MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE. ( SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)
(a). WHO report ranked 13 cities of India out of 20 most polluted cities of the world while considering estimated data for fine dust (PM2.5) that too for two different years (2010 and 2013) in select manner which is improper. The report has considered only PM2.5 and PM10 (dust) as pollutants for its analysis and not all twelve pollutants covered under the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS-2009) notified by the Government. Estimated values of WHO are higher than actual values. The estimated data on PM2.5 has been used by WHO whereas actual data is available. There has been a report in the press claiming Delhi as the most polluted city in the world which is not based on the factual data.
(b). A minimum of 104 days data is required to analyse the data for a particular year as per NAAQS-2009. It may not be possible to interpret the data for 8-9 months. However, the data gathered by the Central Pollution Control Board during May-2014 to January 2015 at six manual stations in Delhi is annexed (annexure-I).
(c). The actions to address the challenges posed by pollution are inter-ministerial and involves various organs of the government at Central and State levels including local authorities. Efforts are made. Government of Delhi has drawn long term and short term measures to improve ambient air quality in Delhi.
(d). The Government has taken various measures to contain air pollution in the country, which interalia include, supply of cleaner fuels as per Auto Fuel Policy, use of gaseous fuel for public transport, pollution under control (PUC) certificate system for in-use vehicles, 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, etc.
