Lok Sabha Question No. 36 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-11-29
Subject: Assessment of Impact of Air Pollution on Tourism
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Kani K. Navas, Balubhau (Alias Suresh Narayan) Dhanorkar

## MINISTER OF TOURISM

(sHRr G. KTSHAN REDDY)

- (a)  to (d): No formal study has been instituted by Ministry of Tourism, Government of lndia to assess the impact of air pollution on tourism and whether tourists are experiencing health issues due to pollution or not.
- (e): The measures  taken by the Government  for control of air pollution are attached as Annexure.

## GOVERNMENT  OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTION NO.36 ANSUYERED  ON 29.1 1.2021

## ASSESSMENT  OF IMPACT OF AIR POLLUTION ON TOURISM

- 36 SHRI K. NAVASKANI: SHRI BALUBHAU  ALIAS SURESH NARAYAN DHANORKAR

Will the Minister  of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has made any assessment of the impact of air pollution on tourisml
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether it has come to the notice of the Govemment that the tourists are experiencing health issues due to pollution;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the measures  taken by the Govemment in this regard?

## ANSWER

STATEMENT  lN REPLY TO PART (e) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED OUESTION NO.36 ANSWERED ON  29.11.2021 REGARDING ASSESSMENT  OF IMPACT OF AIR POLLUTION ON TOURISM

## Steps taken bv the Gentral Government  to control air pollution

Steps taken to improve air quality in NGR and adioining  areas

Various steps have been taken for monitoring and management of air quality for reducing air pollution  in Delhi including NGR. They are as follows:

- l  A Gommission  on Air Quality Management in NGR and Adjoining Areas (GAQM) was promulgated  vide ordinance  dated 13 July,2021 in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-sections (l), (2) and (3) of section 3 of the Gommission for Air Quality Management in National Gapital Region and Adjoining Areas  (lrdinance,  2021 14 ol 20211 tor better co-ordination,  research, identification  and resotution of problems surrounding the air quality index and for matters connected  therewith  oi incidental there to.
2. The Gommission for Air Quality Management in NGR and Adjoining
- Areas(GAQM)  constituted a sub-committee  for operationalization  of GRAP and assuing necessary orders to the effect, under which regular meetings are held, and Orders are issued under GRAp for mitigation of air pollution in Delhi-NGR.  As on date (24.11.2021!., a meetings have been convened and 5  (lrders  issues (Copy of the Orders as well as minutes is available  at www.cocb.nic. in/winteraclion-202l-2211.
3. Air QualiQr lndex: Honrble Prime Minister launched Air euatity tndex
- in 2O15, which led to greater public awaieness  and actions to controt air pollution.
4. Ambient Air Quality Network: Ambient air qualityr monitoring  network
- in Delhi NCR strengthened  and presentty comprises  ,t43  stations (gl continuous and 62 manual systems).  Larger coverage and better representative data is now available.

| State     | I nstalled   | I nstalled   | I nstalled   |
|-----------|--------------|--------------|--------------|
|           | Manual       | CAAQM        | Total        |
| Delhi     | {o           | 40           | 50           |
| Haryana   | 23           | 22           | 45           |
| U.P.      | 20           | 17           | 37           |
| Rajasthan | I            | 2            | 11           |
| Total     | 62           | 8t           | 143          |

6. Air QualiQr Forecast: Air QualiQr Early Warning System for Delhi is being implemented since October,2Ol8  in association  with Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) which includes information  on real time air quality, active fire contributaon,  and 3-day forecast along with satellite-based monitoring of Air Ouality through Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) etc.

## 7. Measures for control of vehicular emissions:

- i. Leapfrogging  from BS-IV to B$V! fue! standards since lst Apri!, 2Ol 8 in NGT of Delhi and from I st Aptil, 2O2O for the rest of the country.
- iii. Ban on all diesel vehicles older than lO years and alt petrol vehicles older than 15 years, in Delhi and NCR. (Hon'ble SG order dated 29.'l O.2O1 Al
- ii. RFID (radio-frequency  identityr) system implemented  by South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMG)  for collection  of toll and Environment Gompensation  Charges from commercial  vehicles entering Delhi.
- iv. Introduction of BS Vl compliant vehicles across the country since April, 2O2O.
- vi. (lperationalization  of Expressways  & Highways to divett nondestined traffic.
- v. Department of Heavy lndustry is providing subsidy on evehicles under Faster Adoption and Manufacture  of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles in lndia (FAME -!! lndia) scheme.

