Lok Sabha Question No. 5 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-06-21
Subject: Air Pollution in Delhi
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Parvesh Sahib Singh, Rahul Kaswan

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 5

TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.06.2019

## Air Pollution in Delhi

## 5. SHRI PARVESH SAHIB SINGH SHRI RAHUL KASWAN

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

- (a) Whether Delhi is one of the most polluted cities of the world in spite of all the efforts made to control pollution level and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) The details of the sources responsible for air pollution in Delhi;
- (c) The reasons for failure of the Government mechanism in controlling pollution level in Delhi despite the intervention of the Supreme Court in this regard;
- (d) The  steps  taken  for  the  implementation  of  Comprehensive  Action  Plan  for  Air  Pollution Control in Delhi as of June 2019;
- (e) Whether  the  Government  proposes  to  promote  the  use  of  eco-friendly  transport  including bicycle for common man to check pollution in the city if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) The precautionary steps and action taken by the Government to tackle severe air pollution in Delhi NCR during upcoming winter season?

## ANSWER MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

- (a) & (c) The average annual concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 in Delhi are above the National Ambient  Air  Quality  Standards.  Several  measures have  been  taken/being  taken  by  the Government  to  check/control  air  pollution  in  Delhi.  Continuous  Ambient  Air  Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) data indicated general improvement in air quality of Delhi in 2018. Overall improvement in air quality of Delhi was noted in 2018 (Jan - Dec, 2018) as compared to 2017 (Jan - Dec, 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. In Delhi, there is 14.8% reduction in PM2.5 levels and 16.5% reduction in PM10 levels in 2018 over 2016.
- (b) The  recent  study  conducted  by  TERI  and  ARAI (Annexure-I) for  Delhi-NCR  reveals Transport  (17-28%),  Industries  (22-30%),  Agriculture    Burning  (4-7%),  Residential  (8-10), Dust  [Soil,  Road  &  Construction]  (17-38%)  and  other  sources  (8-11%)  as  the  main contributors to PM2.5 concentrations in summer and winter seasons in Delhi-NCR.
- (d) For prevention, control and abatement of air pollution in Delhi and NCR, meetings have been held under the Chairmanship of Minister, Environment, Forest and Climate Change attended by Environment Ministers of Delhi and NCR  States. For the implementation of Comprehensive Action Plan, meetings have been held under the Chairmanship of Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Also, directions have been issued to the concerned  stakeholders  by  Central  Pollution  Control  Board  on  22.1018,  06.03.18  and 22.06.18.  A  total  55  agencies  have  been  directed  under  sections  3  and  5  of  Environment (Protection)  Act,  1986  to  ensure  strict  implementation  of  Comprehensive  Action  Plan  for prevention, control and mitigation of air pollution in Delhi NCR.
- (e) The  Central  Government  has  approved  the  proposal  for  implementation  of  scheme  titled 'Faster  Adoption  and  Manufacturing  of  Electric  Vehicles  in  India  Phase  II  (FAME  India Phase II)' for promotion of Electric Mobility in the country. The total outlay for this Scheme is Rs.10,000 crore over the period of three years with effect from 1st April, 2019.
- (f)  The  Central  Government  has  taken  a  number  of  initiatives  for  prevention,  control  and abatement of air pollution in Delhi and NCR. These include

## 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.

## 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.

## 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.

## 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,  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 mechanised road sweeping machines has been increased significantly and presently 60 machines are deployed for cleaning of roads in Delhi.

## 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.

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## nnexure-I

## Sectoral contributions in PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations in Delhi estimated using dispersion modeling during winters and summers, TERI ARAI, 2018 Sectoral contributions in PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations in Delhi estimated using dispersion modeling during winters and summers, TERI ARAI, 2018 Sectoral contributions in PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations in Delhi estimated using dispersion modeling during winters and summers, TERI ARAI, 2018