(a) whether the Government proposes to install the latest equipment to gauge/ check air quality in the major polluted cities in the first stage and if so, the details thereof;
(b) the names of such cities and the criteria to be followed for installing such equipments along with the funds allocated for the purpose; and
(c) whether the Government has assessed the testing level of pollution in the said cities, if so, the details and findings thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)
(a) to (c) Technologically advanced Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) are operated in several major cities in India. These are operated by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) / Pollution Control Committees (PCCs). Total 59 CAAQMS in 35 cities are operational in the country. The cities where presently Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) are operational are given at Annexure-I.
Strengthening of network of Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations is an ongoing process and steps have been initiated to strengthen the monitoring network in Aurangabad, Nasik, Nagpur, Ludhiana, Amritsar, Coimbatore, Ghaziabad, Vijayawada, Srinagar and Howrah.
Air quality data for million plus cities including Delhi during 2012, 2013 and 2014 is given at Annexure-II. The analysis of air quality data during 2012, 2013 and 2014 with respect to SO2 revealed that all cities are within the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The levels of NO2 (annual average) exceeded the norms in 7 cities, 8 cities and 9 cities respectively during 2012, 2013, and 2014. However, the levels of PM10 (annual average) exceeded the norms in 42 cities, 41 cities and 39 cities respectively during 2012, 2013, and 2014.