Question : Level of Air Pollution

(a) whether the annual average level of air pollution in urban and industrial areas have reached/crossed the alarming level in major cities of the country including Delhi, if so, the details thereof, city-wise and the reasons there for along with the reaction of the Government thereto;
(b) the measures taken by the Government to curb the sources of air pollution in the said cities along with the funds provided for the purpose during each of the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise;
(c) whether the Government has issued guidelines and launched any new scheme or employed modern techniques to make the country pollution free;
(d) if so, the details and achievements made so far; and
(e) the other steps taken/being taken by the Government in this direction?

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

(SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

(a) & (b) Central Pollution Control Board initiated National Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP) in the year 1984. Under NAMP, three air pollutants viz., Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) and Particulate Matter size equal to or less than 10 micron (PM10), have been identified for regular monitoring at all the locations. The NAMP network presently comprises 612 operating monitoring stations located in 254 cities/towns in 29 states and 5 union territories across the country. Air quality data for million plus cities including Delhi during 2012-2015 is annexed.

The Measures taken by the Government to curb of air pollution inter-alia include:
• Notification of National Ambient Air Quality Standards (2009), envisaging 12 pollutants;
• Formulation of environmental 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.;
• 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 some more measures which include:
• Launching of Clean India Mission (Swatch Bharat Abhiyan);
• Amending rules for handling and management of municipal wastes including construction and demolition waste rules notified for comments of stakeholders;
• Launching of National Air Quality index by the Prime Minister in April, 2015 starting with 14 cities and now implemented in 22 cities;
• Implementing Bharat Stage IV norms in the 63 selected cities and universalization of BS-IV by 2017;
• Decision taken to leapfrog directly from BS-IV to BS- VI fuel standards w.e.f. 01.04.2020;
• Holding regular co-ordination meetings at official and ministerial level with Delhi and other State Governments within the National Capital Region (NCR) and Punjab;
• Formulating and notifying stringent industrial standards which include standards recently notified for thermal power plants and sugar industry;
• Giving high priority for public partnership in lane discipline, car pooling, vehicle maintenance, pollution under control certification, action against visibly polluting vehicles etc.;
• Installation of on-line continuous (24x7) monitoring devices by major industries;

CPCB has informed that an amount of ` 7,92,27,282, ` 7,25,83,500, ` 5,87,78,462 and ` 9,01,21,917 have been released to State and UT Governments including for metropolitan cities for air quality monitoring under NAMP during 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15 and current year respectively.

(c) & (d) Government has adopted modern methods/technologies to minimize pollution which inter alia include; cleaner technologies with new innovations, Air Quality Index, Online continuous (24x7) monitoring, promotion of cleaner production by prescribing stringent environmental standards / norms etc. But for the various measures taken to control air pollution it could have been much higher.

(e) The Central Pollution Control Board has issued directions on 29.12.2015 to the PCCs/SPCBs of Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana under section 18 (1) (b) of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1981, for prevention and control of air pollution. The directions relate to control of vehicular emissions, road dust, other fugitive emissions, pollution from bio-mass burning, industrial air pollution, pollution from construction & demolition activities etc.

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