Lok Sabha Question No. 2953 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-15
Subject: Particulate Matter
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: C. MAHENDRAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION N0 2953

TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.03.2016

## Particulate Matter

## 2953. SHRI C. MAHENDRAN:

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

- (a)   whether the Government is aware that as per the NGO Greenpeace study report, the level of hazardous PM 2.5 in India has exceeded that of China in the year 2015 for the first time;
- (b)  if so, the details thereof;
- (c)   whether the Government is also aware of the increase in pollution level in India at an average rate of 2% over the past decade; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto?

## ANSWER

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

## (SHRI   PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

- (a) Green  Peace  India  published  a  report  titled  'Clean  Air  Action  Plan:  The  Way Forward' in February, 2016.

(b)  &  (c)  The  National  Ambient  Quality  Standards  notified  comprises  of  12  pollutants, namely,  PM10,  PM2.5,  SO2,  NO2,  O3,  CO,  NH3,  Benzene,  lead,  Arsenic,  Nickel,  BaP (particulate phase). The ambient air quality is monitored regularly in 254 cities, towns, and industrial  areas  of  the  country  by  the  Central  Pollution  Control  Board  (CPCB),  State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) / Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) and NEERI for 3 to 8 pollutants. Analysis of these data indicates fluctuating trends on the basis of individual pollutants in ambient air. Out of the 46 million plus cities, ambient air quality data monitored under  National  Air  Quality  Monitoring  Programme  (NAMP)  during  2015  available  for  41 cities indicate that the values of SO2 are within the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) of 50 µg/m 3 (annual standard). The value of NO2 in 9 cities (exceeded the NAAQS of 40 µg/m 3 (annual standard); while the value of PM10, in 38 cities do not comply with the NAAQS  of  60  µg/m 3 (annual  standard).  The  PM10  value  in  3  cities  complies  with  the National Standard of 60 µg/m 3 (annual standard). The report brought out by the Green Peace India  is  on  the  basis  of  NASA  Satellite  data  which  is  based  on  the  extrapolated  and constructed data without field validation.

(d) The steps taken by the Government to mitigate air pollution in metropolitan cities in the country include the following:-

- (i) Notification of National Ambient  Air  Quality  Standards  envisaging 12 pollutants;
- (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,  ethanol  blend  etc. replacing petrol and diesel;
- (v) Promotion of cleaner production processes;

Taking note of the gravity of Air Pollution, the Government has taken some more measures which include:

- (i) Launched  National  Air  Quality  index  by  the  Prime  Minister  in  April,  2015 starting with 10 cities and now extended to 23 cities;
- (ii) Implementation of Bharat Stage IV (BS-IV) norms in 63 selected cities and universalization of BS-IV by 2017;
- (iii) Decision taken to leapfrog directly from BS-IV to BS-VI fuel standards by 1 st April, 2020;
- (iv) Comprehensive review of all Waste Management Rules including Municipal Solid Waste,  Plastic  Waste,  Hazardous  Waste,  Bio-medical  Waste  and Electronic Waste.
- (v) Ban on burning of leaves, biomass, municipal solid waste;
- (vi) Promotion  of  public  transport  network  of  metro,  buses,  e-rickshaws  and promotion  of  car  pooling,  Pollution  Under  Control,  lane  discipline,  vehicle maintenance;
- (vii) Revision of existing environmental standards and formulation of new standards for prevention and control of pollution from industries.
- (viii) Regular co-ordination meetings at official and ministerial level with Delhi and other State Governments within the NCR.
- (ix) 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.
- (x) Installation of on-line continuous (24x7) monitoring devices by major industries.

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