Lok Sabha Question No. 167 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-03
Subject: Funds allocated under NCAP
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Yogender Chandolia

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 167

TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.02.2025

## Funds allocated under NCAP

## 167. SHRI YOGENDER CHANDOLIA:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  the  alarming  levels  of  air  pollution  in  Delhi, particularly during the winter months and the adverse impact it has on the health and well-being of its citizens;
- (b) the steps taken by the Government to address the issue of air pollution in Delhi including the  measures  to  reduce  the  levels  of  particulate  matter,  nitrogen  dioxide  and  other pollutants in the air;
- (c) the details of the funds allocated and utilized by the Government for implementing the National  Clean Air  Programme  (NCAP)  in  Delhi  and  the  progress  made  so  far  in achieving the programme's objectives; and
- (d) the details of the coordination and cooperation between the Central Government the Delhi Government and the Municipal Corporations to address the issue of air pollution in Delhi, and the outcomes of such efforts?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE

(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

## (a) to (d):

Air pollution in Delhi - National Capital Region (NCR) is a collective result of multiple factors including high level of anthropogenic activities in the high-density populated areas in NCR, arising from  various  sectors  viz.  Vehicular  Pollution,  Industrial  Pollution,  Dust  from  Construction  & Demolition  Project  activities,  Road  and  Open Areas  Dust,  Biomass  Burning,  Municipal  Solid Waste burning, Fires in Landfills, air pollution from dispersed sources, etc. During post-monsoon and winter months, lower temperature, lower mixing heights, inversion conditions and stagnant winds lead to trapping of the pollutants resulting in high pollution in the region. This is further aggravated due to the emissions from episodic events like stubble burning and firecrackers.

With a view to abate and control air pollution in Delhi NCR, the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) has issued a sector specific comprehensive Policy to Curb Air Pollution in the National Capital Region in July, 2022. Further, the Graded

Response Action Plan (GRAP) is imposed during the winter months when AQI deteriorates due to unfavorable climatic and meteorological conditions.

Due to the concerted efforts made by all stakeholders, gradual improvement has been observed in Delhi air quality. The number of days of Good-Moderate Air Quality Index (AQI) categories has increased to more than 200 for consecutive two years i.e. 2023 and 2024 in comparison of 110 days in 2016.

Under National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), an amount of Rs 42.69 Cr has been released to Delhi through Delhi Pollution Control Committee from FY 2021-22 to FY 2023-24, out of which Rs 13.56 Cr has been utilized. The fund has been utilized primarily for road dust management (Rs 13.53  Cr.)  and  construction&  Demolition  waste  management  (Rs  0.53  Cr.).    Regular  review meetings are held with Government of Delhi, other neighboring NCR States including Punjab, their agencies, Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) and Central Pollution Control board (CPCB).

The progress is also periodically monitored with the concerned agencies/Departments of GNCTD and NCR States by CAQM and its Sub-Committee on Safeguarding and Enforcements, through review meetings and seeking reports from the various agencies concerned.

Various measures taken by the Government to reduce Air Pollution in Delhi-NCR from different sources, are enclosed as Annexure I .

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## Steps taken by the Government for abatement of Air Pollution in Delhi NCR

## 1. Air Quality Monitoring and Network:

-  Ambient Air Quality Network: The country has a network of 1524 ambient air quality monitoring stations (558 continuous and 966 manual) covering 550 cities in the country including Delhi and NCR cities.
-  A  centralized  air  quality  monitoring  portal  is  operated  by  CPCB  wherein,  tracking  of various  information  such  as  hourly  PM  concentrations,  Live  Air  Quality  Data  of Monitoring stations and Live Air Quality Index is being carried out.
-  Daily AQI Bulletin is published on CPCB website as well as social media platforms giving AQI information for cities across India. Various campaigns as well as informative posts related  to  air  pollution,  firecrackers,  vehicular  pollution,  stubble  burning,  sustainable lifestyle, etc. are also posted regularly on social media platforms.
-  CPCB issues a daily report comprising of AQI of Delhi and NCR towns, comparative AQI status, year-wise trends of PM concentration, hotspots for the day, stubble burning cases, contribution of stubble burning and meteorological forecast. This report is prepared based on  the  inputs  available  from  various  sources  such  as  IMD,  SAFAR,  IARI,  etc.,  and disseminated through CPCB website.

