Lok Sabha Question No. 4027 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-19
Subject: National Clean Air Programme
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Vishnu Dayal Ram

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION N0. 4027

TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.03.2021

## National Clean Air Programme

## 4027.   SHRI VISHNU DAYAL RAM:

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

- (a)   the aim and scope of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) launched in 2019;
- (b)  whether there exists a uniform process for identifying non-attainment cities and tracking inter-year air quality improvements in the programme and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  State  Pollution  Control  Boards  (SPCBs)which  are  the  frontline  regulators  for pollution  control  in  the  country  are  in  urgent  need  of  capacity  building  and  if  so,  the details thereof along with the steps taken by the Government in this regard;
- (d)  whether  the  Government  has  conducted/requested  for  an  assessment  of  the  funds required for capacity building of SPCBs and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the funds allocated/released for the same under the programme?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO)

(a)  &  (b)  Government  of  India  has  launched  National  Clean  Air  Programme  (NCAP)  as  a long-term, time-bound, national level strategy to tackle the air pollution problem across the country in a comprehensive manner with targets to achieve 20% to 30% reduction in PM10 and  PM2.5  concentrations  by  2024  keeping  2017  as  the  base  year  for  the  comparison  of concentration.

Under NCAP, the non-attainment cities are updated annuallyas per the criteria for identifying non-attainment  cities.  The  cities  exceeding  any  one  parameter  notified  under  National Ambient Air Quality Standards  (NAAQS) consecutively for five  years  are  termed  as  nonattainment cities. The list of non-attainment cities is updated annually as per the criteria.

(c) to (e) In pursuant to Hon'ble NGT directions in OA No. 95/2019 in the matter of Aryavart Foundation  versus  Vapi  Green  Enviro  Ltd.  and  others,  Government  constituted  Expert Committee for assessment of SPCBs/PCCs with regard to notification of Recruitment Rules for  appointment  of  Member  Secretaries  and  Chairmen  for  strengthening  SPCBs/PCCs. Further,  Government  has  directed  States  for  uniform  implementation  of  the  Recruitment Rulesfor  all  vacant  posts  by  competent  persons  and  procuring  the  requisite  equipment including commissioning and upgradation of all laboratories with the assistance of CPCB.

Capacity building of SPCBs to meet the objectives of improving air quality of non-attainment cities has been identified as one of the activities in many States.

Under NCAP, Rs 335.92 crores (Rs 224.2 crores in FY 2019-20 and Rs 111.0 crores in FY 2020-21) has been released for implementation of activities specified under city action plans. SPCBs have been provided support under the NCAP Program for following activities:

-  Installation & commissioning of Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations
-  Source Apportionment Study
-  Establishing mobile enforcement units and Mobile testing units
-  Display boards
-  Public awareness and capacity building, display boards and Installation of manual monitoring stations

The funds provided for the above-mentioned activities are as given in table below:

|   S. No. | Activities                                                                            |   Funds provided (Rs. crores) |
|----------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------|
|        1 | Installation &commissioning of CAAQMS                                                 |                         79    |
|        2 | Source Apportionment Study                                                            |                          8.8  |
|        3 | Establishing mobile enforcement units and Mobile testing units                        |                          7.2  |
|        4 | Public awareness and capacity building, display boards and manual monitoring stations |                          7.12 |

*****