Lok Sabha Question No. 83 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-04
Subject: Air Quality Index
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Annasaheb Shankar Jolle, T. R. Paarivendhar, Sambhajirao Mane Dhairyasheel, Sajda Ahmed, Sanjay Sadashivrao Mandlik, Shrirang Appa Barne, Ravneet Singh, Sudheer Gupta, Prataprao  Jadhav

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 83 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.12.2023

## Air Quality Index

## 83. SHRI ANNASAHEB SHANKAR JOLLE:

DR. T.R. PAARIVENDHAR:

SHRI DHAIRYASHEEL SAMBHAJIRAO MANE:

SHRIMATI SAJDA AHMED:

SHRI SANJAY SADASHIVRAO MANDLIK:

SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE:

SHRI RAVNEET SINGH BITTU:

SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV:

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

- (a) the steps taken by the Government since 2019 to improve the air quality of Delhi and the effectiveness of these measures;
- (b) whether any studies have been conducted by the Government to find out the reasons for the worsening air quality;
- (c) whether Air Quality Index(AQI) has deteriorated in the Delhi-NCR and metro cities across the country during recent time and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether due to lackadaisical approach of various States, pollution has aggravated resulting in severe pollution and health hazards to people particularly of NCR areas and if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether the Government has issued any directives to the concerned States in this regard and if so, the details in this regard;
- (f) whether the Government is aware that the AQI situation is going to worsen post Diwali and if so, the measures taken by the Government to control it; and
- (g) whether the Government proposes to launch any awareness campaign among people for refraining from crackers and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

## (a) :

A Commission has been constituted under the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas Act, 2021 up in accordance with the notification dated 23rd April, 2021 towards better coordination, research, identification and resolution of problems surrounding the air quality index in NCR and adjoining areas and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

The commission for Air Quality Management in NCR & Adjoining Areas (CAQM), since its inception  in  2021,  undertakes  action  for  the  prevention  and  control  of  Air  pollution  in  DelhiNCR & Adjoining  Areas  which  impacts  the  air  quality  of  the  NCT  Delhi.  The  Commission adopting an air-shed like approach has issued a comprehensive policy to curb Air pollution NCR in  July  2022  by  constituting  an  expert  group.  The  policy  has  sector-wise  action  plan  for prevention  and  control  of  air  pollution  in  the  region  by  various  sectors  contributing  to  air pollution. The Commission has also issued statutory directions and advisories for control of air pollution  in  NCR  from  time  to  time.  Since  inception  the  Commission  has  so  far  issued  78 directions and 11 advisories, besides executive orders to various agencies concerned in the NCR including State Governments of Punjab, GNCTD, and various bodies of the Central and State Governments  in  the  region.  Due  to  these  concerted  efforts  general  improvements  in  the  AQI level has been witnessed in the region.

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 Central Pollution Control Board (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 CAQM and further directions were issued for its implementation.

Steps taken for control of air pollution are as following:

1.  The  CAQM has deputed 40 teams  of CPCB officers since December 2021, for conducting incognito  inspections  of  air  polluting  industries,  C&D  sites,  DG  sets  in  Delhi-NCR  to  check implementation status of pollution control measures and compliance of other provisions of the Air  (P&CP)  Act,  1981.  A  total  of  16037units/entities/  projects  have  been  inspected  as  on November 24, 2023. Based on these inspections, CAQM has issued Closure Directions in 899 cases and out of these resumption orders have been issued in 708 cases while 132 cases are still under  closure  and  cases  of  59  balance  units  have  been  transferred  to  State  Pollution  Control Boards (SPCBs) / Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) for final decision.
2. CPCB has come out with System and Procedure for Emission Compliance Testing of Retro-fit Emission  Control  Devices  (RECD)  for  Diesel  Power  Generating  Set  Engines  up  to  Gross Mechanical Power 800 kW. RECDs have been developed for DG sets of 209-799 kW capacity and installation of RECDs is in progress in Delhi-NCR. 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. Under the said guidelines, 100 % funding support is provided  for  RECD  and  dual  fuel  kit  installation  while  40%  funding  support  is  provided  for procurement of new gas based Generator sets.
3.  CPCB  has  issued  guidelines/  mechanism  for  use  of  anti-smog  guns  in  Construction  and Demolition  projects.  Also,  CPCB  has  published  guidelines  for  dust  mitigation  measures  in handling construction materials and C&D waste.
4. CPCB has framed guidelines for promoting setting up of paddy straw based pelletization and torrefaction plants wherein one-time financial assistance is provided to individual entities/entrepreneurs/  companies  for  setting  up  of  such  plants.  A  corpus  of  Rs.  50  crores  has been earmarked for utilisation through the guidelines. A total of 10 plants (1 in principle) have been sanctioned so far: 8 in Punjab, 1 in Haryana and 1 in UP.
5. CPCB has also issued an addendum under which one-time financial assistance is provided to Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils and ZillaParishads of the states of Punjab, Haryana, NCT of Delhi and NCR districts of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, for establishing paddy straw based briquetting plants for use of briquettes for cremation purpose only.
6. Installation of VRS system at 3256 petrol pumps in Delhi-NCR in compliance with orders of Hon'ble Supreme Court and Hon'ble NGT.
7. Trial study of various new technologies for control of air pollution have been got conducted by  CPCB  out  of  which  encouraging  results  were  observed  in  case  of  Dust  Suppressant  for control of emissions at construction sites and road dust. Advisory have been issued for use of dust suppressant by road owning and construction agencies in Delhi-NCR.
8. (b) As per TERI-ARAI Source Apportionment study of year 2016 published in 2018, contribution of various sources to PM 2.5 and PM 10 levels in Delhi is given below:

