Question : Air Quality

(a) whether the Government is aware that the Indian air quality standard limits the safe exposure for Particulate Matter (PM) 2.5 upto 40 µg/m3 and a recent new study on global air pollution by the US based institutes claims that the India’s worsening pollution level including air pollution caused millions of premature deaths in 2015;

(b) if so, the details thereof along with the details of the cities in the country that are currently exposed to beyond 40 µg/m3 of PM 2.5 concentrations; and

(c) the measures taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to bring the PM 2.5 concentration to the Indian air quality standard limits in order to reduce air pollution related diseases and to check various types of pollution in the country?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

(a) Air Quality Standards in India are defined by National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) which lays down permissible limits with respect to twelvepollutants including PM2.5. The report entitled ‘State of Global Air 2017’ prepared by US based institutes referred to deaths in India and China due to long term exposure to PM 2.5 in 2015. However the numbers are not validated for Indian conditions and there are no conclusive data available to establish direct correlation of death exclusively with air pollution. Air pollution is one of the triggering factors for respiratory associated ailments and diseases and it is acknowledged that higher the level of air pollution higher is the risk to lungs in a given area. Further, the levels of PM2.5 are derived from PM10 levels in the report which may vary for each monitoring site and hence may not be amenable to generalization.

(b) Central Pollution Control Board is monitoring ambient air quality in 691 locations covering 303 cities/towns in 29 States and 6 Union Territories across the country under National Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP). Out of 303 cities, PM2.5 is being monitored in 79 cities and 31 cities exceeded the PM2.5of 40 µg/m3. The list of these cities is given in Annexure.

(c) The Government has taken several steps to address air pollution which inter alia, include notification of National Ambient Air Quality Standards; setting up of monitoring network for assessment of ambient air quality; introduction of cleaner / alternate fuels like gaseous fuel (CNG, LPG etc.), ethanol blending, launching of National Air Quality index; universalization of BS-IV by 2017; leapfrogging from BS-IV to BS-VI fuel standards by 1st April, 2020; notification of Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules; banning of burning of biomass; promotion of public transport network; Pollution Under Control Certificate; issuance of directions under Section 18(1)(b) of Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and under Section 5 of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986; installation of on-line continuous (24x7) monitoring devices by major industries; collection of Environmental Protection Charge on more than 2000 CC diesel vehicles; notification of graded response action plan for Delhi and NCR etc.

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