Lok Sabha Question No. 764 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-01
Subject: Degraded Air/Water Quality
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: RADHESHYAM BISWAS

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.764 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.03.2016

## Degraded Air/Water Quality

## 764. SHRI RADHESHYAM BISWAS:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the degrading air and water quality conditions throughout the country, if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto; and
- (b) whether the Government proposes to take strong steps or is considering to bring in new  laws  against  the  industries  discharging  the  wastes  directly  into  the  rivers  and water bodies and if so, the details thereof ?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  (INDEPENDENT  CHARGE)  FOR  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## (SHRI   PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

(a) Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in association with State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) / Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) is monitoring air and water bodies across the country under National Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP) and National Water Quality Monitoring Programme (NWMP). Three air pollutants viz. Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) and Particulate Matter (PM) of size less than or equal to 10 micron  (PM10)  are  being  monitored  at  all  the  locations.  The  air  quality  data  for  41  major cities  for  the  year  2015  indicate  that  all  the  cities  were  within  the  National  Ambient  Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) of 50 µg/m 3 in respect of SO2, 9 cities exceed the NAAQS of 40 µg/m 3 in respect of NOx, 38 cities exceeded NAAQS of 60 µg/m 3 in respect of PM10. Out of 15  cities,  6  cities  exceed  the  NAAQS  of  40  µg/m 3 in  respect  of  PM2.5.  The  water  quality monitoring of water bodies at 2500 locations across the country under NWMP indicate that organic  pollution  is  the  predominant  cause  of  water  pollution.  Based  on  the  magnitude  of organic  pollution,  CPCB  has  identified  302  polluted  river  stretches  in  2015.  The  river stretches  are  polluted  mainly  due  to  discharge  of  untreated  /  partially  treated  sewage  and discharge of industrial wastewater.

(b)   Major steps taken by the Government to address the issues of air and water pollution in the country include the following:-

- Launched  National  Air  Quality  index  by  the  Prime  Minister  in  April,  2015  starting with 14 cities and now extended to 22 cities;
- Notification of National Ambient Air Quality Standards 2009, envisaging 12 pollutants;
- Implementation  of Bharat Stage IV (BS-IV)  norms  in 63 selected cities and universalization of BS-IV by 2017;
- Decision taken to leapfrog directly from BS-IV to BS-VI fuel standards;
- Ban on burning of leaves, biomass, municipal solid waste;
- Introduction of cleaner / alternate fuels like gaseous fuel, ethanol blend etc. replacing petrol and diesel;
- Promotion of public transport network of metro, buses, e-rickshaws and promotion of car pooling, Pollution Under Control, vehicle maintenance;
- Promotion of cleaner production processes;
- Action to comply with effluent standards is taken by SPCBs / PCCs to improve the water quality of the rivers;
- Installation of Common Effluent Treatment Plants for cluster of Small Scale Industrial units;
- Issuance of directions for implementation of Zero Liquid Discharge;
- Preparation of action plan for sewage management and restoration of water quality in aquatic resources by State Governments;
- Installation of Online Effluent Monitoring System to check the discharge of effluent directly into the rivers and water bodies;
- Setting up of monitoring network for assessment of ambient air and water quality;
- Issuance  of  directions  under  Section  5  of  Environment  (Protection)  Act,  1986  to industries and under Section 18(1)(b) of Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
- Formulation of stricter regulations / rules;

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