(a) whether the Government has allocated funds for pollution control including air quality testing/monitoring in the cities of the country
(b) if so, the details thereof during each of the last three years and the current year, scheme/State-wise including Bihar;
(c) whether the Government is considering the proposal forwarded by the United States of America for monitoring air quality in the country; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(DR. HARSH VARDHAN)
(a) & (b) Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is implementing a number of Schemes for control and prevention of pollution which include National River Conservation Programme (NRCP), National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA), National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Eco-systems (NPCA), Assistance for Abatement of Pollution (AAP), Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs), Creation of Management Structure for Hazardous Substances (CMSHS) and World Bank Aided Capacity Building and Industrial Pollution Management (CBIPM) project under which financial assistance is provided to the State implementing agencies. State-wise details of the funds released during the last three years and the current year under above schemes to state implementing agencies including Bihar are given at Annexure I.
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) is also implementing various projects aimed at control and prevention of water, air and noise pollution in association with State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) and Pollution Control Committees (PCCs). The details of financial assistance provided by CPCB to state implementing agencies under the National Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP) and National Water Quality Monitoring Programme (NWMP) are given at Annexure II and Annexure III respectively.
(c) & (d) Technical discussion have been held with Environment Protection Agency, United States of America regarding air quality management in the country.
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