Question : AIR QUALITY INDEX

(a) whether the Government/Central Pollution Control Board has brought out a new Air Quality Index (AQI) and if so, the details and salient features thereof;

(b) the details of the air pollution level of mega cities in the country as per the AQI;

(c) whether introduction of AQI would bring uniformity in monitoring air quality and facilitate in controlling air pollution in the country and if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the Government has any proposal to launch Air Purity Index across major urban pockets in the country; and

(e) if so, the details thereof along with the time by which it is likely to be introduced?

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

(a) & (b). The CPCB has undertaken a task of introducing Air Quality Index (AQI), a tool for public information on the status of ambient air quality while considering concentration of eight pollutants i.e., Sulphur Dioxide, Nitrogen Dioxide, Lead, Ozone, PM10, etc. for which short term (up to 24 hourly) norms are prescribed in the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS-2009). The AQI has been loaded on the website of CPCB for suggestions and comments of public. AQI is not in place, as of now.

(c) to (e). Ambient air quality is monitored using instruments based on notified methods of measurement for various pollutants, which leads to uniformity. The concept of Air Purity Index (API) does not exist and there is no proposal to devise or, launch API.