Lok Sabha Question No. 251 (STARRED), answered on 2018-12-28
Subject: Air Pollution
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: MALLIKARJUN  KHARGE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION N0. *251

TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.12.2018

## Air Pollution

## *251. SHRI MALLIKARJUN KHARGE:

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

- (a)   whether  Delhi  is  one  of  the  most  polluted  cities  in  India  and  it  is  a  public  health threatening emergency;
- (b)   if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  factors  causing  air  pollution  besides  vehicular traffic, dust and construction activities in the cities; and
- (c)   the steps proposed by the Government to tackle air pollution in such cities on long term planning basis and through policy interventions to protect public health?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

- (a) to (c): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

***

Statement referred to in reply to Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 251 due for reply on 28.12.2018 regarding 'Air Pollution' By Shri Mallikarjun Kharge, Hon'ble Member of Lok Sabha

- (a) As per available data, high levels of air pollution with respect to particulate matter is witnessed in Delhi with associated public health concerns.
- (b) Several  studies  have  been  conducted  to  identify  major  air  pollution  sources  (mainly NOX, PM10 and PM2.5) and their contribution to ambient air pollution levels in cities. Apart  from  vehicular  traffic,  dust  and  construction  activities,  other  sources  of  air pollution include biomass burning,solid waste burning, industries, etc. Details regarding sources of air pollution are given in Annexure I.
- (c) A Comprehensive  Action  Plan  (CAP)  for  prevention,  control  and  mitigation  of  air pollution  in  Delhi  and  NCR  has  been  notified.  The  Central  Government  has  also finalized National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) under the Central Sector 'Control of Pollution' Scheme as a long-term time bound national level strategy to tackle the increasing air pollution problem across the country in comprehensive manner. Hundred  and  two  (102) non-attainment cities have been selected for formulation and implementation of city specific action plan under NCAP.

The  measures  taken  by  the  Government  to  improve  the  air  quality inter alia, include  notification  of   Graded  Response  Action  Plan  for  different  levels  of air pollution in  Delhi  and  NCR;  introduction  of  cleaner  /  alternate  fuels  like  gaseous fuel  (CNG,  LPG  etc.),  ethanol  blending;  universalization  of  BS-IV  from  2017; 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;  notification  of Construction  and  Demolition  Waste  Management  Rules;  banning  of  burning  of biomass;  notifications  regarding  implementation  of  dust  mitigation  measures  for construction  and  demolition  activities;  notification  of  Construction  and  Demolition Waste  Management  Rules;  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, etc.

******

Annexure referred to in reply to Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 251 due for reply  on  28.12.2018  regarding  'Air  Pollution'  By Shri  Mallikarjun  Kharge, Hon'ble Member of Lok Sabha

ANNEXURE I

## Details of studies for air pollution sources and its contributions

1. Comprehensive  Study  on  Air  Pollution  and  Green  House  Gases  (GHGs)  in Delhi

Conducted by: IIT Kanpur

Year of publication: 2016

Cities covered - Delhi

Sources identified -

| Source                 | Average for six monitoring locations   | Average for six monitoring locations   | Average for six monitoring locations   | Average for six monitoring locations   |
|------------------------|----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|
|                        | %contribution (PM 10 )                 | %contribution (PM 10 )                 | %contribution (PM 2.5 )                | %contribution (PM 2.5 )                |
|                        | Winter                                 | Summer                                 | Winter                                 | Summer                                 |
| Vehicles               | 19.7                                   | 6.4                                    | 25.1                                   | 8.5                                    |
| Secondary particulates | 24.6                                   | 10.15                                  | 29.9                                   | 14.9                                   |
| Biomass burning        | 16.7                                   | 6.8                                    | 25.8                                   | 12.2                                   |
| Industries             | 0.65                                   | 1.05                                   | 0.8                                    | 1.2                                    |
| Coal and Fly Ash       | 12.3                                   | 37.2                                   | 4.8                                    | 25.95                                  |
| Construction material  | 3.1                                    | 4.1                                    | 1.5                                    | 3.0                                    |
| Soli and road dust     | 14.4                                   | 26.5                                   | 4.3                                    | 27.1                                   |
| Solid Waste burning    | 8.75                                   | 7.75                                   | 7.75                                   | 7.2                                    |

2. Source  Apportionment  of  PM2.5  &  PM10  of  Delhi  NCR  for  Identification  of Major Sources

Conducted by: TERI, ARAI Year of publication: 2018 Cities covered - Delhi- NCR

| Source                 | Average for nine monitoring locations   | Average for nine monitoring locations   | Average for nine monitoring locations   | Average for nine monitoring locations   |
|------------------------|-----------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|
|                        | %contribution (PM 10 )                  | %contribution (PM 10 )                  | %contribution (PM 2.5 )                 | %contribution (PM 2.5 )                 |
|                        | Winter                                  | Summer                                  | Winter                                  | Summer                                  |
| Dust Construction      | and 31                                  | 42                                      | 15                                      | 34                                      |
| Secondary particulates | 23                                      | 15                                      | 26                                      | 17                                      |
| Vehicles               | 18                                      | 15                                      | 23                                      | 18                                      |
| Biomass                | 14                                      | 12                                      | 22                                      | 15                                      |
| Industries             | 10                                      | 12                                      | 10                                      | 11                                      |
| Others                 | 4                                       | 4                                       | 4                                       | 5                                       |