## 2. Regulatory Actions in Delhi-NCR:

-  Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) was formulated for Delhi-NCR to tackle the issue of sudden rise in air pollution levels which was notified by MoEF&CC in January 2017 on recommendation of CPCB for implementation. A comprehensive review of actions listed under GRAP was carried out by CPCB in 2020 based on actions taken and improvement observed in air quality in recent years. Based on the inputs given by CPCB, the revised GRAP was published by Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and adjoining areas (CAQM) and further directions were issued for its implementation. Actions listed for different AQI  levels  under  GRAP  are  invoked  from  time  to  time  by  a  sub-committee constituted by CAQM, having CPCB as a member.
-  Directions  prescribing  measures  for  control  of  pollution  from  various  sources  such  as implementation  of  RECD  system/  dual  fuel  kits  in  DG  sets,  use  of  cleaner  fuels  in industries, shift to EV/ CNG/ BS VI diesel fuel in transport sector, implementation of dust control measures at C&D sites etc., have been issued by CAQM, wherein CPCB is also a member and provided technical inputs to CAQM.

## 3. Measures for control of emissions from Stubble Burning in Delhi-NCR:

-  MoA&FW in 2018 launched scheme for providing subsidy for purchase of crop residue management machinery and establishment of custom hiring centres (CHCs) in NCT of Delhi  and  the  States  of  Punjab,  Haryana  and  Uttar  Pradesh.  Under  the  said  scheme, financial assistance is provided to the farmers for purchase of crop residue management machinery and establishment of custom hiring centres. 50% subsidy on the cost of crop residue management machinery is provided to the individual farmers and 80% subsidy is provided for establishment of Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs) of crop residue management machinery. During 2018-2024, total fund released to Delhi and other states under the said scheme is Rs 3532.88 crores using which, over 3 lakh crop residue machineries have been

delivered to individual farmers and CHCs, and over 40,000 CHCs have been established. Further, MoA&FW in 2023 revised guidelines under the scheme to support establishment of crop residue/paddy straw supply chain, by providing financial assistance on the capital cost of machinery and equipment required for Establishment of crop residue/paddy straw supply chain.

-  Based  on  the  deliberations  and  discussions  held  in  series  of  meetings  with  the  State Governments of Punjab,  Haryana,  UP,  Rajasthan,  Government  of  NCT  of  Delhi,  State Pollution Control Boards of NCR States and Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) and various other stakeholders viz. ISRO, ICAR, Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), CAQM provided a Framework to the states concerned for control / elimination of crop residue burning and directed these to draw up detailed state-specific action plans based on the major contours of the framework. Action plans prepared by the states were reviewed by CAQM and subsequently based on the discussions these updated and finalized by the all  concerned  State  Governments  for  the  year  2024.  A  statutory  direction  for  strict implementation of the framework and revised action plan for prevention and control of paddy  stubble  burning  during  the  year  2024,  to  eliminate  the  practice  through  strict enforcement was issued by the CAQM to the respective States on 12.04.2024.
-  An Inter-Ministerial Committee has been constituted under the chairmanship of Special Secretary, MoAFW for convergence of scheme of Schemes/Inistiatives supporting Ex-situ management of paddy straw.
-  CAQM has issued directions for co-firing of 5-10% biomass with coal in thermal power plants located within 300 kms of Delhi, and, in captive power plants of industrial units located in NCR.
-  Directions issued by CAQM to State governments of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to strictly and effectively implement revised action plan to eliminate and control stubble burning.
-  Central  Pollution  Control  Board  (CPCB)  has  framed  Guidelines  for  grant  of  one-time financial  support  under  Environment  Protection  Charge  funds  for  establishment  of pelletization and Torrefaction plants to promote utilisation of paddy straw. In case of setting up of palletisation plant, Rs. 28 lakhs per tonne per hour (TPH), or 40% of the capital cost considered for plant and machinery of a 01 TPH plant, whichever is lower, is provided as one-time financial assistance with a maximum total financial support of Rs. 1.4 crore per proposal. In case of setting up of torrefaction plants, Rs. 56 lakhs per TPH, or 40% of the capital cost considered for plant and machinery of a 01 TPH plant, whichever is lower, is provided as one-time financial assistance with a maximum total financial support of Rs. 2.8 crore per proposal.
-  A total of 17 applications for establishment of pelletization and Torrefaction plants under the above mentioned CPCB Guidelines have been sanctioned so far, out of which 02 plants are  not  coming  up.  Pellet  production  capacity  of  15  sanctioned  plants  is  2.07  lakh tonne/annum. These  plants  are  expected  to  utilize  2.70  lakh  tonne  of  paddy  straw  per annum.
-  During stubble burning season of 2023 (10.11.23 onwards), 33 scientists of CPCB were deployed as flying squads for assisting CAQM in NCR and adjoining areas for intensifying monitoring and enforcement actions towards prevention of paddy stubble burning incidents in 22 districts of Punjab and 11 districts of Haryana. The flying squads coordinated with state govt/nodal officers//officers from respective districts and sent their daily reports to

