Lok Sabha Question No. 1035 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-22
Subject: Hazards of Air Pollution
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Sunil Kumar Pintu, H. Vasanthakumar

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1035

TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.11.2019

## Hazards of Air Pollution

## 1035.   SHRI SUNIL KUMAR PINTU: SHRI VASANTHAKUMAR H.:

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

- (a) whether the  Government  has  taken  steps  to  protect  people  from  the  health  hazards posed by the sudden spike in air pollution across the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has conducted mass awareness campaigns in this regard and if so, the details thereof along with the funds allocated for the purpose;
- (d) the details of measures taken by the Government to control pollution in the country including flood affected districts of Bihar; and
- (e) the extent to which success has been achieved in controlling pollution so far?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c)  The Government has launched the Air Quality Index (AQI) as a tool for effective communication of air quality status to people in terms, which are easy to understand. AQI values provide information about air quality status along with possible health impacts.  For prevention of high pollution events and dealing with air pollution emergencies in Delhi NCR, the Government has notified the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) for implementation of  identified  actions  under  different  AQI  categories.  It  identifies  graded  measures  and implementing agencies for response to four AQI categories, namely, Moderate to Poor, Very Poor, Severe and  Severe  +  or  Emergency.  The  Government  has  also  formulated  a Comprehensive Action Plan (CAP) in 2018 identifying timelines and implementing agencies for  actions  identified  for  prevention,  control  and  mitigation  of  air  pollution  in  Delhi  and NCR.

Further, the Government has launched the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) in 2019 as a pan India time bound national level strategy to address the increasing 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. Under NCAP, ₹ 10 crores per city have been sanctioned for 28 cities with million plus population, ₹ 20 lakh per city for 22 cities  with  5  to  10  lakh  population  and  ₹  10  lakhs  per  city  for  48  cities  with  <5  lakh population  for  implementation  of  the  programme.  This  also  includes  funds  sanctioned  to carry out public awareness and capacity building activities in these cities.

Other measures taken by the Government for generating mass environmental awareness includes:

-  Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  &  Climate  Change  and  Uttar  Pradesh,  Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi Governments  launched 'Clean Air for Delhi' Campaign  from  10th  -  23rd  Feb  2018  and a  special  campaign  called  'Clean  Air Campaign' during November 01, 2018 to November 10, 2018 to check air polluting activities pre and post Diwali.
-  Promotion  of  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.

(d) In addition, the Government  has  also taken various regulatory measures for prevention, control and abatement of air pollution in the country, which include:

## 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.
-  Environment Protection  Charges  (EPC)  have  been  imposed  on  diesel  vehicles  with engine capacity of 2000cc and above in Delhi NCR.

## Industry

-  Badarpur thermal power plant has been closed from 15th October, 2018.
-  Notification of stricter emission norms for power plants.
-  About 2800 brick kilns have been shifted to zig-zag technology in Delhi and NCR.
-  Installation  of  on-line  continuous  (24x7)  monitoring  devices  in  all  red  category industries in Delhi and NCR.
-  Revision of emission standards for industrial sectors from time to time.
-  Ban  on  pet  coke  and  furnace  oil  -  monitoring  of  use  of  pet  coke  in  Lime  Kilns/ Cement Kilns and Calcium Carbide Industry in Delhi and NCR States.
-  Out of about 4700 industrial units in Delhi - NCR, about 2400 units have shifted to PNG.

## 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/garbage.
-  3  Waste-to-Energy  (W-t-E)  plants  are  currently  operational  in  Delhi  with  a  total 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 mechanized road sweeping machines has been increased significantly and presently 60 machines are deployed for cleaning of roads in Delhi.

With specific reference to Bihar, the cities namely, Patna, Gaya and Muzaffarpur have been prioritized for action under NCAP.

(e) As  a  result  of  the  various  measures  taken,  in  Delhi,  the  number  of  'Good', 'Satisfactory', and 'Moderate' days has increased to 159 in 2018, as compared to 152 in 2017 and 106 in 2016, and the number of 'Poor', 'Very Poor' and 'Severe' days has reduced to 206, compared to 213 in 2017 and 246 in 2016. Analysis of Ambient air quality data of Delhi monitored under Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) during 2016-2018 revealed that there is reduction of 7.3 % in PM2.5 levels in 2018 over 2017 and 14.8% over 2016 and reduction of 8.6% in PM10 levels in 2018 over 2017 and 16.5% over 2016.

*****