 2020 in rest of the country; notification of

Construction  and  Demolition  Waste  Management  Rules;  banning  of  burning  of biomass;  promotion  of  public transport  network; streamlining the issuance of Pollution Under Control Certificate; 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; etc.

***

## Air quality status of million plus cities for 2015, 2016 and 2017 (Annual average in µg/m 3 )

| State          | Cities               | 2015   | 2015   | 2015   | 2015   | 2016   | 2016   | 2016   | 2016   | 2017   | 2017   | 2017   | 2017   |
|----------------|----------------------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|
| State          | Cities               | SO 2   | NO 2   | PM 10  | PM 2.5 | SO 2   | NO 2   | PM 10  | PM 2.5 | SO 2   | NO 2   | PM 10  | PM 2.5 |
| Uttar Pradesh  | Agra                 | 4      | 22     | 186    | -      | 5      | 22     | 198    | -      | 4      | 23     | 193    | -      |
| Gujarat        | Ahmedabad            | 13     | 21     | 89     | 29     | 14     | 27     | 108    | 34     | 13     | 29     | 114    | 37     |
| Uttar Pradesh  | Allahabad            | 4      | 26     | 250    | -      | 4      | 37     | 196    | -      | 4      | 40     | 140    | -      |
| Punjab         | Amritsar             | 11     | 30     | 148    | -      | 12     | 29     | 194    | -      | 11     | 27     | 168    | -      |
| Maharashtra    | Aurangabad           | 13     | 40     | 83     | -      | 14     | 39     | 92     | -      | 10     | 33     | 83     | -      |
| Karnataka      | Bangalore            | 6      | 20     | 119    | 54     | 3      | 31     | 103    | 51     | 2      | 31     | 91     | 46     |
| Madhya Pradesh | Bhopal               | 3      | 23     | 158    | 105    | 3      | 15     | 89     | 27     | 4      | 15     | 93     | 41     |
| Tamilnadu      | Chennai              | 13     | 20     | 59     | 22     | 10     | 18     | 65     | 25     | 11     | 16     | 66     | -      |
| Tamilnadu      | Coimbatore           | 4      | 25     | 47     | 30     | 6      | 24     | 59     | 35     | 5      | 26     | 49     | 35     |
| Delhi          | Delhi                | 5      | 65     | 220    | 95     | 7      | 66     | 278    | 118    | 7      | 68     | 241    | 106    |
| Jharkhand      | Dhanbad              | 12     | 37     | 168    | -      | 15     | 37     | 226    | -      | 15     | 37     | 238    | -      |
| Maharashtra    | Dombivali/Amber nath | 20     | 53     | 104    | 56     | 26     | 76     | 128    | -      | 27     | 70     | 177    | -      |
| Haryana        | Faridabad            | 15     | 74     | 105    | -      | -      | -      | -      | -      | -      | -      | -      | -      |
| Uttar Pradesh  | Ghaziabad            | 23     | 37     | 260    | 77     | 15     | 28     | 235    | -      | 22     | 35     | 283    | -      |
| Madhya Pradesh | Gwalior              | 10     | 14     | 125    | 73     | 10     | 14     | 96     | 52     | 10     | 17     | 110    | 47     |
| West Bengal    | Howrah               | 15     | 43     | 123    | -      | 10     | 59     | 119    | 67     | 11     | 61     | 91     | 55     |
| Telangana      | Hydrabad             | 4      | 23     | 93     | -      | 4      | 27     | 100    | 49     | 6      | 34     | 120    | 52     |
| Madhya Pradesh | Indore               | 11     | 20     | 97     | 40     | 11     | 20     | 95     | 54     | 11     | 21     | 80     | 43     |
| Madhya Pradesh | Jabalpur             | 9      | 28     | 90     | -      | 10     | 23     | 71     | 32     | 10     | 21     | 74     | 23     |
| Rajasthan      | Jaipur               | 7      | 36     | 171    | -      | 8      | 33     | 199    | -      | 8      | 31     | 178    | -      |
| Rajasthan      | Jodhpur              | 6      | 24     | 152    | -      | 6      | 23     | 168    | -      | 6      | 22     | 182    | -      |
| Uttar Pradesh  | Kanpur               | 6      | 36     | 201    | -      | 7      | 39     | 217    | -      | 7      | 45     | 224    | -      |
| West Bengal    | Kolkata              | 7      | 56     | 105    | 55*    | 4      | 49     | 113    | 70     | 4      | 37     | 109    | 64     |
| Rajasthan      | Kota                 | 6      | 34     | 134    | -      | 7      | 30     | 109    | -      | 8      | 27     | 132    | -      |
| Uttar Pradesh  | Lucknow              | 8      | 28     | 169    | -      | 8      | 27     | 214    | -      | 8      | 26     | 247    | 105    |
| Punjab         | Ludhiana             | 11     | 27     | 139    | -      | 11     | 25     | 139    | -      | 9.5    | 28     | 162    | -      |
| Tamilnadu      | Madurai              | 13     | 25     | 64     | 32     | 15     | 24     | 76     | 38     | 14     | 23     | 67     | -      |
| Uttar          | Meerut               | 6      | 39     | 144    | -      | 7      | 55     | 157    | -      | 7      | 52     | 153    | -      |
| Pradesh        |                      |        |        |        |        |        |        |        |        |        |        |        |        |

