(a) whether the Government proposes to set up twenty-five Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) across the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise including Assam, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu;
(c) the details of the funds estimated to be incurred on the project;
(d) the time by which these are likely to be set up; and
(e) whether his Ministry has signed any agreement with the Ministry of Power in this regard and if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO)
(a) to (d) Presently, 208 numbers of Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) are already operational spread across 115 cities of the country. The Central Pollution Control Board is in the process of setting up additional CAAQMS at twenty-five locations in 13 cities across the country, by utilizing the CPSU-CSR funds of M/s NTPC Ltd, in a time frame of about 22 months.State/UT-wise details are annexed. Total funds estimated to be incurred for these 25 stations is Rs.80.00 Crores. Further, 65 additional CAAQMS are also proposed to be setup under the National Clean Air Program (NCAP).
(e) The Ministry has not signed any agreement with the Ministry of Power in this regard. However, a Memorandum of Understanding for setting up of 25 CAAQM Stations has been signed by Central Pollution Control Board with M/s NTPC Ltd for this initiative under their CSR funds.
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