OIH
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 35
TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.11.2015
Making Delhi pollution-free
35.
SHRI NARESH AGRAWAL:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) whether Delhi from environmental point of view is extremely polluted, in spite of being the
capital of the country;
(b) if so, the steps being taken by Government to make the capital pollution free; and
(c) if not, the level of pollution in the major cities of the country including Delhi?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)
(a)
Delhi faces problems of environmental pollution. Ambient air quality is affected due to
vehicular and industrial pollution, construction related activities, road dust etc. The other main
reasons include discharge of large quantities of untreated / partially treated sewage and
generation of huge quantum of municipal solid waste.
(b)
The major steps taken to minimize pollution include:
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Notification of National Ambient Air Quality Standards 2009, envisaging 12 pollutants.
Setting up of monitoring network for assessment of ambient air quality.
Execution of source apportionment studies in select cities and formulation of action plans
for air quality in cities.
Introduction of cleaner/alternate fuel like CNG, LPG etc. and promotion of public
transport network including Metro.
The Government after realizing the gravity of pollution have taken following more concrete
measures:
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Implementation of Bharat Stage IV norms in the 63 selected cities and Bharat Stage III
norms in rest of the country.
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National Air Quality Index was launched by the Prime Minister in April, 2015 starting
with 10 cities.
Launching of Clean India Mission (Swatch Bharat Abhiyan).
Banning of burning of leaves/ biomass.
Relevant draft rules, including those pertaining to construction and demolition waste,
have been notified.
Draft Rules for handling and management of municipal waste have been notified.
Regular co-ordination meetings are being held at official and ministerial level with Delhi
and other State Governments within the National Capital Region (NCR) 6th April, 13th
April and on 24th July, 2015 to control air pollution in NCR adopting air-shed approach.
Short-term plan has been reviewed and long-term plans have been formulated by states to
mitigate pollution in NCR.
Construction of Eastern and Western Expressways is given high priority for completion.
Stringent industrial standards have been formulated and notified for public/ stakeholders
comments.
Government is giving high priority for public partnership in lane discipline, car pooling,
vehicle maintenance, pollution under control certification etc.
Out of 3386 major industries, 1782 industries have installed on-line continuous (24x7)
monitoring devices; others are in process of installing.
In order to improvise the water quality of river Yamuna, the Delhi Jal Board has initiated
reuse and recycling of 90 MGD (420MLD) waste water for horticulture, irrigation, power
plant, golf courses etc.
Delhi Jal Board has proposed 667 MLD of additional treatment capacity to be
commissioned by 2015.
Laying of Interceptor Sewer along the three major drains of Delhi.
(c)
The Air Quality status of the major cities in the country during last three years is given
below:
Annual average (µg/m3)
S.
City
State
2012
2013
2014
No
SO2 NO2 PM10 SO2 NO2 PM10 SO2 NO2 PM10
.
1.
4.
Bangalore
(BBMP)
Chennai
Delhi
(DMC)
Kolkata
5.
Mumbai
2.
3.
Karnataka
14
28
121*
13
26
113*
13
30
Tamilnadu
Delhi
12
5
21
59*
57
237*
14
4
22 75*
66* 221*
15
5
21 66
61* 215*
West
12
Bengal
Maharashtra 5
70*
135*
11
70* 159*
15
IA
107*
20
117*
3
13
4
20
95*
117*
140*
IA – Inadequate Data
* - Concentration exceeding NAAQS of 50µg/m3 for SO2, 40 µg/m3 for NO2 and 60 µg/m3 for
PM10 for residential/industrial/other area and 20µg/m3 for SO2, 30 µg/m3 for NO2 and 60 µg/m3
for Ecologically sensitive area.
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