Lok Sabha Question No. 1377 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-11
Subject: Air Quality Report
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Abdul Majeed Ariff

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1377

TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.12.2023

## Air Quality Report

## 1377.   ADV. A.M. ARIFF:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware that 3 of the first 10 most polluted cities of the World are in India with Delhi and Kolkata at the top positions;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and action take thereon;
- (c) whether it is true that none of the major Indian city met the air quality standards prescribed by the World Health Organization and if so, the action taken thereon;
- (d) whether the Government has taken any measure to control the emission of pollutants to the atmosphere in cities across India and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether the Government intends to review the National Air Control Programme (NACP) and the targets set thereunder and if. So, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

## (a) to (e):

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change provides ranking of better performing cities  every  year  under  'Swachh  Vayu  Sarvekshan'  for  131  Cities/ULB's  covered  under National Clean Air Program (NCAP) based on the framework for taking various measures to abate  pollution  from  solid  waste,  control  of  road  dust,  construction  and  demolition  waste, vehicular emissions, industrial emissions including improvement in PM10 concentrations.

National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) has been launched in January, 2019 which is a longterm, time-bound national level strategy for prevention, control and abatement of air pollution. Under NCAP, it has been envisaged to achieve targets of 20 to 30% reduction in Particulate Matter concentrations by 2024 in 131 cities of 24 States/UTs with respect to base year 2017. Subsequently, the target has been revised to achieve up to 40% reduction or achieve National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) in terms PM concentrations by 2025-26.

Under NCAP, 131 targeted cities have been mandated to prepare City Action Plan to take measures to improve air quality in respective cities. All 131 cities have prepared City Action Plans to address air pollution arising from various sectors viz. vehicular emissions, road dust, construction, solid waste management and industrial pollution.

Government  of  India  notified National  Ambient  Air  Quality  Standards  (NAAQS)  for  13 parameters  under  The  Environment  (Protection)  Rules,  1986  vide  G.S.R.  826(E)  on  16 th November,  2009.  Air  quality  monitoring  in  the  country  is  carried  out  as  per  the  National Standards. Further,  air pollution reduction targets are set under NCAP based on the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. World Health Organisation (WHO) Air Quality Guidelines are guidance to policy makers and not legally binding.

Due to implementation of City Action Plans under NCAP, 90 Cities out of 131 Cities have shown improvement in air quality in terms of annual PM10 concentrations in FY 2022-23 with respect  to  the  baseline  of  FY  2017-18.  15  cities  have  met  National  Ambient  Air  Quality Standards (NAAQS) for PM10 (60 µg/m3) in FY 2022-23. Details of Air Quality Index in 10 cities/towns having highest levels as well as that of Delhi and Kolkata, measured during the month of October, 2023 are placed at Annexure I .

***

## Details of Air Quality Index (AQI) in 10 cities/towns having highest AQI levels including Delhi and Kolkata in October, 2023

| S. No                        | Name of the City and State / Union Territory   | Average AQI for the month of October 2023   |
|------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------|
| 1                            | Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh                   | 258                                         |
| 2                            | Sonipat, Haryana                               | 246                                         |
| 3                            | Bahadurgarh, Haryana                           | 231                                         |
| 4                            | Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh                   | 227                                         |
| 5                            | Delhi, Delhi                                   | 216                                         |
| 6                            | Hanumanagar, Rajasthan                         | 213                                         |
| 7                            | Faridabad, Haryana                             | 212                                         |
| 8                            | Bhiwadi, Rajasthan                             | 208                                         |
| 9                            | Noida, Uttar Pradesh                           | 202                                         |
| 10                           | Byrnihat, Meghalaya                            | 199                                         |
| Air Quality in Kolkata (AQI) | Air Quality in Kolkata (AQI)                   | Air Quality in Kolkata (AQI)                |
| 1.                           | Kolkata, West Bengal                           | 102                                         |