Executive Summary:
This document addresses air pollution, coastal management, land use, and biodiversity preservation in India. It outlines actions taken by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and associated bodies. Key initiatives include the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) and the implementation of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notifications. The document also references the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 and the role of State Land Use Boards.
Key Points / Main Content:
Air Pollution Control:
* The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has demarcated critically and severely polluted areas based on the Comprehensive Environment Pollution Index (CEPI).
* CPCB has directed State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) to prepare and implement action plans to reduce CEPI scores.
* The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, provides legal provisions for controlling air pollution, tasking CPCB with planning nationwide programs, setting air quality standards, and advising the central government.
* State Governments have the power to declare and regulate air pollution control areas.
* SPCBs advise State Governments on pollution control, set air quality and emission standards, inspect control areas, and regulate industrial pollution.
* The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), launched in 2019, aims to improve air quality in 130 non-attainment and Million-Plus Cities.
* Performance-linked grants totaling ₹13,036.52 crore have been provided to 130 cities to implement air quality improvement measures.
* The NCAP leverages convergence with other government schemes and resources from various bodies.
* ₹5,318 crore has been provided to 8 States/UTs in the Indo-Gangetic Plain for city action plans.
* State Governments can mobilize resources through financial instruments for urban infrastructure and air pollution mitigation.
Coastal Management:
* The MoEFCC has been implementing Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notifications, with the current CRZ Notification of 2019 emphasizing the conservation of Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs).
* Coastal States and UTs must update their Coastal Zone Management Plans (CZMPs) in line with the 2019 Notification and submit them for approval.
* The 2011 Notification provisions remain in effect until the updated plans are approved.
* CZMPs for Odisha, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Kerala, and ICRZPs for Great Nicobar and Little Andaman have been approved under the 2019 Notification.
Land Use:
* State Land Use Boards (SLUBs) are constituted by State Governments under Town Planning and Land Development laws.
* The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development provides guidelines for sustainable regional and urban planning, including land use planning.
Biodiversity Preservation:
* Section 37 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 empowers State Governments to notify biodiversity heritage sites based on recommendations from State Biodiversity Boards.
* State Governments, in consultation with the Central Government, can frame rules for the management and conservation of these sites.
* The Central Government is mandated to assess the environmental impact of projects affecting biodiversity and provide for public participation in such assessments.
Impact Analysis:
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB):
* Impact: Responsible for demarcating polluted areas, issuing directions to SPCBs, planning pollution control programs, setting standards, and advising the central government.
* Action Required: Continue to monitor CEPI scores, enforce regulations, and support SPCBs in implementing action plans.
State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs):
* Impact: Responsible for preparing and implementing action plans to reduce pollution, advising State Governments, setting standards, inspecting control areas, and regulating industrial pollution.
* Action Required: Develop and implement effective action plans, enforce regulations, and monitor air quality.
State Governments:
* Impact: Have statutory power to declare and regulate air pollution control areas, mobilize resources for pollution mitigation, constitute SLUBs, notify biodiversity heritage sites, and frame rules for their management.
* Action Required: Utilize statutory powers to control air pollution, mobilize resources, implement sustainable planning practices, and conserve biodiversity.
Coastal States and Union Territories:
* Impact: Required to revise and update their Coastal Zone Management Plans (CZMPs) and Island Coastal Regulation Zone Plans (ICRZPs) in line with the updated provisions of CRZ Notification 2019.
* Action Required: Update and submit CZMPs and ICRZPs for approval to the Ministry.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC):
* Impact: Responsible for implementing CRZ Notifications, overseeing NCAP, and providing guidelines for sustainable planning.
* Action Required: Continue to implement and enforce environmental regulations, provide support to States and UTs, and monitor the effectiveness of implemented programs.
Key Entities Referenced
Air Prevention and Control of Pollution Act, 1981: A key Indian legislation providing the legal framework for controlling air pollution.
National Clean Air Programme NCAP: An initiative launched in January 2019 by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change MoEFCC to improve air quality in 130 non-attainment and MillionPlus Cities in 24 StatesUTs.
Indo Gangetic Plain: A region in India that is focus of air quality improvement measures and receives funds under NCAP for city action plans.
Central Pollution Control Board CPCB: The central body responsible for demarcating polluted areas and issuing directions to State Pollution Control Boards to prepare action plans.
Coastal Regulation Zone CRZ Notification: A notification implemented by MoEFCC since 1991, which has been updated to emphasize conservation and management of Ecologically Sensitive Areas ESAs.
Odisha: A state in India for which the Coastal Zone Management Plans CZMPs have been approved by the Ministry under the 2019 Notification.
Biodiversity Act, 2002: An act that empowers State Government to notify areas of biodiversity importance as biodiversity heritage sites based on recommendations from State Biodiversity Board.
