Question : Implementation of National Clean Air Programme

(a) whether the Government has assessed the impact of the National Clean Air Programme on reducing the pollution emitted from various sources and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government has increased its target of reducing PM 2.5 and PM 10 concentration as per the directions of the National Green Tribunal;
(c) if so, the details of the new revised/improved target along with the manner in which the present implementation of the National Clean Air Programme will be affected to meet the new targets;
(d) whether the Diesel Generators (DGs) have been recognized as one of the major sources of PM pollution, contributing 7-18 per cent of the total pollution and if so, the details thereof;
(e) whether the Ministry has implemented the directions of the National Green Tribunal order, to retrofit emission control devices on all operational DG sets, if so, the details thereof; and
(f) whether the order of NGT has been implemented across all Public Sector Undertakings under his Ministry and Pollution Control Board of Jammu and Kashmir, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu and if so, the details thereof?

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

(a) to (c) The Central Government launched the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) as a long-term, time-bound, national level strategy aiming to reduce PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations by 20 % to 30 % by 2024, keeping 2017 as the base year. As per the directives of the National Green Tribunal(NGT), the targets of NCAP have been revisited in the perspective of global scenario and the targets initially laid down are proposed to be retained for the period up to 2024.
City specific action plans have been prepared for ground implementation in all non-attainment cities. Steering, Monitoring and Implementation Committees have been constituted at central level and state level for overall guidance, policy formulation and implementation of NCAP. CPCB is assisting the State Governments in formulation, implementation and monitoring of the city specific action plans.

(d) to (f) Several studies have been conducted to identify major air pollution sources and their contributions to ambient air pollution levels in the country. The major sources of particulate matter are road dust suspension, vehicles, biomass/garbage burning, construction, industries, DG sets etc. Based on such studies, contributions of DG sets to particulate matter ranged between 3-18%.
In accordance with the directions of NGT,retro fitting of DG sets with the emission control devices has been covered under the city specific action plans in respect of non-attainment cities, including cities in Jammu and Kashmir, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.

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