Question : AIR POLLUTION

(a) whether recent findings/reports by various agencies/organisations have indicated that the air pollution levels in urban areas and metro cities of the country including Delhi and Mumbai have remained very high;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto;

(c) whether increasing incidents of patients suffering from respiratory diseases and other ailments have been reported on this account and if so, the details thereof;

(d) the existing policy to regulate air quality and abatement of air pollution at various locations across the country and the achievements in this regard, so far; and

(e) the steps proposed to be taken by the Government for an action-oriented programme including emergency response system in the event of air pollution levels reaching dangerous level, in collaboration with the States to control air pollution and improve the ambient air quality in the country?

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

(a)&(b). The ambient air quality is being monitored at 582 monitoring stations covering 244 cities, towns and industrial areas including Delhi and Mumbai in terms of Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), Nitro- gen Dioxide (NO2) and Particulate Matter (PM10). As per the data provided by Delhi Pollution Control Committee and Maharashtra Pollution Control Board for last three years for Delhi and Mumbai respectively, the annual averages for SO2 are within norms. But, norms are exceeded for NO2 and PM10 but with fluctuating trend. The air quality data being reported in press and other reports are without proper interpretation or, peer review.

(c). As per Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), air pollution is known to be one of the aggravating factors for many respiratory alignment and cardiovascular disease. The Ministry, Central Pollution Control Board, Delhi Pollution Control Committee or, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board has not undertaken any study in the matter.

(d). The Government has taken various policy and regulatory measures to contain air pollution in the country, which interalia include, supply of cleaner fuels as per Auto Fuel Policy, sale of unleaded petrol, use of gaseous fuel for public transport, pollution under control (PUC) certificate system for in-use vehicles, stringent source specific emission standards and their compliance, use of beneficiated coal in thermal power plants, strength- ening public transport, expansion of metro train system, implementation of revised emission norms for gensets, cement plants, etc. There has been compliance of norms (annual averages) for lead and SO2 in ambient air across the country due to various measures adopted.

(e). The Central Pollution control Board has directed industries falling under 17 highly polluting categories to install continuous online monitoring systems for effluent and emission monitoring, as applicable. Recently, the Central Pollution Control Board has launched an ambient air quality index (AQI).