Lok Sabha Question No. 1716 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-08
Subject: Clean Air
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: RAJESH KUMAR DIWAKAR

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION N0. 1716

TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.03.2016

## Clean Air

## 1716. SHRI RAJESH KUMAR DIWAKER:

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

- (a)   whether the Government is taking any initiative to make the air cleaner and is also moving towards a low-carbon economic growth model in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  any  MoU  have  been  signed  with  countries  including  France  and  US  for  clean air/energy drive in the country and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c)   the other steps taken/being taken by the Government to provide clean air to all citizens in the country?

## ANSWER

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

(a) The Government has taken various measures to contain air pollution in the country which inter alia include, supply of cleaner fuels, use of gaseous fuel for public transport in select cities, pollution  under  control  (PUC)  certificate  system,  stringent  source  specific  emission  standards and  their  compliance,  use  of  beneficiated  coal    in  thermal  power  plants,  strengthening  public transport,  expansion  of  metro  train  system,  implementation  of  revised  emission  norms  for Gensets (at manufacturing stage), implementation of city specific action plan etc.

'The  Emissions  Gap  Report  2014'  by  United  Nations  Environment  Programme  (UNEP)  has recognized  India  as  one  of  the  countries  on  track  to  achieve  its  voluntary  target.  India  has voluntary commitment to reduce the emissions intensity of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 20-25% over the 2005 levels, by the year 2020.

(b) The Joint Statement issued during the visit of President of USA to India in January last year envisaged cooperation between the two countries in the area of clean energy, climate change and air quality cooperation.

As regards France, the Joint Statement during the State visit of President of the French Republic in  January  this  year  envisages  collaboration  in  the  area  of  clean  and  sustainable  development, climate  change,  international  solar  alliance,  sustainable  consumption  and  production  pattern, renewable energies and energy efficiency, sustainable urban development, transport etc.

(c) The other major steps taken by the Government to address the issues of air pollution 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 14 cities and now extended to 22 cities;
- (ii) Implementation of Bharat Stage IV (BS-IV) norms in 63 selected cities and universalization of BS-IV by 2017;
- (iii) Finalized migration to Bharat Stage VI (BS-VI) by 1 st April,  2020 and released draft notification  on  19 th February,  2016  to  this  effect.  It  is  estimated  that  reduction  of vehicular pollution would be upto 90%.  Investment requirement for gasoline works out to be about ₹ 20,000 crore and for diesel, it is estimated to be ₹ 60,000 crore as per Auto-Fuel Vision and Policy - 2025;
- (iv) Ban on burning of leaves, biomass, municipal solid waste;
- (v) Promotion of public transport network of metro, buses, e-rickshaws and promotion of car pooling, Pollution Under Control, lane discipline, vehicle maintenance;
- (vi) Revision  of  existing  environmental  standards  and  formulation  of  new  standards  for prevention and control of pollution from industries.
- (vii) Regular co-ordination  meetings  at  official  and  ministerial  level  with  Delhi  and  other State Governments within the NCR.
- (viii) 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.

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