Question raised in Lok Sabha on Air Quality, 07/02/2017. 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 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. 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).