(a) whether there has been an increase in toxic air in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
(c) whether the Government has any proposal to shift more of the city’s travel to comfortable public transport to cut fine particulates in congested areas and improve the air for residents; and
(d) if so, the details thereof and the steps being taken by the Government in this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(DR. MAHESH SHARMA)
(a) & (b) Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) monitor ambient air quality in the country under the National Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP). Three air pollutants viz., Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) and Particulate Matter (PM10), are monitored at the 691 manual monitoring stations located in 303 cities / towns in 29 States and 5 Union Territories. Analysis of ambient air quality data of 42 million plus cities indicates that the values of SO2 were within the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) of 50 µg/m3 (annual standard) in all the cities during 2017. The values of NO2 were within permissible NAAQS limit of 40 µg/m3 (annual standard) in most of the cities. Levels beyond norms were mainly observed with respect to particulate matter.
(c) & (d):Urban transport is an integral part of urban development which is a state subject. Necessary action to shift more of city’s travel to public transport has to be taken by respective States/Union Territories (UTs). Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has taken following steps to improve public transport facilities in urban areas: (i) lssue of National Urban Transport policy, 2006; (ii) lssue of Advisory on congestion charges to State Governments/UTs; (iii) Stipulating condition of developing Parking policy by cities as one of the conditions under bus funding scheme; (iv) Assistance for procurement of buses, ancillary infrastructure, implementation of Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS), and Metro Rail projects; (v) Making Urban Transport an admissible component under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) and Smart City Mission; and (vi) lssue of Metro Rail policy,2017.
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