Lok Sabha Question No. 1549 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-26
Subject: Pollutants in Air
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: KANWAR SINGH TANWAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1549

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.07.2016

## Pollutants in Air

## 1549. SHRI KANWAR SINGH TANWAR:

Will  the  Minister  of  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND  CLIMATE  CHANGE

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Central  Pollution  Control  Board  (CPCB)  has  detected the  smallest  and  the  least  visible  pollutant  particles  in  air  in  major cities;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c)   whether such pollutant particles are causing lung cancer and cardiac
- ailments and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the steps proposed to be taken by the Government to check it?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRI ANIL MADHAV DAVE)

(a) & (b) The total Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) in ambient air is comprised  of  PM10  (particulate  matter less  than  10  micron),  PM2.5 (particulate matter less than 2.5 micron) and PM1 (particulate matter less than 1 micron). The least visible particulate matter i.e. PM1 is significantly smaller  than  PM2.5  is  not  monitored  by  Central  Pollution  Control  Board (CPCB) as the same is not regulated. CPCB is in the process of planning to undertake monitoring of PM1 initially with certain locations in Delhi and other major cities of the country and for this purpose CPCB is studying all  aspects  of  Monitoring  of  PM1  including  technology  and  international monitoring protocols. Presently, CPCB in association with State Pollution Control  Boards  (SPCBs)  /  Pollution  Control  Committees  (PCCs)  and National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) is monitoring  ambient  air  quality  at  621  monitoring  stations  located  in  262 cities/towns in 29 states and 5 union territories across the country under National  Air  Quality  Monitoring  Programme  (NAMP).  Earlier,  dust  in ambient air was being monitored as SPM (particulate matter less than 100 micron)  and  PM10 but  now  PM10  at  all  locations  and  PM2.5 at  select locations are being monitered.

- (c) No peer reviewed conclusive study report is available directly linking pollutants  with  the  lung  cancer  and  cardiac  ailments.  However,  the  air pollution  is  known  to  be  one  of  the  aggravating  factors  for  many respiratory ailments and cardiovascular diseases. Other factors are inhaling/ingestion  of  bacteria,  virus,  mites,  moulds,  fungi,  spores,  pollen grains etc.
- (d) The  major  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  check  air pollution in cities i i i i i  i i i i include the following:-
- (i) Notification of National Ambient Air Quality Standards;
- (ii) Formulation of environmental regulations / statutes;
- (iii) Setting up of monitoring network for assessment of ambient air
- quality;
- (iv) Introduction of cleaner / alternate fuels like gaseous fuel (CNG, LPG etc.), ethanol blend etc.;
- (v) Promotion of cleaner production processes.
- (vi) Launching of National Air Quality index by the Prime Minister in April, 2015;
- (vii) Implementation of Bharat Stage IV (BS-IV) norms in 63 selected cities and universalization of BS-IV by 2017;
- (viii) Decision  taken  to  leapfrog  directly  from  BS-IV  to  BS-VI  fuel standards by 1st April, 2020;
- (ix) Taxing  polluting  vehicles  and  incentivizing  hybrid  and  electric vehicles;
- (x) Comprehensive amendments to various Waste Management Rules including Municipal Solid Waste, Plastic Waste, Hazardous Waste, Bio-medical Waste and Electronic Waste notified;
- (xi) Notification  of  Construction  and  Demolition  Waste  Management Rules;
- (xii) Ban on burning of leaves, biomass, municipal solid waste;
- (xiii) Promotion  of public transport network of metro, buses, erickshaws and promotion of car pooling, Pollution Under Control, lane discipline, vehicle maintenance;
- (xiv) Revision of existing  environmental  standards  and  formulation  of new  standards  for  prevention  and  control  of  pollution  from industries;
- (xv) Regular  co-ordination  meetings  at  official  and  ministerial  level with Delhi and other State Governments within the NCR;
- (xvi) Issuance of directions under Section 5 of Environment (Protection)  Act,  1986  and  under  Section  18(1)(b)  of  Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 for prevention of pollution;
- (xvii) Installation  of  on-line  continuous  (24x7)  monitoring  devices  by major industries.

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