Lok Sabha Question No. 57 (STARRED), answered on 2023-02-06
Subject: Dust Mitigation Measures
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Locket Chatterjee, Sunil Kumar Pintu

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

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION No. 57 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.02.2023

## Dust Mitigation Measures

## *57. MS. LOCKET CHATTERJEE: SHRI SUNIL KUMAR PINTU:

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

- (a) whether the Government has taken cognizance of increasing cases of non-compliance of dust mitigating measures as per the mandate of Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM)  which  consequently  cause  waste  from  the  activities  of  construction  and demolition works and of Thermal Power Plants to spread into the air;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) the number of cases of non-compliance of dust mitigating measures from Delhi and Uttar Pradesh as per the mandate of CAQM, which came to the knowledge of the Government and the action taken in this regard and the details thereof;
- (d) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  create  an  online  system  for  monitoring  of compliance and to create awareness about dust mitigating measures and if so, the details thereof;
- (e) the  State-wise  details  of  the  field  visits  or  inspections  carried  out  in  various  regions including NTPC in Bhagalpur for compliance of dust mitigating measures under CAQM during the last one year and the current year; and
- (f) the extent to which poor condition of the roads is responsible for air pollution?

## ANSWER

MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI BHUPENDER YADAV)

- (a) to (f): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARAS (a) TO (f) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 57 DUE FOR REPLY ON 06.02.2023 REGRADING 'DUST MITIGATION  MEASURES'  RAISED  BY  MS.  LOCKET  CHATTERJEE  AND  SHRI SUNIL KUMAR PINTU, HON'BLE MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT

(a) & (b)

The  Commission  for  Air  Quality  Management  in  NCR  and  Adjoining  Areas  (CAQM)  has issued statutory directions and advisories for dust mitigation in the NCR, besides calling for compliance  of  various  statutes  viz.  C&D  Waste  Management  Rules  and  related  CPCB guidelines. CAQM has an extensive monitoring mechanism and system towards compliance of dust mitigation measures. Flying Squads/ Inspection Teams constituted by the CAQM have carried  out incognito inspections  of  the  C&D  project  sites,  besides  inspections  by  the respective State Pollution Control Boards / DPCC.

(c)

As on 31.01.2023,   a total of about 11,910 field inspections  have been carried out by the Flying Squads constituted by the CAQM across sectors like C&D projects, road construction / rebuilding projects, industries etc. In such inspections, 48 projectsin the C&D sector in NCT of Delhi and 77 projects in the NCR districts of Uttar Pradesh respectively were found to be grossly violating the directions/ rules/ guidelines. These were issued directions for closure of work  at  the  sites.  These  projects  resume  only  after  due  compliance  of  various  statutory requirements and preventive and corrective measures.

(d)

Under statutory directions of the Commission, to facilitate remote monitoring of bigger C&D projects, all projects in the NCR on plot areas equal to or more than 500 sqm. are required to register  on  the  respective  dedicated  web  portals  in  the  States  of  Haryana,  Uttar  Pradesh, Rajasthan and the NCT of Delhi and certify self-compliance of various stipulated measures. The  project  sites  are  also  required  to  be  video  fenced  to  enable  remote  monitoring  of  the compliances by the inspection agencies through the respective web portals.  Such portals have been developed and are operational in the NCR States and NCT of Delhi.

- (e) During 2021-22, a total of about 5,456 field inspections were carried out by the Flying Squads constituted  by  the  CAQM  across  sectors  like  C&D  projects,  road  construction  /  rebuilding projects and industries etc. During 2022-23 a total of about 6,456 field inspections have been carried  out  upto  31.01.2023.  The  Commission  has  been  constituted  for  the  purpose  of protecting and improving the quality of air in the NCR and adjoining areas.
- (f) Poor condition of the roads in the NCR is an important factor contributing to air pollution. A Comprehensive Study on Air Pollution and  Green House Gases in Delhi submitted by  IIT Kanpur in 2016 has concluded that in summer, soil and road dust can contribute about 26% to PM10 and PM2.5.

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