(a) whether the environment of Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR) deteriorates after Diwali during the last few years and if so, the details thereof;
(b) the works carried out so far by the Government to check it;
(c) whether the Government has formulated any action plan to deal with such situation in the future; and;
(d) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO)
(a) As per available data, the environment of Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR) deteriorates with respect to particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) particularly in the winter months after Diwaliduring the last few years.The Air Quality Index(AQI)in Delhi for seven days before andafter Diwali dayfor the years 2016 to 2019is on Annexure-I. The increase in level of air pollution occurs due to adverse meteorological conditions like low temperature, poor wind speed and low mixing height apart frombursting of firecrackers and other major contributing factorsinter alia from vehicular emission, industrial emissions, biomass / stubble burning, municipal waste burning and dust suspension.
(b) The works carried out by the Government to check environmental pollution after Diwali, inter alia, include; prohibition of manufacture, sale or use of fire-crackers exceeding the noise level as prescribed in the Noise Rules, 2000with safety regulations prescribed by Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization (PESO), development of eco-friendly firecrackers or green firecrackers with 20–30% reduction in pollution throughCouncil of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR)-National Environment Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), manufacture and sale of green firecrackersfor Diwali as per the guidelines of the Supreme Court, banning of chemicals like Barium/Lithium/Arsenic/Antimony/Lead/Mercury in the firecrackers,licensing of fireworks industries for new formulations of green crackers by Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO), advisories for noise monitoring on the occasion of Diwali, prohibition of the use of fireworks between 10.00 p.m. and 6.00 a.m., publicity regarding the ill effects of the firecrackers and awareness programme, Clean Air Campaign” last year to check air polluting activities pre and post Diwali,‘Harit Diwali- Swasth Diwali’ campaign, promotion of peoples participation and awareness for environmental conservation through Green Goods Deedsetc. apart from various works carried out to check air pollution in Delhi and NCR.
(c) & (d) Ministry in consultation with CSIR-NEERI, PESO and CPCB has formulatedaction plan to be adopted to tackle the pollution problem which occurs due to firecrackers during Diwali. The actions suggested is development ofReduced Emission fire-crackers which inter alia include (i) definition and formulation of Green Fire crackers (including new and improved formulations) as proposed by CSIR-NEERI, (ii) Research & development of new and improved formulations for green crackers (for popular brands of light and sound emitting crackers), (iii) stakeholders consultations and demonstration to firework manufacturers, PESO and CPCB, (iv) establishing baselines, assessment of Barium levels in improved formulations, comparative evaluation of green crackers vis-a vis conventional crackers etc. (v) establishment of emission testing facility for firecrackers, (vi) setting up Raw materials characterization facility to ensure usage of raw materials/chemicals of acceptable quality.