MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO)
(a) & (b)The government is aware of a report that has been released during January, 2018 by Yale Center for Environmental Law & Policy (YCELP), Yale University and Columbia University, entitled ‘Environmental Performance Index (EPI) 2018’.
The above report relied on data gathered by NASA Satellite in place of actual monitored data. Countries can be ranked on the basis of different criteria pollutants with differentresults. Further report has not been peer reviewed. The report needs to be interpreted in proper perspective as it is based on different methodologies and involve various assumptions and uncertainties.
(c)Following actions have been taken for creating awareness amongst the general population:
i. 41 teams of CPCB officials from September 15, 2018 and later 52 teams from November 01, 2018 till 28 February, 2019, were deployed for monitoring and providing ground feedback about activities causing air pollutions. Teams provide on-the-spot reports along with GPS coordinates through SAMEER App to enforcing agencies to facilitate actions on ground.
ii. Clean Air Campaign was organized during November 01, 2018 to November 10, 2018, to take on-spot ground actions for control of air polluting activities and sensitizing public to ensure their effective participation in future. A total 2619 complaints lodged during Clean Air Campaign and 454 Challan were issued. And the same was also organized during February 10- 23, 2018.
iii. Social media platform has been created for public awareness in matters related to air pollution.
iv. Public Complaints regarding air pollution issues are taken through ‘Sameer App’, ‘Emails’([email protected]) and ‘Social Media Networks’ (Facebook and Twitter) and are being forwarded to enforcement agencies for redressal.
v. Crowd sourcing of innovative ideas/ suggestions/proposals from public is being done to strengthen efforts for improving air quality in Delhi-NCR.
vi. Air quality information collection and dissemination are done from a centralized location. It provides real time air quality status to all stakeholders.
vii. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is implementing Environment Education, Awareness and Training scheme with the objective to promote environmental awareness among all sections of the society and to mobilize people’s participation for conservation of environment. Under the National Green Corps (NGC) programme of the Ministry, about one lakh schools have been identified as Eco-clubs, wherein, nearly thirty lakh students are actively participating in various environment protection and conservation activities, including the issues related to the air pollution.
viii. Further, the Ministry has launched the Green Good Deed (GGDs) movement in January 2018 which is social movement with the aim of bringing about mass environmental awareness in the society at all levels.
(d) & (e)As a result of steps taken by the Central Government in Delhi, the number of ‘Good’, ‘Satisfactory’, and ‘Moderate’ days has increased to 159 in 2018, as compared to 152 in 2017 and 106 in 2016, and the number of ‘Poor’, ‘Very Poor’ and ‘Severe’ days has reduced to 206, compared to 213 in 2017 and 246 in 2016. Analysis of Ambient air quality data of Delhi monitored under Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) during 2016-2018 revealed that there is reduction of 7.3 % in PM2.5 levels in 2018 over 2017 and 14.8% over 2016 and reduction of 8.6% in PM10 levels in 2018 over 2017 and 16.5% over 2016.
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