Lok Sabha Question No. 3741 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-22
Subject: Ground Level Ozone
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: HUKUM SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION N0. 3741

TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.12.2015

## Ground Level Ozone

## 3741. SHRI HUKUM SINGH:

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

- (a)  whether the Government is aware of the rising ground level ozone in the country;
- (b)  if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and;
- (c)  the remedial measures taken/being taken by the Government to contain the rise in ground level ozone in the country?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

- (a) & (b) The Ozone level monitoring is conducted by Central Pollution Control Board at 04 locations  in  Delhi,  02  locations  in  Bangalore,  02  locations  in  Chennai  and  02  locations  in Lucknow.   The average of eight hourly values is given below:-

| City      | Ozone Concentration µg/m 3 (Average of Eight Hourly values)   |   Ozone Concentration µg/m 3 (Average of Eight Hourly values) |   Ozone Concentration µg/m 3 (Average of Eight Hourly values) |   Ozone Concentration µg/m 3 (Average of Eight Hourly values) |
|-----------|---------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------|
| Delhi     | Location / Year                                               |                                                       2012    |                                                       2013    |                                                       2014    |
| Delhi     | DMS, Shadipur                                                 |                                                         32    |                                                         27    |                                                         31    |
| Delhi     | NSIT, Dwaraka                                                 |                                                         28    |                                                         32    |                                                         33    |
| Delhi     | DTU,                                                          |                                                         58    |                                                         47    |                                                         23    |
| Delhi     | ITO                                                           |                                                         39    |                                                         41    |                                                         34    |
| Bangalore | BTM                                                           |                                                         48.3  |                                                         27.2  |                                                         33.7  |
| Bangalore | BWSSB                                                         |                                                         38    |                                                         40.1  |                                                         25.3  |
| Chennai   | IIT                                                           |                                                         19    |                                                        100.4  |                                                         34.5  |
| Chennai   | Alandur                                                       |                                                         10.1  |                                                         18.1  |                                                         25.2  |
| Lucknow   | Lal Bagh                                                      |                                                         55.33 |                                                         84.75 |                                                         25.82 |
| Lucknow   | Aliganj                                                       |                                                         51.05 |                                                         56.99 |                                                         30.63 |

The ozone levels have not exceeded the norms of 100 µg/m 3 for  eight  hourly  average  at  any locations except one at IIT, Chennai during the last three years.

- (c) The ozone formation is the result of primary pollutants and a number of measures have been taken to control the precursors pollutants like NOx, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC),

Hydrocarbons (HC), etc. 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 concrete more measures as listed below:

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