## 8. Measures for contro! of industriat emission:

- Ban on use of pet coke and furnace oil as fuel in NGR States since October 24r 2017 and ban on use of imported  pet coke in
- the country since July 26, 2O1\ with exception for use in permitted processes.
- ll. Introduction of cleaner / alternate fuels like gaseous fuel (GNG, LPG etc.), ethanol blending.
- llI. Shifting  of industries  to clean fuel and installation  of OGEMS in red category industries in Delhi-NGR is in progress.
- tv Notification  regarding SOz and NOx emission standards have been issued for Thermal Power PIants.
- v. Promotion of policies such as 5-l0yo use of biomass pellets with coal for power generation  in thermal power plants and lOTo ethanol blending in transport fuels by 2022.
- vl. Development of low carbon strategies across sectors such as phasing out older coal based power plants, compliance of standards, GiQr Gas Distribution  (GGD) network, emphasis  on improved power reliability in urban areas, etc.
- vll. Shifting of all operational brick kilns to zig-zag technology  in Delhi and NCR.
9. Measure for control of Emissions  from Gonstruction  and Demolition
- Waste, Solid Waste, Plastic Waste, E- Waste, Biomedical Waste and Hazardous Waste:
- i. Notifications of 6 Waste Management Rules covering solid waste, plastic waste, e-waste, bio-medical waste, G&D waste and hazardous wastes issued in 2O16.
- Bio-mining of three dumpsites at Bhalswa, Okhla and Ghazipur
- iii. Notifications regarding dust  matigation  measures for construction  and demolition actayities have been issued.
- ii. is being carried out and as under progress.
- iv. Increased capacity of Gonstruction & Demolition  (G&D) waste processing  units along with notification of G & D Waste Management  Rules.
- v. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for plastic and e-
- waste management.
10.  Measures  for control of emissions from Firecrackers: lntroduction of green crackers with low emassion and noise levels. Green Grackers  has 3O7o potential  reduction of PM and gaseous emissions compared to conventional  firework.

## I l. Measures for control of emissions from Stubble Burning:

- Under Gentral Sector Scheme on  'Promotion  of Agricultural Mechanization  for in-situ management of Grop Residue in the States of Puniab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and NGT of Delhi', agricultural machines and equipment  for in-situ crop residue management are promoted with 5O% subsidy to the individual farmers and 8O7o subsidy for establishment  of Gustom Hiring Gentres.
- Gentral Government had launched a Scheme  .Promotion  of Agricultural Mechanization for ln-Situ Management of Grop Residue in the State of Punjab, Haryana, and Ut{ar Pradesh & NCT of Delhi'.
- Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) has been launched as an initiative to  set up Gompressed Bio-Gas (GBG) production  plants and make CBG available in the market for use in automotive  fuels.