## Annexure-I

| State          | Cities          | 2015   | 2015   | 2015   | 2015   | 2016   | 2016   | 2016   | 2016   | 2017   | 2017   | 2017   | 2017   |
|----------------|-----------------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|
| State          | Cities          | SO 2   | NO 2   | PM 10  | PM 2.5 | SO 2   | NO 2   | PM 10  | PM 2.5 | SO 2   | NO 2   | PM 10  | PM 2.5 |
| Maharashtra    | Mumbai          | 4      | 25     | 107    | 26     | 6      | 30     | 119    | -      | 3      | 18     | 151    | -      |
| Maharashtra    | Nagpur          | 10     | 25     | 90     | -      | 16     | 26     | 118    | -      | 9      | 28     | 95     | -      |
| Maharashtra    | Nashik          | 15     | 23     | 78     | -      | 13     | 27     | 85     | -      | 12     | 22     | 79     | -      |
| Maharashtra    | Navi Mumbai     | 18     | 42     | 125    | -      | 19     | 46     | 118    | -      | 22     | 45     | 105    | -      |
| Bihar          | Patna           | 4      | 41     | 204    | -      | 4      | 32     | 212    | -      | 5      | 39     | 156    | -      |
| Maharashtra    | PimpriChinchwad | 23     | 52     | 102    | -      | 32     | 71     | 105    | -      | 24     | 61     | 82     | -      |
| Maharashtra    | Pune            | 23     | 62     | 99     | -      | 28     | 78     | 107    | -      | 21     | 65     | 102    | -      |
| Chattisgarh    | Raipur          | 13     | 36     | 188    | -      | 12     | 31     | 148    | -      | -      | -      | -      | -      |
| Gujarat        | Rajkot          | 13     | 19     | 83     | 30     | 13     | 21     | 92     | 32     | 15     | 21     | 100    | 35     |
| Jharkhand      | Ranchi          | 19     | 36     | 220    | -      | 20     | 37     | 196    | -      | 19     | 37     | 142    |        |
| Jammu& Kashmir | Shrinagar       | @      | @      | @      | @      | @      | @      | @      | @      | @      | @      | @      | @      |
| Gujarat        | Surat           | 14     | 20     | 89     | 31     | 13     | 22     | 92     | 31     | 16     | 24     | 99     | 34     |
| Maharashtra    | Thane           | 28     | 58     | 117    | -      | 18     | 60     | 122    | -      | 18     | 47     | 125    | -      |
| Gujarat        | Vadodara        | 14     | 20     | 87     | 33     | 14     | 23     | 92     | 30     | 15     | 22     | 103    | 35     |
| Uttar Pradesh  | Varanasi        | 19     | 33     | 145    | -      | 11     | 32     | 256    | -      | 10     | 40     | 215    | -      |
| Maharashtra    | Vasai-virar     | NA     | NA     | NA     | NA     | NA     | NA     | NA     | NA     | #      | #      | #      | #      |
| Andhra Pradesh | Vijaywada       | 6      | 37     | 110    | -      | 6      | 44     | 102    | -      | 6      | 29     | 99     | -      |
| Andhra Pradesh | Vishakhapatnam  | 9      | 19     | 61     | -      | 8      | 18     | 77     | -      | 9      | 17     | 73     | -      |

NB.  NA-  no  monitoring  station  in  the  city,  @  -monitoring  station  sanctioned  but  not  yet  operational,  '-'  data  not  received,  National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for Residential, Industrial, Rural and others Areas (Annual average) for SO2 = 50 µg/m 3 , NO2 = 40 µg/m 3 , PM10 = 60 µg/m 3 & PM2.5 = 40 µg/m 3 and SO2 = 20 µg/m 3 , NO2 = 30 µg/m 3 , PM10 = 60 µg/m 3 and PM2.5 = 40 µg/m 3 for Ecologically sensitive area . The data furnished in the table for year 2017 is as available on date.