GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION N0. 65
TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.02.2017
Air Quality
*65. SHRI NALIN KUMAR KATEEL:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) whether the Government is aware that air quality in the country including National Capital
Territory of Delhi and NCR is deteriorating fast and has reached an alarming level and if
so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government has taken steps to tackle the air quality problems in coordination
with the State Governments for reducing the pollution level; and
(c) if so, the details thereof along with the action plan worked out/implemented to ensure air
quality?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI ANIL MADHAV DAVE)
(a) to (c): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
***
Statement referred to in reply to Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 65 due for reply on
07.02.2017 regarding Air Quality' by Shri Nalin Kumar Kateel, Hon'ble Member of
Parliament
(a) Central Pollution Control Board monitors the ambient air quality at 680 monitoring stations
located in 300 cities/towns covering 29 states and 6 union territories across the country under
National Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP). Under NAMP, three air pollutants viz.,
Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) and Particulate Matter size equal to or less than
10 micron (PM10), have been identified for regular monitoring at all the locations. The ambient
air quality data for metro cities including Delhi and NCR cities during 2014-2016 is given at
Annexure-I.
The analysis of air quality data of 42 cities during 2016 with respect to SO2 revealed that all 42
cities are within the NAAQS of 50 µg/m3 (annual standard). As for NO2, out of 42 cities, 12
cities (namely Amritsar, Aurangabad, Delhi, Howrah, KalyanDombovali, Kolkata, Meerut, Navi
Mumbai, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Pune, Thane and Vijaywada) exceed the National Ambient Air
Quality Standards (NAAQS) of 40 µg/m3 annual standard). With respect to PM10, out of 42
cities, 41 cities do not comply with the NAAQS of 60 µg/m3 (annual standard). However, only
Chennai is complying with the National Standard of 60 µg/m3 (annual standard) with respect to
PM10.
The air quality in the National Capital Territory of Delhi and NCR is above the national
standards with respect to Particulate Matter, PM10 & PM2.5. The values for SO2 are within the
NAAQS at all the locations while the values of NOx are within NAAQS at all locations except
Faridabad and Delhi during 2015. The particulate matter concentration was high during
November 2016 – January 2017 because of prevailing meteorological conditions like calm
weather, low temperature, very low wind speed and reduced mixing height, thereby preventing
dispersion of pollutants and leading to accumulation of pollutants. The ambient air quality data
is given at Annexure-II.
(b) & (c) The Government has issued a set of directions under section 18(1)(b) of Air
(Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 for control of air pollution which include
measures relating to control of vehicular emissions; road dust/re-suspension of dust and other
fugitive emissions; bio-mass burning; industrial air pollution; construction and demolition
activities etc. (Annexure-III). Implementation of these directions is being coordinated by Central
Pollution Control Board with State Pollution Control Boards / Pollution Control Committees.
The steps taken by Government to reduce the rising air pollution in cities of the country include
notification of National Ambient Air Quality Standards; formulation of environmental
regulations / statutes; setting up of monitoring network for assessment of ambient air quality;
introduction of cleaner / alternate fuels like gaseous fuel (CNG, LPG etc.), ethanol blending;
promotion of cleaner production processes; launching of National Air Quality index;
universalization of BS-IV by 2017; leapfrogging from BS-IV to BS-VI fuel standards by 1st
April, 2020; comprehensive amendments to various Waste Management Rules and notification
of Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules; banning of burning of leaves,
biomass, municipal solid waste; promotion of public transport and network of metro, erickshaws, promotion of car pooling, Pollution Under Control Certificate, lane discipline, vehicle
maintenance; regular co-ordination meetings at official and ministerial level; issuance of
directions under Section 5 of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986; installation of on-line
continuous (24x7) monitoring devices by major industries; collection of Environmental
Protection Charge on more than 2000 CC diesel vehicles in NCR; ban on bursting of sound
emitting crackers between 10 PM to 6 AM; notification of Graded Response Action Plan for
different levels of air pollution in NCR etc.
