(a) whether the Union Government gets the level of pollution tested from
time to time in the various cities of the country including Delhi;
(b) if so, the State-wise and serial-wise names of most polluted cities in the
country in each of the years 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11;
(c) whether the Union Government has prepared any pollution standard for cities;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the steps taken by the Government to make the cities pollution-free?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRIMATI JAYANTHI NATARAJAN)
(a) & (b) : The level of pollution with respect to ambient air is regularly monitored at 456 locations in 190 cities, towns and industrial areas
across the country by the Central Pollution Control Board in association with various State Pollution Control Boards, Pollution Control Committees for
Union Territories and NEERI, Nagpur in terms of Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) and PM10 (particulate matter less than 10 micron) under
National Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP). Air quality data reveals that the annual average concentration of SO2 is within the limit
(50 microgramme per cubic metre) while levels of NO2 have exceeded the limit of 40 microgramme per cubic metre in Asansol, Dhanbad, Delhi, Jamshedpur,
Kolkata, Meerut and Mumbai during 2010. The standards of PM10 (60 mg/m3)are exceeded in most of the cities, except Chennai, Kochi and Madurai during 2010.
As far as ranking of the most polluted cities in the country is concerned, there is no standard methodology to rank the most polluted city.
However, various organizations have come out with their own ranking of most polluted cities in the country based on different pollutants with varying
objectives.
(c) & (d): The Government has notified the revised National Ambient Air Quality Standards for 12 pollutants in November, 2009, taking into account
public health impact and global best practices. The Government has also notified source specific emission norms for 40 different categories of
industries and processes.
(e) : The steps taken by the Government to contain pollution in the cities include, inter alia, strengthening of public transport, supply of
cleaner fuel as per Auto Fuel Policy, use of beneficiated coal in thermal power plants, more stringent mass emission norms for new vehicles in
select cities, ‘Pollution Under Control’ certificate system for in-use vehicles, strict implementation of emission and effluent norms in air and
water polluting industries. In addition, city-specific Ambient Air Quality Improvement Programme for 17 identified cities is implemented by concerned
authorities.