Question : Pollution in Cities

(a) whether India is home to some of the most polluted cities in the world and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government has undertaken any study to find the causes of the pollution and its effects on Indian people and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
(c) whether the Government has installed Air Quality Index meters in the country which shows pollution level and if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether the Government proposes to adopt alternative measures like artificial rain in case of severe pollution condition and if so, the details thereof;
(e) whether the Union/State Governments have taken action on the directives of the National Green Tribunal to modify the National Clean Air Programme and if so, the details thereof; and
(f) the short-term and long-term action plan formulated by the Government to reduce the pollution level in the country including the National Capital Region of Delhi?

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

(a) Based on Ambient Air Quality data monitored during 2014-2018 under National Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP), CPCB has identified 122 cities as “Non-attainment cities”. The ambient air quality data of the 122 Non-attainment cities is given at Annexure-I.

(b) As per several studies conducted in major cities across the country the major sources of Air pollution are inter aliaroad dust suspension, vehicles, biomass/garbage burning, construction, industries, etc details are atAnnexureII.

Although, there are no conclusive data available in the country to establish direct correlation of death/disease exclusively due to air pollution. The air pollution is one of the factors affecting respiratory ailments and associated diseases. Health effects of air pollution are synergistic manifestation of factors which include food habits, occupational habits, socio-economic status, medical history, immunity, heredity, etc., of the individuals.

(c) There are 205 Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS)installed in 114 cities across the country,which provides the ambient air quality data for computing the Air quality Index.

(d)to (f) The Central Government has launched National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) under the Central Sector “Control of Pollution” Scheme as a long-term, time-bound, national level strategy to tackle the air pollution problem across the country in a comprehensive manner with targets to achieve 20 % to 30 % reduction in PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations by 2024 keeping 2017 as the base year for the comparison of concentration. Further, Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) and Comprehensive Action Plan (CAP) was notified by the Ministry for strict implementation by concerned agenciesto reduce the pollution levels in National Capital Region of Delhi.

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