|                               | PM 2.5   | PM 2.5   | PM 10   | PM 10   |
|-------------------------------|----------|----------|---------|---------|
| Sectors                       | Winters  | Summers  | Winters | Summers |
| Residential                   | 10%      | 8%       | 9%      | 8%      |
| Agricultural Burning*         | 4%       | 7%       | 4%      | 7%      |
| Industry                      | 30%      | 22%      | 27%     | 22%     |
| Dust (soil, road, and const.) | 17%      | 38%      | 25%     | 42%     |
| Transport                     | 28%      | 17%      | 24%     | 15%     |
| Others                        | 11%      | 8%       | 10%     | 7%      |

Note :  Industries  include  power  plants  (stacks,  flyash  ponds  and  coal  handling  units),  brick manufacturing,  stone  crushers,  and  other  industries.  Others  include  DG  sets,  refuse  burning, crematoria, airport, restaurants, incinerators, landfills, etc. Dust includes sources of natural and anthropogenic  origin  (soil,  road  dust  re-suspension,  and  construction  activities).  Dust  is  also contributed through trans-boundary atmospheric transport from international boundaries.

* It is to be noted that the contribution of agricultural burning is not fully accounted for in this study as the monitoring and modelling periods did not include the month of October, when the burning  activities  are  generally  at  their  maximum.  Moreover,  the  sectoral  contributions  are averaged for the whole modelling/monitoring period, and hence, do not highlight the contribution of agricultural burning, which happens during a certain number of days and cause episodically high pollutant concentrations.
- (c) The data of AQI shows that in all Delhi - NCR cities there are more number of days in Poor, Very Poor and Severe category of AQI during recent time i.e. November month of 2023 except in  4  cities  namely  Mandikhera,  Palwal,  Alwar&Khurja  as  compared  to  other  cities  in  Delhi  NCR.  The  air  quality  during  November  may  be  attributed  to  prevailing  meteorological conditions and contribution from local and regional emission sources. The Air Quality Index of

Delhi& NCR cities for the month of November, 2023 is presented Annexure - I.

However, the data of AQI of major metropolitan cities indicates there are more number of days in Good, Satisfactory & Moderate category of AQI during November month of 2023as compared to  city  Delhi  -  NCR.The  Air  Quality  Index  of  major  metropolitan  cities  for  the  month  of November, 2023 is presented Annexure - II.

## (d)

Gradually improvement in ambient PM concentration has been observed in Delhi over past few years  (2020  was  exceptional  due  to  COVID)  as  indicated  below  due  to  various  measures undertaken for abatement of air pollution:

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## (e)

The CAQM has issued statutory directions and advisories for control of air pollution in NCR from  time  to  time.  Since  inception  the  Commission  has  so  far  issued  78  directions  and  11 advisories, besides executive orders to various agencies concerned in the NCR including State Governments of Punjab, GNCTD, and various bodies of the Central and State Governments in the  region.  Due  to  these  concerted  efforts  general  improvements  in  the  AQI  level  has  been witnessed in the region.

CPCB on November 03, 2023 has also issued Directions under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection)  Act,  1986  to  Delhi-NCR  SPCBs/  PCCs  for  strict  implementation  of  actions prescribed  under  stages  of  GRAP  invoked  from  time  to  time,  in  view  of  the  deteriorated  air quality situation in Delhi-NCR.