******
Annexure I
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARA (a) OF THE LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 65 DUE FOR REPLY ON 07.02.2017 REGARDING AIR
QUALITY BY SHRI NALIN KUMAR KATEEL, HON'BLE MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT
Air quality status of million plus cities for 2014, 2015 and 2016
3
(Annual average (µg/m )
No. of
Stations
6
8
5
2
4
9
SO2
5
13
4
11
12
13
2014
NO2
19
20
28
31
39
30
PM10
178*
84*
250*
145*
85*
139*
SO2
4
13
4
11
13
6
2015
NO2
22
21
26
30
40
20
PM10
186*
89*
250*
148*
83*
119*
SO2
4
17
2
18
22
3
2016
NO2
26
28
39
49*
52*
32
PM10
227*
100*
276*
216*
119*
103*
Bhopal
6
2
21
160*
3
23
158*
3
18
103*
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Dhanbad
Faridabad
Ghaziabad
11
3
11
3
2
2
13
5
5
14
14
27
22
25
61*
36
26
39
57
49
217*
166*
199*
242*
13
4
5
12
15
23
20
25
65*
37
74*
37
59
47
220*
168*
105*
260*
8
4
7
15
14
19
24
65*
37
28
54
67*
260*
226*
239*
Gwalior
2
11
17
144*
10
14
125*
10
13
119*
Howrah
Hydrabad
4
10
9
5
35
24
111*
95*
15
4
43*
23
123*
93*
10
4
57*
23
103*
102*
Indore
3
11
20
143*
11
20
97*
11
20
101*
Jabalpur
2
2
23
73*
9
28
90*
10
21
72*
Jaipur
Jodhpur
KalyanDombivali
Kanpur
Kolkata
Kota
Lucknow
Ludhiana
Madurai
Meerut
Mumbai
Nagpur
Nashik
Navi Mumbai
Patna
PimpriChinchwad
Pune
Raipur
Rajkot
Ranchi
6
6
2
9
10
3
8
4
3
2
3
7
4
6
2
1
3
3
2
1
7
7
40
6
9
7
8
10
13
8
4
11
25
18
22
23
16
13
18
43*
31
77*
34
70*
35
28
26
26
48*
20
25
26
40
41*
45*
41*
19
34
150*
190*
141*
199*
122*
127*
174*
146*
46
154*
96*
103*
72*
151*
93*
92*
329*
82*
197*
7
6
20
6
7
6
8
11
13
4
10
15
18
23
23
13
13
19
36
24
53*
36
56*
34
28
27
25
25
25
23
42*
52*
62*
36
19
36
171*
152*
104*
201*
105*
134*
169*
139*
64*
107*
90*
78*
125*
102*
99*
188*
83*
220*
9
5
25
7
4
7
8
17
15
7
5
13
31
20
40
34
12
14
22
37
24
74*
36
50*
39
35
28
24
56*
25
28
21
48*
82*
85*
32
21
37
224*
170*
138*
220
109*
155*
262*
173*
80*
158*
130*
95*
162*
151*
152*
132*
155*
114*
206*
Shrinagar
0
@
@
@
@
@
@
@
@
@
Surat
3
15
20
89*
14
20
89*
12
18
97*
State
Uttar Pradesh
Gujarat
Uttar Pradesh
Punjab
Maharashtra
Karnataka
Madhya
Pradesh
Tamilnadu
Tamilnadu
Delhi
Jharkhand
Haryana
Uttar Pradesh
Madhya
Pradesh
West Bengal
Telangana
Madhya
Pradesh
Madhya
Pradesh
Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Maharashtra
Uttar Pradesh
West Bengal
Rajasthan
Uttar Pradesh
Punjab
Tamilnadu
Uttar Pradesh
Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Bihar
Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Chattisgarh
Gujarat
Jharkhand
Jammu
&Kashmir
Gujarat
Cities
Agra
Ahmedabad
Allahabad
Amritsar
Aurangabad
Bangalore
Maharashtra
Gujarat
Uttar Pradesh
Maharashtra
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
16 states 1UT
Thane
Vadodara
Varanasi
Vasai-virar
Vijaywada
Vishakhapatnam
46 cities
3
5
5
0
3
8
206
18
15
19
NA
5
13
60*
21
32
NA
24
20
109*
87*
139*
NA
100*
64*
28
14
19
NA
6
9
58*
20
33
NA
37
19
117*
87*
145*
NA
110*
61*
23
15
14
NA
6
8
68*
20
34
NA
44*
18
173*
119*
265*
NA
102*
77*
NB. NA- no monitoring station in the city, @ -monitoring station sanctioned but not yet operational, ‘-‘ data not received, *Concentration
exceeding NAAQS of 50 µg/m3 for SO2, 40 µg/m3 for NO2and 60 µg/m3 for PM10for Residential/ industrial / other area & 20 µg/m3 for SO2, 30
µg/m3 for NO2, and 60 µg/m3 for PM10 Ecologically sensitive area. The data furnished in the table for year 2016 is as available on date.
