Lok Sabha Question No. 963 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-02
Subject: Deteriorating Air Quality
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Dr. Mohammad Jawed, Adv Gowaal Kagada Padavi, Dr. Amar Singh, Shri Benny Behanan, Shri Rajesh Ranjan

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 963

TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.12.2024

## Deteriorating Air Quality

963. ADV GOWAAL KAGADA PADAVI:

DR. MOHAMMAD JAWED:

SHRI BENNY BEHANAN:

DR. AMAR SINGH:

SHRI RAJESH RANJAN:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the recent deterioration in air quality in many cities of the country particularly the level of PM- 2.5 which has gone above the safe limits in major metro areas;
- (b) the reasons for failure of the Government in achieving the goals of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP);
- (c) the details of the Government's scheme to address air quality issues in Tier-2 and Tier3 cities wherein details monitoring data is not available; and
- (d) the amount of budget allocated for satellite data interpretation for real-time air quality management during the last five years?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a): Air quality monitoring in terms of PM2.5 levels is monitored in 454 cities out of which 246 cities met national ambient air quality standards for annual average of PM2.5 levels in the year 2023.

(b): National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) was 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/UTs  through  implementation  of National, State and City level clean air action plans. NCAP envisages reduction in PM10 levels up to 40% or achievement of national standards (60 microgram/cubic meter) by 2025-26.

In addition to this, NCAP emphasises on implementation of City Action Plans (CAPs) through the convergence  of  resources  from  various  Central  Government  schemes  such  as  Swachh  Bharat Mission  (Urban),  AMRUT,  Smart  City  Mission,  SATAT,  and  Nagar  Van  Yojana,  as  well  as resources from State Govts./ UT administration and agencies like Municipal Corporations and Urban Development authorities.

As per the annual performance assessment carried out for 2023-24, 97 cities out of 130 cities have shown improvement in air quality in terms of PM10 concentrations in FY 2023-24 as compared to base levels of 2017-18. 55 cities have achieved reduction of 20% and above in PM10 levels in 2023-24 with respect to the levels of 2017-18. Further, 18 cities conform to national ambient air quality standards in terms of Particular Matter concentrations during FY 2023-24.

(c) & (d) : At present, ambient air quality monitoring is carried out in 550 cities covering 28 States and 8 UTs. To address air quality issues, 130 cities have prepared city action plans under NCAP to take measures to improve air quality. 24 States/UTs have prepared State action plans in regard for improvement of air quality.  In  addition,  several  Govt.  of  India  schemes/  programmes  namely, Swachh Bharat Mission, AMRUT, Smart City Mission, Urban Transport, PM E-Bus Sewa, SATAT, Nagar  Van  Yojana,  Vehicle  Scrapping  Policy,  FAME  -  II,  SAMARTH  -  National  Biomass Mission, National Bio-energy Programme and Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana are implemented throughout the Country contributing to reduction in air pollution. Some of the other measures taken by the Government for air quality management are placed at Annexure I. An allocation of Rs. 1,04,39,130/- has been made for satellite-based study of ambient air quality.

***

## Measures taken by the Government for air quality management

- i. Emission  standards  for  more  than  80  industries  have  been  notified  under  Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986
- ii. Emission standards recently notified/revised:
- a) Thermal power plants
- b) Diesel/petrol/CNG generator sets
- c) Industrial boilers
- d) Lime Kilns
- e) Brick kilns and conversion of zig-zag technology
- f) Calcinated petcoke industry
- g) Hot mix plants
- iii. Leapfrogging to Bharat Stage-VI (BS-VI) emissions norms from 1st April 2020
- iv. Vehicle Scrapping Policy, Rules for Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facilities and Automated Testing Stations by MoRTH
- v. Waste  management  rules  for  solid  waste,  plastic  waste,  hazardous  waste,  e-waste,  battery waste, biomedical waste, 100% ash utilisation by Thermal Power Plants
- vi. Market-based  Extended  Producer  Responsibility  (EPR)  regulations  introduced  for  waste categories, viz. plastic packaging, e-waste, battery waste, waste tyres & used oil
- vii. 12 identified Single-Use Plastics (SUP) having high littering potential and low utility were banned from 1st July, 2022
- viii. Mandate for utilisation of minimum 5% of crop residue along with coal (pellets/brickettes) in thermal power plants in NCR and adjoining areas
- ix. Categorization  of  industrial  areas  as  Critically  and  Severely  Polluted  Areas  (CPAs/SPAs) based on Comprehensive Environmental Pollution Index (CEPI).

***