CAQM. During this year also, CPCB deployed 26 teams (in 16 districts of Punjab and 10 districts of Haryana) for the period 01 st October - 30 th November, 2024 for intensifying monitoring and enforcement actions regarding stubble burning.

## 4. Measures for control of vehicular emissions:

-  Directions issued by CAQM to Government of NCT of Delhi and State Governments of Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh for migration of public transport services, especially buses  in  NCR  to  cleaner  modes. All  state  govt.  bus  services  between  Delhi  and  any city/town in the states of Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh to be operated only through EV /CNG/BS-VI diesel w.e.f. 01.11.2023.
-  Installation of VRS system at 3256 petrol pumps in Delhi-NCR in compliance with orders of Hon'ble Supreme Court and Hon'ble NGT.

## 5. Measures for control of industrial emission:

-  Installation of Online Continuous Emission Monitoring System (OCEMS) in red category air polluting industries in Delhi-NCR
-  Industrial units in Delhi have shifted to PNG/cleaner fuels and, operational units in NCR have shifted to PNG/Biomass.
-  Directions issued for conversion of brick kilns to zig-zag technology in Delhi and NCR. A total of 3003 out of 4608 brick kilns have converted to zig-zag technology including 1762 kilns in Haryana, 1024 kilns in U.P. and 217 kilns in Rajasthan. Brick kilns not converted to zig-zag technology are not permitted to operate.
-  In order to control DG set emissions, CPCB is also funding retrofitment/ upgradation of DG sets in Govt. hospitals in Delhi-NCR and guidelines have been issued in this regard.
-  Ban on use of pet coke and furnace oil as fuel in NCR States since October 24, 2017.
-  An approved fuel list is in force in Delhi-NCR w.e.f. 01.01.2023. Industries operating on only PNG or biomass are permitted in NCR, except for specific requirement of other fuels by specific industries owing to technical, technological and process requirements. Out of 7759 fuel based industries in NCR, 7449 have been shifted to approved fuels, with the balance 310 industries under closure.
-  Stringent  PM  emission  norms  for  biomass  based  boilers  have  been  prescribed  for compliance in NCR.

## 6. Construction & Demolition (C&D) Waste:

-  Directions issued to DPCC and NCR SPCBs to enforce installation of anti-smog guns and other dust control measures at C&D sites.
-  Directions issued for setting up of a 'Dust Control and Management Cell' by road owning/ maintaining/ construction agencies for monitoring and effective implementation of dust control measures in the NCR.
-  Online monitoring mechanism (through web portal) introduced for monitoring compliance of dust mitigation measures for construction sites.

## 7. Close Monitoring & Ground level implementation in Delhi-NCR:

-  40  teams  have  been  deputed  by  CPCB  since  December  2021,  to  assist  CAQM,  for conducting incognito inspections of air polluting industries, C&D sites, DG sets in DelhiNCR to check implementation status of pollution control measures and compliance of other provisions of the Air (P&CP) Act,1981.

## 8. National Clean Air Programme:

-  National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) has been launched by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in January 2019 with an aim to improve air quality in 130 cities (non-attainment cities and Million Plus Cities) in 24 States by engaging all stakeholders.
-  There are total 06 Non-attainment cites (NACs) in Delhi NCR, out of which 03 cities Delhi, Alwar and Noida are funded under National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) and 03 cities- Ghaziabad, Meerut and Faridabad are funded under Fifteenth Finance Commission (XV-FC).
-  City Action Plans for improvement in air quality have been rolled out for implementation in all the 06 identified cities.

## 9. Others:

-  2.07 crore trees planted in Delhi-NCR states under the campaign ' Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam ' (2.06 lakh trees in Delhi, 61 lakh trees in Haryana, 1.11 crore trees in UP and 32.9 lakh trees in Rajasthan).

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