State Land Use Boards SLUBs: Boards constituted by State Governments under respective Town Planning and Land Development laws to understand and decide the utility of the land.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2430
TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.08.2025
Air Pollution
2430. MS MAHUA MOITRA:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) the reasons that the Government is not proposing to regulate the statutorily mandated
"Air Pollution Control Areas" and instead is experimenting with huge loan driven air
shed management strategy in the Indo Gangetic plain;
(b) whether there is a need to rehaul the Air Act, 1981 and move away from only
programmatic approaches to curb air pollution which has become such a hazardous and
lethal means affecting public health;
(c) whether the Government is proposing to bring a robust Coastal Management Act for the
country, if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether the Government proposes to revive the State Land Use Boards (SLUBs) to
understand and decide the utility of the land in the most efficient way to curb unbridled
and unplanned growth;
(e) whether the Government proposes to recommend all the States to formulate the
Biodiversity Heritage Rules, and prepare a management plan for Biodiversity Heritage
Sites under Section 37 of Biodiversity Act, 2002;
(f) whether the Government proposes to implement Biodiversity Impact Assessment
process with robust framework to preserve Biodiversity Heritage; and
(g) if so, the details thereof particularly focusing on amending the provisions of the Act
which allows exemption to certain infrastructural Rail and Road projects?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) & (b): Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) have demarcated the critically polluted
areas and severally polluted areas in the country based on the Comprehensive Environment
Pollution Index (CEPI). Central Pollution Control Board under the powers conferred section
18(1) of Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 has issued directions to the State
Pollution Control Boards to prepare action plans and implement to bring down CEPI scores in
the critically as well as severally polluted areas. Further, Air (Prevention and Control of
Pollution) Act, 1981 has provided sufficient legal provisions for the Central Government,Central Pollution Control Board, State Governments and the State Pollution Control Boards
(SPCB) to control and abatement of air pollution.
Under the said Act, Central Pollution Control Board has been mandated to plan and execute
nationwide programme for prevention, control and abatement of pollution, laydown standards
for quality of air and establish laboratories to perform its functions. CPCB also advises central
government on matter concerning improvement of air quality.
State Government has been provided statutory power under the Act to declare air pollution
control areas or alter any air pollution control area. Further, the State Government may issue
directions to regulate and prohibit the use of any appliance used in such air pollution control
area. Also, State Government may prohibit use of any fuel other than approved fuels in such
air pollution control areas.
State Pollution Control Board under the said Act has been provided the mandate to advise the
State Government regarding matters concerning prevention and control of pollution and
suitability of location for carrying on any industries likely to cause air pollution, lay down
standards for air quality, standards for emission of air pollutants from industrial plants and
automobiles or for the discharge of any pollutant and from any other source, to inspect the air
pollution control areas, to plan and execute comprehensive plan for control and abatement of
air pollution, regulate the industrial pollution through consent and, to collect and disseminate
information related to air pollution.
To address air pollution in urban areas, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
(MoEF&CC) launched National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) in January 2019 and it aims to
improve air quality in 130 non-attainment and Million-Plus Cities in 24 States/UTs.
Performance linked grant of ₹ 13,036.52 crore has been provided to 130 cities during 2019-20
till date, as a critical gap funding to implement air quality improvement measures. The focused
actions by 130 cities under NCAP have shown positive results with 103 cities showing
reduction in PM10 concentration in 2024-25 with respect to 2017-18, out of which 64 cities
have shown reduction in PM10 levels by more than 20% and 25 of these cities have achieved
a reduction of more than 40%. A total of 22 Cities have met National Ambient Air Quality
Standards (NAAQS) and have PM10 Concentrations less than 60 µg/m3.
Further, the programme leverages mobilisation of resources through convergence of various
schemes of Central Government such as Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban), AMRUT, Smart City
Mission, PM e-Bus Sewa, Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation
(SATAT), and Nagar Van Yojana, as well as resources of State Govts. / UT administration,
Municipal Corporations and other developmental authorities for implementation of action
plans. Under NCAP, an amount of Rs. 5,318 crore have been provided to 8 States/UTs that are
part of Indo-Gangetic Plain to implement city action plan of 41 targeted cities. Further, State
action plans have been prepared by all 8 States/UTs of IGP region to implement air quality
improvement measures.In addition to the funds provided under NCAP as well as Central Government Schemes, State
Governments, if required, may mobilise resources through various financial instruments such
as Green Municipal Bonds, Green Debt Securities, Public Private Partnership projects and soft
loans as per their needs to develop urban infrastructure and to implement air pollution
mitigation measures.
(c): MoEFCC has been implementing the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification since
1991. This was later replaced by the CRZ/IPZ Notification, 2011, and subsequently by the
CRZ/ICRZ Notification, 2019, which places greater emphasis on the conservation and
management of Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs).
Under the 2019 Notification, all coastal States and Union Territories are required to revise and
update their Coastal Zone Management Plans (CZMPs), Island Coastal Regulation Zone Plans
(ICRZPs), or Integrated Island Management Plans (IIMPs) in line with the updated provisions
and submit them for approval to the Ministry. Until these plans are approved, the 2011
Notification provisions continue to apply. As of now, the CZMPs for Odisha, Karnataka,
Maharashtra, and Kerala, and the ICRZPs for Great Nicobar and Little Andaman have been
approved by the Ministry under the 2019 Notification.
(d): State Land Use Boards are constituted by State Govt. under respective Town Planning and
Land Development laws. Ministry of Housing and Urban Development issued ‘Urban and
Regional Development Plans Formulation and Implementation Guidelines’ for adoption by
State Govts. to promote sustainable regional and urban planning and development including
land use planning.
(e), (f) & (g):
Section 37 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 (as amended in 2023) empowers State
Government to notify areas of biodiversity importance as biodiversity heritage sites based on
recommendations from State Biodiversity Board. Further, Section 37 enables the State
Government in consultation with the Central Government to frame rules for the management
and conservation of all the biodiversity heritage sites.
Clause (i) of sub-section (4) of Section 36 of the said Act, mandates the Central Government to
undertake measures for the assessment of environmental impact of a project likely to have an
adverse effect on biological diversity, with a view to avoid or minimise such effects, wherever
required and provide for public participation in such assessment, where appropriate.
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