## (f)

During,  post-monsoon  and  winter  months,  the  lower  temperature,  lower  mixing  heights, inversion  conditions  and  calm  winds  lead  to  trapping  of  the  pollutants  in  the  atmosphere resulting in high pollution in the region. Therefore, deterioration of Air Quality Index is observed in  Delhi  NCR  region,  generally,  during  winter  months.  To  address  the  deterioration  of  Air quality actions under 'Graded Response Action Plan' are also imposed based on AQI.

Special  monitoring  during  Diwali  was  conducted  through  SPCBs,  PCCs  and  CPCB  Regional Directorates to monitor the ambient air quality parameters, including noise.

Dedicated  media  corner,  Twitter  and  Facebook  accounts  have  also  been  created  for  public outreach. Also, complaint redressal on social media platforms is monitored and redressal status is shared with respective agencies.

Daily AQI status is shared on social media platforms. 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.

(g) The SPCBs and PCCs were informed to ensure the implementation of the directions issued by the  Hon'ble  Supreme  Court  in  the  case  of  WP  (C)  728/2015  regarding  Prohibition  of manufacture,  use  and  sale  of  prohibited  firecrackers,  in  coordination  with  the  concerned agencies.

An awareness campaign was undertaken by CPCB on social media to inform the public about the harmful effects of firecrackers.

Further,  CAQM,  from  time  to  time  ,  has  taken  up  the  issue  of  firecracker  bursting  with  the concerned NCR state Govts. and GNCTD and asked to take adequate measures to ensure strict compliances of restrictions/ ban orders passed by Hon'ble Supreme court/ NGT and State/ UT Governments, as the case may be, in this regard.

Further, The Commission from time to time has taken up the issue of firecracker bursting with the  concerned  NCR  state Govts.  and  GNCTD  and  asked  to  take adequate  measures  to  ensure strict compliances of restrictions/ ban orders passed by Hon'ble Supreme court/ NGT and State/ UT Governments, as the case may be, in this regard.

*****

| Annexure - I   | Annexure - I   | Annexure - I   | Annexure - I          | Annexure - I       | Annexure - I    | Annexure - I         | Annexure - I   | Annexure - I   | Annexure - I   |
|----------------|----------------|----------------|-----------------------|--------------------|-----------------|----------------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
| S.No           | City           | Good (0-50)    | Satisfactory (51-100) | Moderate (101-200) | Poor (201- 300) | Very Poor (301- 400) | Severe (>401)  | Good Days      | Bad Days       |
| 1              | Delhi          | 0              | 0                     | 0                  | 4               | 17                   | 9              | 0              | 30             |
| 2              | Bhiwani        | 0              | 0                     | 4                  | 9               | 17                   | 0              | 4              | 26             |
| 3              | Charkhi Dadri  | 0              | 1                     | 5                  | 12              | 7                    | 0              | 6              | 19             |
| 4              | Ballabgarh     | 0              | 0                     | 3                  | 13              | 12                   | 0              | 3              | 25             |
| 5              | Manesar        | 0              | 0                     | 3                  | 9               | 18                   | 0              | 3              | 27             |
| 6              | Faridabad      | 0              | 0                     | 2                  | 2               | 17                   | 9              | 2              | 28             |
| 7              | Gurugram       | 0              | 0                     | 3                  | 8               | 16                   | 3              | 3              | 27             |
| 8              | Bahadurgarh    | 0              | 0                     | 3                  | 5               | 18                   | 2              | 3              | 25             |
| 9              | Jind           | 0              | 1                     | 2                  | 7               | 12                   | 6              | 3              | 25             |
| 10             | Karnal         | 0              | 1                     | 10                 | 11              | 6                    | 0              | 11             | 17             |
| 11             | Narnaul        | 0              | 0                     | 5                  | 12              | 10                   | 2              | 5              | 24             |
| 12             | Mandikhera     | 0              | 2                     | 19                 | 4               | 1                    | 0              | 21             | 5              |
| 13             | Palwal         | 0              | 3                     | 17                 | 7               | 1                    | 0              | 20             | 8              |
| 14             | Panipat        | 0              | 0                     | 12                 | 9               | 7                    | 0              | 12             | 16             |
| 15             | Dharuhera      | 0              | 0                     | 6                  | 6               | 18                   | 0              | 6              | 24             |
| 16             | Rohtak         | 0              | 1                     | 2                  | 5               | 20                   | 2              | 3              | 27             |
| 17             | Sonipat        | 0              | 1                     | 5                  | 6               | 12                   | 4              | 6              | 22             |
| 18             | Alwar          | 0              | 3                     | 13                 | 13              | 0                    | 0              | 16             | 13             |
| 19             | Bharatpur      | 0              | 0                     | 2                  | 15              | 12                   | 0              | 2              | 27             |
| 20             | Bhiwadi        | 0              | 0                     | 1                  | 8               | 16                   | 5              | 1              | 29             |
| 21             | Baghpat        | 0              | 0                     | 2                  | 10              | 17                   | 0              | 2              | 27             |
| 22             | Khurja         | 0              | 9                     | 14                 | 5               | 1                    | 0              | 23             | 6              |
| 23             | Bulandshahr    | 0              | 1                     | 6                  | 18              | 4                    | 0              | 7              | 22             |
| 24             | Noida          | 0              | 0                     | 2                  | 5               | 19                   | 4              | 2              | 28             |
| 25             | Greater Noida  | 0              | 0                     | 2                  | 5               | 15                   | 8              | 2              | 28             |
| 26             | Ghaziabad      | 0              | 0                     | 2                  | 8               | 18                   | 2              | 2              | 28             |
| 27             | Hapur          | 0              | 0                     | 4                  | 14              | 11                   | 0              | 4              | 25             |
| 29             | Muzaffarnagar  | 0              | 0                     | 7                  | 21              | 2                    | 0              | 7              | 23             |
| 28             | Meerut         | 0              | 0                     | 2                  | 5               | 22                   | 1              | 2              | 28             |

