Lok Sabha Question No. 103 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-06-21
Subject: Monitoring of Air Pollution
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Meenakashi Lekhi

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

## LOK SABHA UN-STARRED QUESTION N0. 103

TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.06.2019

## Monitoring of Air Pollution

## 103. SHRIMATI MEENAKASHI LEKHI:

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

- (a) whether  air  pollution  is  regularly  monitored  in  various  Indian  cities  and  if  so,  the details thereof;
- (b) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  control  the  level  of  air  pollutants  for  cities where high level of pollution cause smog during winters; and
- (c) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  promote  usage  of  CNG  especially  in  areas which regularly report high levels of air pollution?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) Ambient  air  quality  is  monitored  at  779  locations  covering  339  cities/towns  in  29 States  and  6  Union  Territories  across  the  country  under  National  Air  Quality Monitoring  Programme  (NAMP).  The  analysis  of  ambient  air  quality  data  for  43 million  plus  cities  revealed  that  SO2  levels  were  within  the  National  Ambient  Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). With respect to NO2, 9 cities showed an increasing trend, 10 cities showed a decreasing concentration and 24 cities showed a fluctuating trend. With  respect  to  PM10,  9  cities  showed  an  increasing  trend,  5  cities  showed  a decreasing  concentration  and  29  cities  showed  a  fluctuating  trend.  With  respect  to PM2.5,  trends  are  available  for  15  cities  and  out  of  15  cities,  05  cities  showed  an increasing  trend,  03  cities  showed  a  decreasing  concentration,  07  cities  showed  a fluctuating trend.
- (b) & (c) As per available data, high levels of air pollution with respect to particulate matter is witnessed in Delhi and other North Indian States particularly during winter months/Diwali.The Central Government has taken a number of initiatives for prevention, control and abatement of air pollution in Delhi and NCR. These include

## Plans and Directions

-  Comprehensive Action Plan (CAP) identifying timelines and implementing agency for  actions  identified  for  prevention,  control  and  mitigation  of  air  pollution  in Delhi and NCR has been notified.
-  National  Clean  Air  Programme  (NCAP)  under  the  Central  Sector  'Control  of Pollution'  Scheme  as a  time  bound national  level  strategy  to  tackle  air  pollution problem across the country in comprehensive manner has been launched.
-  102  non-attainment  cities  for  formulation  and  implementation  of  city  specific action plan under NCAP have been identified.
-  Graded  Response  Action  Plan  for  different  levels  of  air pollution in  Delhi  and NCR has been notified.
-  A comprehensive set of directions have been issued under section 18 (1) (b) of Air (Prevention  and  Control  of  Pollution)  Act,  1986  for  implementation  of  42/31 measures to mitigate air pollution in major cities including Delhi and NCR cities comprising of control and mitigation measures related to vehicular emissions, resuspension  of  road  dust  and  other  fugitive  emissions,  bio-mass/municipal  solid waste  burning,  industrial  pollution,  construction  and  demolition  activities,  and other general steps.

## Monitoring

-  Setting up of monitoring network for assessment of ambient air quality.
-  Notification of National Ambient Air Quality Standards.
-  Launch of National Air Quality Index.
-  Implementation of Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi in October, 2018 in association with Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).

## Transport

-  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.
-  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.
-  Streamlining the issuance of Pollution Under Control Certificate.

## Industry

-  Badarpur thermal power plant has been closed from 15th October, 2018.
-  All brick kilns have been shifted to zig-zag technology in Delhi and NCR.
-  Installation  of  on-line  continuous  (24x7)  monitoring  devices  all  red  category industries in  Delhi and NCR.
-  Revision of emission standards for industrial sectors from time to time.

## Biomass and Solid Waste

-  A new Central Sector Scheme on 'Promotion of Agricultural Mechanization for insitu management of Crop Residue in the States of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and NCT of Delhi' for the period from 2018-19 and 2019-20 has been launched.
-  Banning of burning of biomass.
-  3  Waste-to-Energy  (W-t-E)  plants  are  currently  operational  in  Delhi  with  atotal capacity of 5100 Tonnes Per Day(TPD).
-  Notifications of 6 waste management rules covering solid waste, plastic waste, ewaste, bio-medical waste, C&D waste and hazardous wastes issued in 2016.

## Dust

-  Notifications regarding dust mitigation measures for construction and demolition activities.
-  Number of mechanised road sweeping machines has been increased significantly and presently 60 machines are deployed for cleaning of roads in Delhi.

## Public Outreach

-  Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  &  Climate  Change  and  Delhi  Government launched Clean Air for Delhi Campaign from 10th - 23rd Feb 2018 and to check air  polluting activities pre and post Diwali, a special campaign called 'Clean Air Campaign' during November 01, 2018 to November 10, 2018.
-  Ministry  is  promoting  peoples  participation  and  awareness  building  among citizens for environmental conservation through Green Goods Deeds that focus on promotion of cycling, saving water and electricity, growing trees, proper maintenance of vehicles, following of lane discipline and reducing congestion on roads by car pooling etc.
-  Development  of  mechanism  for  redressal  of  public  complaints  regarding  air pollution issues in Delhi and NCR (through 'Sameer App', 'Emails'(aircomplaints.cpcb@gov.in) and 'Social Media Networks' (Facebook and Twitter)  etc.

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