Lok Sabha Question No. 1114 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-08
Subject: Reduction in Air Pollution
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: RAVNEET SINGH

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

## LOK SABHA UN-STARRED QUESTION N0. 1114

TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.02.2019

## Reduction in Air Pollution

## 1114. SHRI RAVNEET SINGH:

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

- (a) the tangible results that the Government has seen in its plan to reduce air pollution in Delhi and North Indian States;
- (b) whether the Government has formed an Inter-ministerial committee in this regard, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government has consulted the State Government of Punjab in this regard and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government has noticed that the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has predicted the pollution levels in Delhi to increase in January-February; and
- (e) if so, the action taken thereon?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) The measures  taken/being taken by the Government to check environmental pollution, 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;  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 1st April, 2020 in the rest of the country; notification of Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules; banning of burning of biomass; notifications  regarding  mandatory  implementation  of  dust  mitigation  measures  for construction and  demolition  activities; 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.

Overall improvement in air quality of Delhi is noted in 2018 as compared to 2017. Number of 'Good' to 'Moderate' days has increased to 159 in 2018, as compared to 152 in 2017, and number of 'Poor' to 'Severe' days has reduced to 206, compared to 213 in 2017.

- (b) A High Level Task Force headed by Principal Secretary to PM has been constituted by  the  Government  for  management  of  air  pollution  in  Delhi  and  NCR.  Further Committee  of  State  Environment  Ministers  of  the  NCR  states  headed  by  Hon'ble Minister,  EF&CC  also  reviews  the  matters  relating  to  air  pollution  mitigation regularly. Secretary, EF&CC also chairsa co-ordination committee with representatives of other Ministries and State Governments.
- (c) Meetings  with  Environment  Ministers  and  concerned  officers  from  neighbouring States including Punjab have been regularly held by the committees mentioned above.
- (d) & (e) System of Air Quality Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), Ministry of Earth Sciencehas  predicted  that  due  to  adverse  meteorological  conditions  in  January,  the pollution levels in Delhi would be high in January.For control of air pollution in Delhi and  National  Capital  Region,a  Graded  Response  Action  Plan  (GRAP)  (NCR)  has been notified by the Ministry. CPCB has also deployed 40 field inspection teams for pollution hot spots in Delhi NCR and is also co-ordinating with various agencies for reducing air pollution.

Further,  The  Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and  Climate  Change  has  launched National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) to tackle the problem of air pollution across the  country in  a  comprehensive  manner. The  overall  objective  is  to  augment  and evolve  effective  ambient  air  quality  monitoring  network  across  the  country  besides ensuring comprehensive management plan for prevention, control and abatement of air pollution and enhancing public awareness and capacity building measures.

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