Lok Sabha Question No. 4313 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-18
Subject: Check on Level of Pollution and Crowding on Roads in Delhi and NCR
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Sukhbir Singh Jaunapuria

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4313

ANSWERED ON 18 TH  JULY, 2019

## CHECK ON LEVEL OF POLLUTION AND CROWDING ON ROADS IN DELHI AND NCR

## 4313.   SHRI SUKHBIR SINGH JAUNAPURIA:

## Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

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be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has received any representations or suggestions to reduce the level of pollution and crowding on roads in Delhi and NCR;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government thereon;
- (c) whether the Government has fixed any criteria for old diesel and petrol vehicles through National Green Tribunal (NGT); and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## (SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

(a)  and  (b)  Yes,  Sir.  Government  has  received  representations  and  suggestionsfrom  various agencies including Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority for the National Capital  Region  (EPCA)to  reduce  the  level  of  pollution  and  crowding  on  roads  in  Delhi  and NCR.

As  per  the  information  available  with  this  Ministry  and  further  provided  by  Ministry  of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), the steps taken by the Government for prevention, control and abatement of air pollution and crowding on roads in Delhi and NCR are placed at Annexure.

(c) and (d) The Hon'ble National Green Tribunal vide its order dated 26.11.2014 in the matter of OA No. 21/2014 - Vardaman Kaushik v/s Union of India, has banned the plying of 15 years old petrol vehicles and vide its order dated 07.04.2015 banned the plying of 10 years old diesel vehicles on the roads of NCR and Delhi.

ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (b)  OF  THE  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4313 ANSWERED ON 18 TH  JULY, 2019 ASKED BY SHRI SUKHBIR  SINGH  JAUNAPURIA  REGARDING  CHECK  ON  LEVEL  OF  POLLUTION AND CROWDING ON ROADS IN DELHI AND NCR

## Steps  taken  by  the  Government for  prevention,  control  and  abatement of  air  pollution and crowding on roads in Delhi and NCR.

## (i) 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,  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.

## (ii) 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).

## (iii) Transport

-  To promote clean fuel for reduction of vehicular pollution, this Government has issued notification  number  G.S.R.  643(E)  date  19.08.2015  vide  which  the  Mass  Emission Standards for Bharat Stage IV shall come into force all over the country in respect of four wheeled vehicles manufactured on or after the 1st April, 2017.
-  The Government  vide  notification number  G.S.R. 889(E), dated 16.09.2016 has mandated mass emission standards for BS-VI throughout the country with effect from 1st April 2020 in order to bring down emission.
-  For  promoting  Battery  Operated  Vehicles  that  Government  has  initiated  steps  which includes:-
- (i) Retro-fitment  of  hybrid  electric  system  or  electric  kit  to  vehicles  and  the Government  hasalso  specified  the  type  approval  procedure  of  electric  hybrid vehicles.
- (ii) The  registration mark  for Battery Operated  Vehicles  to be  on  a  Green background.
- (iii) Exemption to the Battery Operated Transport Vehicles and Transport Vehicles running on Ethanol and Methanol fuels from the requirements of permit.
- (iv) The Government has published G.S.R. 430 (E) dated 18.06.2019 proposing to wave off the fee for registration of electric vehicles for seeking comments and objections.
-  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.
-  Strengthening theprocess of issuance of Pollution under Control Certificate.
-  Rule 115 of Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 has been amended vide G.S.R. 527 (E) dated  06.06.2018  regarding  linking  of  PUC  data  (emission  related  data)  with  the VAHAN database.

## (iv) 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.

## (v) Biomass and Solid Waste

-  A new Central Sector Scheme on 'Promotion of Agricultural Mechanization for in-situ 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, e-waste, bio-medical waste, C&D waste and hazardous wastes issued in 2016.

## (vi) 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.

## (vii) 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.