<!-- image -->

| Annexure II Number of days in different categories of AQI of major Metropolitan cities during November, 2023   | Annexure II Number of days in different categories of AQI of major Metropolitan cities during November, 2023   | Annexure II Number of days in different categories of AQI of major Metropolitan cities during November, 2023   | Annexure II Number of days in different categories of AQI of major Metropolitan cities during November, 2023   | Annexure II Number of days in different categories of AQI of major Metropolitan cities during November, 2023   | Annexure II Number of days in different categories of AQI of major Metropolitan cities during November, 2023   | Annexure II Number of days in different categories of AQI of major Metropolitan cities during November, 2023   | Annexure II Number of days in different categories of AQI of major Metropolitan cities during November, 2023   | Annexure II Number of days in different categories of AQI of major Metropolitan cities during November, 2023   | Annexure II Number of days in different categories of AQI of major Metropolitan cities during November, 2023   |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| S.No                                                                                                           | City                                                                                                           | Good                                                                                                           | Satisfactory                                                                                                   | Moderate                                                                                                       | Poor                                                                                                           | Very                                                                                                           | Severe                                                                                                         | Good Days                                                                                                      | Bad Days                                                                                                       |
|                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                | (0- 50)                                                                                                        | (51-100)                                                                                                       | (101- 200)                                                                                                     | (201- 300)                                                                                                     | (301- 400)                                                                                                     | (>401)                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |
| 1                                                                                                              | Kolkata                                                                                                        | 2                                                                                                              | 3                                                                                                              | 14                                                                                                             | 11                                                                                                             | 0                                                                                                              | 0                                                                                                              | 19                                                                                                             | 11                                                                                                             |
| 2                                                                                                              | Chennai                                                                                                        | 12                                                                                                             | 14                                                                                                             | 3                                                                                                              | 1                                                                                                              | 0                                                                                                              | 0                                                                                                              | 29                                                                                                             | 1                                                                                                              |
| 3                                                                                                              | Mumbai                                                                                                         | 0                                                                                                              | 6                                                                                                              | 23                                                                                                             | 1                                                                                                              | 0                                                                                                              | 0                                                                                                              | 29                                                                                                             | 1                                                                                                              |
| 4                                                                                                              | Hyderabad                                                                                                      | 0                                                                                                              | 22                                                                                                             | 8                                                                                                              | 0                                                                                                              | 0                                                                                                              | 0                                                                                                              | 30                                                                                                             | 0                                                                                                              |
| 5                                                                                                              | Bengaluru                                                                                                      | 7                                                                                                              | 18                                                                                                             | 5                                                                                                              | 0                                                                                                              | 0                                                                                                              | 0                                                                                                              | 30                                                                                                             | 0                                                                                                              |