## 12.  National  Clean Air Programme:

- i. PRANA a portal for monitoring implementation  of ilGAP has
2. been Iaunched.
- ii. With the prime objective of abating Air Pollution, the Ministry, in 2Ol9 launched a Nationa! Glean Air Programme  (NGAP) as a National-level Strategy outlining the actions for reducing the Ievels of air pollution at city and regional scales in lndia.
4. NGAP targets to achieve 2O to 3O 7o reduction  in Particulate Matter less than {O and 2.5 microns (PMro and PMr.u)
- iv. Activities in these cities include strengthening of ambient aar qualiQr network, source apportionment  studies, dust mitigation equipment, composting units, infrastructure  for non-motorized transpott,  shifting to clean energy in unorganized  sectors, etc.
- iii. concentrations by 2O24 across the country.
- v. The NGAP focuses on multi-sectoral sources of poltution
8. ancluding  power plants, industries,  vehicles, open burning of waste, construction  &  demolition activities, etc.; interMinisterial coordination  for convergence of  actions and interventions; and partnership with lnstitutes of National repute and lntemational  Agencies as Knowtedge  partners
9. vi.
- vii. The GRAP provides set of actions to be implemented by
11. Gomprehensive Action Plan (GAP) - GAP for air pollution control in Delhi & NCR, with identified  timelines  for various action points to abate air pollution, has been developed and is being implemented.
12. concerned  agencies under different Air QualiQr lndex (AQl) categories  namely, Moderate  & Poor, Very Poor, and Severe, and also emergency situations termed as'Severe+t  category.
- viii. Ministry is promoting people's participation and awareness building among citizens for  environmental conservation through Green Good Deeds that focus on promotion  of cycling, saving water and electricitSr, growing trees, proper maintenance of vehicles, following of Iane discipline and reducing congestion  on roads by car-pooling etc.
13. Extension of UjawalaYoiana to ensure shifting to cleaner fuel.
14. Swatcch Bharat Mission and Waste Management  initiatives. Actions taken for effective air  qualitv  management  in Delhi  -  NGR bv Gentral Pollution Gontrol Board
- l.  Monitoring  network has been strengthened in NGR towns as well as lndia.
2. lnstallation of Vapour Recovery Systems in more than 3OOO petrol
18. pumps in NGR
3. Smog tower at AnandVihar, ISBT is being operated from October Ol, 2O2l onwards and its performance  will be evaluated by !!T Bombay in associataon with llT Delhi. Sensors for particulate matter monitoring have been installed at different locations around the smog tower so as to get an idea of impacUinfluence  of smog tower operation. Monitoring data generated  with help of reference/research  grade instruments will be used for giving final report on performance  of the tower.
4. A Gentral Gontrol Room is operated by Gentral  pollution  Gontrot Board wherein, hour to hour tracking of various information  such as  pM concentrations, Live Air Quality Data of Monitoring stations,Live Air QualiQr lndex-Air Quality Forecast in Delhi-NGR (Source: SAFAR, !lTM, Pune) is available.  AQI is monitored  along with other parameters  and is published  on the website in the form of Aet Bulletin after analysis. The links for the same have been made available to GAeM for consideration and decading on urgent actions for control of pollution  in Delhi-NGR
21. categorizing  industries in red/orange/green/white  categories have been
5. lndustry-specific  emission standards have been devetoped or revised for different sectors including thermal power plants. Griteria for
23. adopted by SPGBs/PGGs for strengthening enforcement mechanism of environmental  norms.
6. lmplementation  and revision of emission standards  for industrial
25. sectors from time to time.
7. lmplementation of new emission norms in thermal power plants.
8. Ban on use of pet coke and fumace oil as fuel in NCR states since
28. October 24r 2017 and ban on use of imported pet coke in the country since July 2q 2018, with exception for use in permitted processes.
9. Shifting of industrial units to PNG.
10. Application  of dust suppressant  was explored and advisory has been
31. issued to SPCBs for using dust suppressants  in high emission zones.
11. Research  projects are being carried out by CPGB in collaboration with premier institutions like llT, NEERI, etc. under Environment Protection Gharge (EPG) funds which provide scientific inputs for taking focused
33. action towards amproyement in air qualiQr of Delhi NGR.
12. lmplementation of  Graded Response Action Plan along with
35. development of Gomprehensive  Action Plan (GAP) identifiing timelines and implementing  agency for actions identified for prevention,  control and mitigation  of air pollution in Delhi and NGR has been notified.
13. Deployment of GPGB teams in the field for strict vigilance and for
37. evaluation  of actions taken by various concerned agencies for mitigation of air pollution during winters since 2Ol7 in Delhi-NGR towns.
14. lnteractions with government bodies, public agencies, urban local bodies and Task Force on Graded Action Plan Delhi NGR for assessment of mitigation  measures  and to combat air pollution.
15. Public Gomplaints  regarding air pollution issues in Delhi NGR (Noida, Gurugram, Greater Noida, Faridabad and Ghaziabad) are taken through 'Sameer  App',  rEmails'(aircomplaanE.cpcb@ov.in)  and  t$ocial  Media J{etworks' (Facebook  and Twitter) and are being forwarded  to
40. enforcement  agencies for redressal.