Annexure II
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARA (a) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 65 DUE FOR REPLY
ON 07.02.2017 REGARDING AIR QUALITY BY SHRI NALIN KUMAR KATEEL, HON'BLE MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT
AMBIENT AIR QUALITY DATA OF DELHI
(Concentration in µg/m3)
Year 
Location 
2012
Pitampura
Sirifort
Janakpuri
Nizamuddin
Shahzadabagh
Shahdara
NAAQS
(Annual)
Location

Year 
SO2
NO2
CO
O3
PM10
PM2.5
NH3
Benzene
2013
2014
2015
2016
SO2
NO2
PM10
PM2.5
SO2
NO2
PM10
PM2.5
SO2
NO2
PM10
PM2.5
SO2
NO2
PM10
PM2.5
SO2
NO2
PM10
PM2.5
5
5
4
4
5
5
44
48
44
42
53
56
206
291
246
187
243
253
67
51
49
44
62
106
4
4
4
4
4
4
45
43
46
42
61
62
206
181
202
165
265
246
63
78
57
66
88
86
4
4
4
4
4
4
40
39
43
40
59
57
195
209
197
188
234
272
89
84
79
74
69
85
5
4
4
4
4
4
37
49
50
44
56
54
241
189
199
225
261
252
119
94
94
83
99
113
6
5
6
5
6
7
40
52
52
46
56
53
262
320
296
253
348
327
145
102
118
109
120
119
50
40
60
40
50
40
60
40
50
40
60
40
50
40
60
40
50
40
60
40
DMS, SHADIPUR
2012
12
53
1317
32
216
12
2013
12
55
1265
27
205
9
2014
12
43
750
31
202
4.5
2015
10
57
772
38
88
2.7
NSIT, DWARKA
2016
2012
8
53
1142
28
185
10
2013
13
37
1086
32
166
8.4
2014
10
44
709
33
214
4.4
2015
9
42
786
39
90
2.7
IHBAS, DILSHAD GARDEN
2016
2012
16
47
1060
243
28
-
2013
14
36
901
222
36
-
2014
11
21
673
193
30
-
2015
10
46
546
93
46
-
2016
NAAQS
(Annual)
50
40
60
100
5
Annexure III
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARA (b) OF THE LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 65 DUE FOR REPLY ON 07.02.2017 REGARDING AIR
QUALITY BY SHRI NALIN KUMAR KATEEL, HON'BLE MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT
List of directions under Section 18(1)(b) of Air (Prevention and Control of
Pollution) Act, 1981
A.)
