(a) whether the Government is aware of the degrading air and water quality conditions throughout the country, if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto; and
(b) whether the Government proposes to take strong steps or is considering to bring in new laws against the industries discharging the wastes directly into the rivers and water bodies and if so, the details thereof ?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)
(a) Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in association with State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) / Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) is monitoring air and water bodies across the country under National Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP) and National Water Quality Monitoring Programme (NWMP). Three air pollutants viz. Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) and Particulate Matter (PM) of size less than or equal to 10 micron (PM10) are being monitored at all the locations. The air quality data for 41 major cities for the year 2015 indicate that all the cities were within the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) of 50 µg/m3 in respect of SO2, 9 cities exceed the NAAQS of 40 µg/m3 in respect of NOx, 38 cities exceeded NAAQS of 60 µg/m3 in respect of PM10. Out of 15 cities, 6 cities exceed the NAAQS of 40 µg/m3 in respect of PM2.5. The water quality monitoring of water bodies at 2500 locations across the country under NWMP indicate that organic pollution is the predominant cause of water pollution. Based on the magnitude of organic pollution, CPCB has identified 302 polluted river stretches in 2015. The river stretches are polluted mainly due to discharge of untreated / partially treated sewage and discharge of industrial wastewater.
(b) Major steps taken by the Government to address the issues of air and water pollution in the country include the following:-
• Launched National Air Quality index by the Prime Minister in April, 2015 starting with 14 cities and now extended to 22 cities;
• Notification of National Ambient Air Quality Standards 2009, envisaging 12 pollutants;
• Implementation of Bharat Stage IV (BS-IV) norms in 63 selected cities and universalization of BS-IV by 2017;
• Decision taken to leapfrog directly from BS-IV to BS-VI fuel standards;
• Ban on burning of leaves, biomass, municipal solid waste;
• Introduction of cleaner / alternate fuels like gaseous fuel, ethanol blend etc. replacing petrol and diesel;
• Promotion of public transport network of metro, buses, e-rickshaws and promotion of car pooling, Pollution Under Control, vehicle maintenance;
• Promotion of cleaner production processes;
• Action to comply with effluent standards is taken by SPCBs / PCCs to improve the water quality of the rivers;
• Installation of Common Effluent Treatment Plants for cluster of Small Scale Industrial units;
• Issuance of directions for implementation of Zero Liquid Discharge;
• Preparation of action plan for sewage management and restoration of water quality in aquatic resources by State Governments;
• Installation of Online Effluent Monitoring System to check the discharge of effluent directly into the rivers and water bodies;
• Setting up of monitoring network for assessment of ambient air and water quality;
• Formulation of stricter regulations / rules;
• Issuance of directions under Section 5 of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to industries and under Section 18(1)(b) of Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
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