Question : Funds for Air Pollution

(a) whether it is a fact that the level of air pollutionhas increased significantly in varous parts of the countryincluding Delhi in comparison to the last three years, ifso, the details thereof;
(b) the steps taken by the Government to ensurethat the issues of high pollution do not occur in theNCT again in the context of Supreme Court ban on industrial and contruction activities in the months ofNovember and December, 2021;
(c) whether the Ministry has been alloted funds under Union Budget 2020-21 for tackling of air pollutionin Delhi NCR, if so, the details thereof including theallocation for the last three financial years;
(d) whether it is a fact that the polluted air fromPakistan is affecting Delhi, if so, the details thereofincluding the findings/research/scientific experiments inthis regard; and
(e) whether the Government is considering to makeany changes in the current policy to monitor the pollutionin view of the increasing level of air pollution, if so, thedetails thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a) Air Quality Index (AQI) data of Delhi indicates an improvement in air quality from year 2019 to 2021, as number days in Good, Satisfactory, Moderate category have increased in the year 2021 as compared to 2019. Air Quality Index of major metropolitan cities for the last three years in India is given at Annexure I.

Analysis of ambient air quality data of Particulate Matter (Size less than 10µm) of 132 non-attainment / metropolitan cities indicated, 36 cities showed an increase of PM10 concentration in 2020-2021 as compared to 2019-2020 whereas96 cities showed a decrease of PM10 concentration (i.e. Improvement in air quality). Details are given at Annexure II.

(b) The Government has constituted a Commission on Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM)for better co-ordination, research, identification and resolution of problems surrounding the air quality index and for matters concerning air pollution in the National Capital Region. In compliance of the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Courton industrial and construction activities in the months of November and December, 2021, Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas(CAQM) issued directions for taking more stringent steps to control air pollution due to construction activities, industries, transport, thermal power plant etc.

The steps taken by the Government to reduce the air in NCR & Adjoining Areas isgiven at Annexure-III.

(c)The allocation of fund under Union Budget for tackling of air pollution in Delhi NCR is Rs. 30 Crore, Rs. 5 Crore, Rs. 53.49 Crore for Financial Year 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22 respectively.

(d) There is no study carried out to support that the polluted air from Pakistan is affecting air quality of Delhi.

(e) The ambient air quality monitoring in the country is conducted as per the methodology and measurement methods notified in the National Ambient Air Quality Standards.The Government has taken cognizance of air quality issues in the country. Non-attainment cities have been identified based on ambient air quality levels exceeding National Ambient Air Quality Standards for 05 consecutive years. City Specific Clean Air Action Plans have been prepared and rolled out for implementation in 132 non-attainments and million plus cities. These action plans focus on city specific short/ medium/ long term actions to control air pollution from sources such as vehicular emission, road dust, burning of biomass/ crop/ garbage/ Municipal Solid Waste, landfills, construction activities, industrial emission, etc.

Under NCAP, actions for mitigation such as promoting of electric vehicles, establishment of C&D management facilities, shifting to PNG/CNG; knowledge and database augmentation such as strengthening of ambient air quality monitoring stations, emission inventory, source apportionment studies, review of standards and institutional strengthening such public awareness, constitution of national knowledge network and intuitional frameworks are being undertaken for air quality management.



*****