Lok Sabha Question No. 3729 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-22
Subject: Rate of Pollution
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: ANIRUDHAN SAMPATH

## 3729. DR. A. SAMPATH:

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

- (a)   whether the rate of pollution in 7 places out of 10 under the Central Pollution Control Board is consistently on the rise;
- (b)   if so, the details thereof; and
- (c)   the corrective measures being taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

(a) & (b) National Air Quality Index (AQI) is a public information tool for reporting daily air quality in simplistic manner to general public.  The Central Pollution Control Board started disseminating information on AQI since 6 th April, 2015 for 10 cities of the country.  Now, AQI is available for 14 cities. The analysis of AQI for the month of August 2015 reveals that out of 14 cities,  08  cities  namely,  Agra,  Ahmedabad,  Bangaluru,  Hyderabad, Kanpur, Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Pune have 80% of AQI values under Good and Satisfactory categories. Similarly, the  analysis  of  AQI  for  the  month  of  September  2015  reveals  that  out  of  14  cities,  03  cities namely,  Agra,  Chennai  and  Mumbai  have  80%  of  AQI  values  under  Good  and  Satisfactory categories. It reflects a mixed trend.

- (c) The measures being taken by the Government to control pollution inter alia include;
- Notification of National Ambient Air Quality Standards (2009), envisaging 12 pollutants;
- Formulation of regulations / statutes;
- Setting up of monitoring network for assessment of ambient air quality;
- Introduction of cleaner / alternate fuels like gaseous fuel (CNG, LPG), ethanol blend etc. replacing petrol and diesel;
- Promotion of public transport network of metro, buses, e-rickshaws etc.;
- Promotion of cleaner production processes;

Taking note of the gravity of air pollution, the Government has taken some more measures as listed below:

- Launching of  Clean India Mission (Swatch Bharat Abhiyan);

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION N0. 3729

TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.12.2015

## Rate of Pollution

- Draft rules for handling and management of municipal wastes including construction and demolition waste rules notified for comments of stakeholders;
- National Air Quality index launched by the Prime Minister in April, 2015 starting with 14 cities;
- Implementation of Bharat Stage IV norms in the 63 selected cities and universalization of BS-IV  by 2017;
- Ministry of Road Transport and Highways on  27.11.2015 issued two Draft Notifications issued for advancing the implementation time lines to 2019 for BS- V and 2021 for BSVI for comments of stakeholders;
- Banning of burning of leaves, biomass, municipal solid waste in Delhi;
- Levying environment compensation charge on goods vehicles entering Delhi;
- Regular co-ordination meetings being held at official and ministerial level with Delhi and other State Governments within the National Capital Region (NCR) and Punjab;
- Short-term plan has been reviewed  and long-term plans have been formulated by states to mitigate pollution in NCR;
- Stringent industrial standards have been formulated and notified for public/stakeholder's comments; standards for sugar industry have been finalized;
- Government is giving high priority for public partnership in lane discipline, car pooling, vehicle maintenance, pollution under control certification, action against visibly polluting vehicles etc.;
- Out of 3386 major industries, 1782 industries have installed on-line continuous (24x7) monitoring devices; others are in process of installing;
- New standards for thermal power plants have been issued for gazette notification;
- Directions under section 18(1) (b) of The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 being issued to enforcing agencies; and
- Construction  of  peripheral  eastern  and  western  expressways  to  divert  non-destined vehicles.

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