Lok Sabha Question No. 742 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-05
Subject: Commission for Air Quality Management
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Nisith Pramanik, Raja Amareshwara Naik, Jayanta Kumar Roy, Sukanta Majumdar, Vinod Kumar Sonkar, Bhola Singh, Sangeeta Kumari Singh Deo

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

## LOK SABHA UN-STARRED QUESTION NO. 742

TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.02.2021

## Commission for Air Quality Management

## 742 SHRI NISITHPRAMANIK:

SHRI RAJA AMARESHWARANAIK:

DR.JAYANTA KUMAR ROY:

DR.SUKANTAMAJUMDAR:

SHRI VINOD KUMAR SONKAR:

SHRI BHOLA SINGH:

SHRIMATISANGEETAKUMARI SINGH DEO

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

- (a) whether the Government has taken note of the alarming situation of air quality index in the National Capital Region (NCR) during winter and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government proposes  to  create  an  overarching  body  to  consolidate  all monitoring bodies and to bring them on board on an unified platform for efficient air quality management and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has promulgated an Ordinance for the establishment of the Commission for the Air Quality Management in NCR and adjoining areas and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and adjoining areas is currently operational; and
- (e) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  other  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  control pollution in NCR?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to  (e)  A  Commission  for  Air  Quality  Management  in  National  Capital  Region  and Adjoining  Areas'  has  been  constituted  through  promulgation  of  an  ordinance  to  replace multiple  Committees  and  to  streamline  public  participation,  inter-State  cooperation,  expert involvement,  research  and  innovation  so  as  to  mitigate    air  pollution  in  National  Capital Region (NCR) and Adjoining Areas. The Commission has been constituted on 05.11.2020 and is currently operational.

The Government has taken several actions to curb air pollution in Delhi-NCR region, which interalia includes following:

-  Comprehensive  Action  Plan  (CAP)  and  Graded  Response  Action  Plan  identifying timelines and implementing agency for actions identified for prevention, control and mitigation of air pollution in Delhi and NCR has been notified.
-  All operational brick kilns have been shifted to zig-zag technology in Delhi and NCR.
-  Installation  of  on-line  continuous  (24x7)  monitoring  devices  for  all  red  category industries in Delhi and NCR.
-  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' has been launched.
-  Banning of burning of biomass.
-  Advisory issued to Implementing agencies and State Boards in Delhi NCR regarding use of mechanised rod sweeping and dust suppressant.
-  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.
-  Concerted actions as above have had a positive impact on air quality of Delhi-NCR region and improvement has been noted in the Air Quality as under:

|                                 |   2016 |   2017 |   2018 |   2019 |
|---------------------------------|--------|--------|--------|--------|
| Number of Good to Moderate days |    108 |    152 |    159 |    182 |
| Number of Poor to Severe days   |    246 |    213 |    206 |    183 |

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