Sl.
i)
ii)
iii)
iv)
v)
vi)
vii)
viii)
ix)
x)
xi)
xii)
xiii)
xiv)
xv)
xvi)
xvii)
(B)
Sl.
i)
ii)
iii)
iv)
v)
vi)
(C)
Sl.
i)
Control of Vehicular Emissions:
Action Points
Launch extensive awareness drive against polluting vehicles;
Ensure Strict action against visibly polluting vehicles;
Install weigh in motion bridges at Delhi borders to prevent overloading;
Take steps to prevent parking of vehicles in the non-designated areas;
Introduce early alarm system for benefit of commuters related to traffic
congestion on major routes for route diversion ;
Consider introducing plan for Flexi/staggered timings to minimize peak
movement of vehicles on the road;
Take steps for retrofitting of diesel vehicles with Particulate Filters;
De-congest pathways;
Synchronize traffic movements / Introduce intelligent traffic systems for lanedriving;
Install vapor recovery system in fueling stations
Take steps for installation of remote sensor based PUC system etc.;
Formulate action plan for controlling decongestion of fuel stations including
increasing number of dispensing machines;
Prepare action plan to check fuel adulteration and random monitoring of fuel
quality data;
Prepare action plan for public transport on CNG mode;
Undertake road widening and improvement of infrastructure for decongestion
of road;
Promote battery operated vehicles;
Take steps to expedite early completion of Western and Eastern Peripheral
expressway and submit completion schedule
Time Frame
Immediate
Immediate
Immediate
Immediate
Immediate
Immediate
Immediate
Immediate
30 days
30 days
90 days
90 days
90 days
90 days
90 days
90 days
60 days
Control of Road Dust/Re-suspension of dust and other fugitive emission:
Action Points
Formulate action plan for creation of green buffers along the traffic corridors;
Introduce wet/ mechanized vacuum sweeping of roads;
Maintain pot holes free roads for free-flow of traffic to reduce emissions and
dust;
Introduce water fountains at major traffic intersection, wherever feasible;
Undertake greening of open areas, gardens, community places, schools and
housing societies.
Take steps for blacktopping / pavement of road shoulders to avoid road dust;
Time Frame
Immediate
30 days
60 days
90 days
90 days
180 days
Control of Air Pollution from Bio-Mass Burning:
Action Points
Time Frame
Take stringent action against open burning of bio-mass/leaves/tyresetc to Immediate
control such activities and submit periodic status reports;
ii)
iii)
iv)
(D)
Sl.
i)
ii)
iii)
iv)
(E)
Sl.
i)
ii)
iii)
(F)
Sl.
i)
ii)
iii)
iv)
v)
vi)
vii)
viii)
Ensure proper collection of horticulture waste (bio-mass) and composting– Immediate
cum-gardening approach;
Ensure strict enforcement of ban on burning of agriculture waste and crop Immediate
residues
Prohibit use of coal in hotels and restaurants and eliminate use of kerosene 60 days
for cooking in Delhi;
Control of Industrial Air Pollution;
Action Points
Ensure strict action against unauthorized brick kilns
Ensure strict action against industrial units not complying with standards;
Enforce strict compliance of conversion of Natural draft brick kilns to induceddraft;
Launch action plan for switching over to natural gas by industries, wherever
feasible.
Control of Air Pollution from Construction and Demolition Activities:
Action Points
Control dust pollution at construction sites through appropriate cover
Undertake control measures for fugitive emissions from material handling,
conveying and screening operations through water sprinkling, curtains,
barriers and dust suppression units;
Ensure carriage of construction material in closed/covered vessels;
Other Steps to control Air Pollution
Action Points
Set-up helpline in States/UT for taking action against reported noncompliance;
Evolve a system of reporting of garbage /municipal solid waste burning
through mobile based applications and other social media platform linked
with Central and State Level Control Rooms;
Establish Standard Operating Procedure to provide quick and effective
response to complaints
Take steps for maximizing coverage of LPG / PNG for domestic cooking
purposes with intention of achieving 100%;
Ensure DG sets meeting the standards only be allowed to operate
Promote use of LPG instead of coal in restaurants/ dhabas/ road side
eateries;
Undertake Satellite based monitoring for tracking and enforcing agriculture
waste burning;
Take steps for setting up of bio-mass based power generation units to avoid
bio-mass burning.
******
Time Frame
30 days
60 days
90 days
120 days
Time Frame
Immediate
30 days
30 days
Time Frame
Immediate
30 days
30 days
90 days
30 days
90 days
90 days
One year