Question : Air Pollution

(a) whether air quality in various cities across the country including Delhi and National Capital Region has deteriorated to the level of “severe plus” and if so, the State/UT-wise details thereof along with the reasons therefor;
(b) whether the Union Government has issued any instructions to the State Governments to curb the increasing pollution and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether any emission criteria has been fixed by the Government to curb air pollution and if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether the Government proposes to implement the traffic rationing scheme ‘Odd-Even’ on a permanent basis to overcome air pollution and if so, the details thereof;
(e) whether the Government proposes to impose complete ban on making and sale of firecrackers across the country and if so, the details thereof; and
(f) whether the Government has a systematic and scientifically designed implementation procedure to control air pollution in the country, particularly metropolitan cities and if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO)

(a) In reference to the overall air quality status of Delhi (2018-2019), there has been an overall improvement in air quality of Delhi in 2019 (from January 2019 upto 2nd of November 2019) as compared to that of 2018. It is submitted that the number of ‘Good to ‘Moderate’ days has increased to 175 in 2019 as compared to 157 in 2018. Correspondingly, the number of ‘Poor’ to ‘Severe’ days has reduced to 131 as compared to 149 in 2018. CPCB identified 122 cities as Non-attainment cities including Delhi and NCR based on air quality levels exceeding National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) from 2014-2018.

(b) Directions under Section 31A of The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 have been issued to States for ground implementation of approved city action plan for the non-attainment cities.

(c) MoEF&CC has developed around 63 industry-specific emission standards. Ten emission standards (diesel and LPG/CNG gensets; petrol and LPG/CNG gensets; dedicated LPG/CNG gensets; industrial boiler; SO2 and NOx standards for glass, lime kiln, reheating furnaces, foundry, ceramic industry, and airport noise) have been evolved and six emission standards (thermal power plant, sugar, man-made fibres, fertilizer, cement, and brick kiln) have been revised. Further, National Ambient Air Quality Standards were notified on November 2009 and prescribed 12 parameters, namely, PM10, PM2.5, SO2, NO2, CO, NH3, Ozone, Lead, Benzene, Benzo-a Pyrene, Arsenic and Nickel.

(d) Odd-even scheme with minimum exemption has been listed as an emergency (severe+) measure in Graded Response Action Plan, notified on January 12, 2017.

(e) The manufacture, sale or use of fire-crackers exceeding the noise level as prescribed in the Noise Rules, 2000 is prohibited and is required to comply with safety regulations prescribed by Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO). Government’s policy is aimed to regulate making and use of fire crackers in the country based on latest scientific evidence. Government through CSIR-NEERI has promoted development of eco-friendly firecrackers or green firecrackers with 20–30% reduction in pollution. Fireworks industry licensed by PESO have started manufacture and sale of such firecrackers.
(f) Government has systematic and scientifically designed implementation procedure to control air pollution in the country. Further, the Government has already taken several measures for prevention, control and abatement of air pollution across the country. These inter alia include following:


Plans and Directions

• Comprehensive Action Plan (CAP) identifying timelines and implementing agency for actions identified for prevention, control and mitigation of air pollution in Delhi and NCR has been notified.
• National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) under the Central Sector “Control of Pollution” Scheme as a time bound national level strategy to tackle air pollution problem across the country in comprehensive manner has been launched.
• City specific action plan for all 102 non-attainment cities under NCAP have been prepared and approved for implementation.
• Graded Response Action Plan for different levels of air pollution in Delhi and NCR has been notified.
• A comprehensive set of directions have been issued under section 18(1) (b) of Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1986 for implementation of 42/31 measures to mitigate air pollution in major cities including Delhi and NCR cities comprising of control and mitigation measures related to vehicular emissions, re-suspension of road dust and other fugitive emissions, bio-mass/municipal solid waste burning, industrial pollution, construction and demolition activities, and other general steps.
Monitoring
• Setting up of monitoring network for assessment of ambient air quality.
• 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 rest of the country.
• Introduction of cleaner/alternate fuels like gaseous fuel (CNG, LPG etc.), ethanol blending.
• Use of RFID tags have been made mandatory for commercial vehicles entering Delhi.
• 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.
Industry
• Badarpur thermal power plant has been closed from 15th October, 2018.
• All operational brick kilns (about 2600) have been shifted to zig-zag technology in Delhi and NCR.
• Installation of on-line continuous (24x7) monitoring devices for all red category industries in Delhi and NCR.
• Out of 4700 industrial units in Delhi-NCR about 2400 units have shifted to PNG.
• Revision of emission standards for industrial sectors from time to time.


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.
• 3 Waste-to-Energy (W-t-E) plants are currently operational in Delhi.
• 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.
• Advisory issued to implementing agencies and State Boards in Delhi NCR regarding use of dust suppressant.
Public Outreach
• Ministry is promoting people’s participation and awareness building among citizens for environmental conservation through Green Good 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.
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