Lok Sabha Question No. 3411 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-12
Subject: Rise in Particulate Matter in Air
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Deepak Baij

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3411

TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.07.2019

## Rise in Particulate matter in Air

## 3411.  SHRI DEEPAK BAIJ

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

- (a)  whether  the  Particulate  matter  (PM)  in  air  was  very  sever/hazardous  during  the  last  three months in Delhi;
- (b) the steps taken by the Government to improve the Air Quality Index of the metropolitan cities of the country alongwith its outcome thereof; and

(c) the extent to which poor air quality due to rising particulate matter is affecting the health of people?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) Central Government has taken a number of regulatory measures for prevention, control and  abatement  of  air  pollution.As  a  result  of  these  steps  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 20162018 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.

Further, CAAQMS data during April to June indicates general improvement in air quality of Delhi in 2019 as compared with 2018.

- (b)  The Central Government has taken a number of regulatory measures for prevention, control and abatement of air pollution in the country. These include

## Action Plans for Improvement of Air Quality in Delhi NCR :

- (i) Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) was notified on January 12, 2017, for prevention, control and abatement of air pollution in Delhi and NCR. It identifies graded measures and

implementing agencies for response to four AQI categories, namely, Moderate to Poor, Very Poor, Severe and Severe + or Emergency.

- (ii) The  Central  Government  has  notified  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.
- (iii) 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.

## Action Plans for Improvement of Air Quality of Other Cities :

- (i) Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and  Climate  Change  has  launched  National  Clean  Air Programme  (NCAP)  in  January  2019  to  tackle  the  problem  of  air pollution in a comprehensive manner with targets to achieve 20 to 30 % reduction in PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations  by  2024.  This  is  keeping  2017  as  the  base  year  for  the  comparison  of concentration. The overall objective is to augment and evolve effective ambient air quality monitoring network across the country besides ensuring comprehensive management planfor prevention,  control  and  abatement  of  air  pollution  and  enhancing  public  awareness  and capacity building measures.
- (ii) 102  non-attainment  cities  have  been  identified  based  on  ambient  air  quality  data  for  the period 2011 - 2015 and WHO report 2014/2018. A total of 86 city specific action plans have been approved for ground implementation.

The Central Government has taken several measures for prevention, control and abatement of air pollution across the country. These include-

## Monitoring

-  Setting up of monitoring network for assessment of ambient air quality. Presently, ambient air quality is being monitored at 779 locations covering 339 cities in 29 states & 6 Union Territories across the country under National Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP). Further, real time monitoring is taking place at 170 locations in 102 cities in 18 States/UTs.
-  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.
-  All 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.

## 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/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, e-waste, biomedical 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.

(c) Though air pollution is one of the triggering factors for respiratory ailments and associated diseases, there are no conclusive data available in the country to establish direct correlation of death/ disease exclusively due to air pollution.

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