(a) whether the Government has taken adequate measures to regulate air quality and tackle the issue of pollution in cities including New Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) whether the Government proposes to promote or make compulsory the utilization of public transport system so as to reduce air pollution in few heavily polluted cities and if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO)
(a) & (b) The Central Government has taken a number of regulatory measures for prevention, control and abatement of air pollution in the country.
Action Plans for Improvement of Air Quality in Delhi NCR:
(i) Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) was notified on January 12, 2017, for prevention, control and abatement of air pollution in Delhi and NCR. It identifies graded measures and implementing agencies for response to four AQI categories, namely, Moderate to Poor, Very Poor, Severe and Severe + or Emergency.
(ii) The Central Government has notified a Comprehensive Action Plan (CAP) in 2018 identifying timelines and implementing agencies for actions identified for prevention, control and mitigation of air pollution in Delhi and NCR.
Action Plans for Improvement of Air Quality of Other Cities:
(i) Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has launched National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) in January 2019 to tackle the problem of air pollution in a comprehensive manner with targets to achieve 20 to 30 % reduction in PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations by 2024. This is keeping 2017 as the base year for the comparison of concentration. The overall objective is to augment and evolve effective ambient air quality monitoring network across the country besides ensuring comprehensive management plan for prevention, control and abatement of air pollution and enhancing public awareness and capacity building measures.
(ii) 102 non-attainment cities have been identified based on ambient air quality data for the period 2011 – 2015 and WHO report 2014/2018. A total of 86 city specific action plans have been approved for ground implementation.
The Central Government has taken several measures for prevention, control and abatement of air pollution across the country. These include-
Monitoring
• Setting up of monitoring network for assessment of ambient air quality. Central Presently, ambient air quality is being monitored at 779 locations covering 339 cities in 29 states & 6 Union Territories across the country under National Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP). Further, real time monitoring is taking place at 170 locations in 102 cities in 18 States/UTs.
• Notification of National Ambient Air Quality Standards.
• Launch of National Air Quality Index.
• Implementation of Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi in October, 2018 in association with Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).
Transport
• Leapfrogging from BS-IV to BS-VI fuel standards since 1st April, 2018 in NCT of Delhi and from by 1st April, 2020 in the rest of the country.
• Introduction of cleaner / alternate fuels like gaseous fuel (CNG, LPG etc.), ethanol blending.
• Promotion of public transport and improvements in roads and building of more bridges to ease congestion on roads.
• Operationalisation of Eastern Peripheral Expressway & Western Peripheral Expressway to divert non-destined traffic from Delhi.
• Streamlining the issuance of Pollution Under Control Certificate.
• Environment Protection Charges (EPC) have been imposed on diesel vehicles with engine capacity of 2000cc and above in Delhi NCR.
Industry
• Badarpur thermal power plant has been closed from 15th October, 2018.
• Notification of stricter emission norms for power plants.
• All brick kilns have been shifted to zig-zag technology in Delhi and NCR.
• Installation of on-line continuous (24x7) monitoring devices all red category industries in Delhi and NCR.
• Revision of emission standards for industrial sectors from time to time.
• Ban on pet coke and furnace oil - monitoring of use of pet coke in Lime Kilns/Cement Kilns and Calcium Carbide Industry in Delhi and NCR States.
Biomass and Solid Waste
• A new Central Sector Scheme on ‘Promotion of Agricultural Mechanization for in-situ management of Crop Residue in the States of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and NCT of Delhi’ for the period from 2018-19 and 2019-20 has been launched.
• Banning of burning of biomass/garbage.
• 3 Waste-to-Energy (W-t-E) plants are currently operational in Delhi with atotal capacity of 5100 Tonnes Per Day (TPD).
• Notifications of 6 waste management rules covering solid waste, plastic waste, e-waste, bio-medical waste, C&D waste and hazardous wastes issued in 2016.
Dust
• Notifications regarding dust mitigation measures for construction and demolition activities.
• Number of mechanised road sweeping machines has been increased significantly and presently 60 machines are deployed for cleaning of roads in Delhi.
Public Outreach
• Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change and Delhi Government launched Clean Air for Delhi Campaign from 10th – 23rd Feb 2018 and to check air polluting activities pre and post Diwali, a special campaign called “Clean Air Campaign” during November 01, 2018 to November 10, 2018.
• Ministry is promoting peoples participation and awareness building among citizens for environmental conservation through Green Goods Deeds that focus on promotion of cycling, saving water and electricity, growing trees, proper maintenance of vehicles, following of lane discipline and reducing congestion on roads by car pooling etc.
• Development of mechanism for redressal of public complaints regarding air pollution issues in Delhi and NCR (through ‘Sameer App’, ‘Emails’([email protected]) and ‘Social Media Networks’ (Facebook and Twitter) etc.
(c) To promote public transport system in Delhi NCR, measures have been taken for improvement in bus numbers and services. Also measures have been taken to augment the service of Delhi Metro for carrying more passengers. Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) and its integration with local transit system to provide seamless connectivity and promotion of public transportation in Delhi and NCR etc part of Comprehensive Action Plan for Delhi NCR. The Central Government has approved the proposal for implementation of scheme titled ‘Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles in India Phase II (FAME India Phase II)’ for promotion of Electric Mobility in the country. The total outlay for this Scheme is Rs.10,000 crore over the period of three years with effect from 1st April, 2019. This would also help in promotion of public transport.
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