Question : Pollution in Cities

(a) whether pollution has reached critical levels in several cities of the country including Delhi and Boisar city of Maharashtra notwithstanding several programmes being run by the Government to save environment and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government is working at national or international level to formulate any scheme to make these cities pollution free permanently and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has identified the most polluted city of the country, where the air quality is at critical level and if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether any coordination has been set up with the State Governments in this regard and if so, the details thereof; and
(e) whether any talks have been held with the State Government of Maharashtra to make the Boisar city of Maharashtra pollution free and save human life there and if so, the details thereof along with the guidelines issued by the Central Pollution Control Board in this regard?

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

(a) to (e)Central Pollution Control Board identified 122 non-attainment cities based on ambient air quality data for the period 2014 – 2018.The ambient air quality data of the 122 Non-attainment cities is given at Annexure-I. Non-attainment cities include Delhi and 18 cities of Maharashtra (Akola, Amravati, Aurangabad, Badlapur, Chandrapur, Jalgaon, Jalna, Kolhapur, Latur, Nagpur, Sangli, Mumbai, Nashik, Navi Mumbai, Pune, Solapur, Thane and Ulhasnagar). Ambient Air Quality for Boisar is not available with CPCB since it is not covered under NAMP network.

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has launched National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) on 10 January, 2019 as a national level strategy for pan India implementation to reduce air pollution levels across the country. Taking into account the available international experiences and national studies, the tentative national level target of 20%–30% reduction of PM2.5 and PM10 concentration by 2024 is proposed under the NCAP.The states/UTs with non-attainment cities were directed to formulateand implement city specific action plan for reducing the air pollution. Further, under NCAP Sates have been directed to constitute several committees at State level namely Steering Committee headed by Chief Secretary of the State; Monitoring Committee headed by Pr. Secretary (Environment) of the State Government; and Implementation Committee headed by either District Magistrate or Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation for implementation and monitoring of the city specific action plans to reduce air pollution. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change vide Notifications No. S.O. 157(E) of 27.02.1996 and S.O 730 (E) dated 10.07.2002, has delegated the powers vested under section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to the Chairman, Central Pollution Control Board, to issue directions to any industry or any local body or any other authority for violations of emission and effluent standards and rules notified under the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986 and amendment thereof. Further under the Air (Prevention and Control Pollution) Act, 1981 the State pollution controlboardsarevested with the powers for prevention, control or abetment of air pollution.
***