Executive Summary:
In response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1377, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change details measures to combat air pollution in industrial areas, particularly in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. These measures are part of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) launched in 2019, targeting a 40% reduction in particulate matter by 2025-26. The policy outlines actions taken by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) to monitor pollution and promote clean energy adoption.
Key Points / Main Content:
National Clean Air Programme (NCAP):
Launched in 2019 to reduce air pollution levels nationwide, including Visakhapatnam.
Targets up to 40% reduction in Particulate Matter levels from FY 2019-20 levels by 2025-26 or achievement of national standards (60 µg/m3).
Identification of Non-Attainment Cities:
CPCB identified 130+ non-attainment cities (exceeding National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for five consecutive years).
Includes 13 cities in Andhra Pradesh: Guntur, Kurnool, Nellore, Vijayawada, Vishakhapatnam, Anantapur, Chitoor, Eluru, Kadapa, Ongole, Rajahmundry, Srikakulam, and Vizianagaram.
City-specific Clean Air Action Plans have been prepared and rolled out for implementation in all 130+ non-attainment cities to improve air quality.
Pollution Monitoring and Classification:
CPCB directs State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) and Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) to conduct CEPI monitoring in Severely Polluted Areas (SPAs) and Critically Polluted Areas (CPAs) during pre- and post-monsoon seasons.
CPCB classifies sectors/activities under color-coded categories based on pollution potential.
Classification includes incentives for units adopting environment-friendly practices (e.g., cleaner fuels, renewable energy).
Emission Standards and Consents:
SPCBs/PCCs impose emission standards on industries for granting Consent to Establish/Operate, as per the Air Act, 1981 and the Water Act, 1974.
Andhra Pradesh Specific Actions:
APPCB prepared an action plan in 2020 to mitigate environmental pollution.
Stringent standards imposed on industries in Andhra Pradesh, especially in Visakhapatnam, for Particulate Matter, Sulphur Dioxide, and Fluorine.
Industries in Pharma city, Parawada, and APIIC, Atchuthapuram have installed bag filters (regardless of boiler capacity) and online emission monitoring systems connected to APPCB for real-time data verification.
Clean Energy Initiatives in Andhra Pradesh:
Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) is supplying PNG to 10 industries in Duvvada, Atchuthapuram, and Parawada via pipelines.
Coromandel International Ltd. generates 21 MW power from waste heat recovery of Sulphuric Acid Plants.
Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) Visakh Refinery uses low sulphur fuels, Sulphur Recovery Units (SRUs), Carbon monoxide (CO) boilers, Amine treatment facilities, Flare Gas Recovery Units (FGRUs), and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) removal system and operates green hydrogen project Demo Plant (370 TPA).
RINL generates power from waste heat/pressure recovery of coke oven, blast furnace gas, and LD gas.
Kanoria Chemicals Industries Ltd. has installed Waste Heat recovery Boilers.
Visakhapatnam Port Authority operates 10 MW solar power generation.
Simhadri Super Thermal Power Project (NTPC Limited) operates 25 MW Floating solar power plant.
Waste to Energy plant operated by Jindal Urban Waste Management in Visakhapatnam covers 27 ULBs by utilizing solid waste (1372 TPD) as fuel for generating electrical power.
Impact Analysis:
Government of India (Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change):
Impact: Responsible for setting national policies and strategies to combat air pollution and promote clean energy.
Action Required: Continue to oversee and support the implementation of NCAP and related initiatives, monitor progress, and adjust strategies as needed.
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB):
Impact: Plays a key role in identifying non-attainment cities, setting standards, and directing SPCBs/PCCs.
Action Required: Continue to monitor pollution levels, enforce standards, and provide guidance and support to SPCBs/PCCs.
State Pollution Control Boards/Pollution Control Committees (SPCBs/PCCs):
Impact: Responsible for implementing national policies at the state level, monitoring pollution, and enforcing standards on industries.
Action Required: Conduct CEPI monitoring, impose emission standards, and ensure compliance by industries.
Industries in Andhra Pradesh (Especially in Visakhapatnam):
Impact: Subject to stringent emission standards and required to adopt cleaner technologies.
Action Required: Install bag filters and online emission monitoring systems, comply with emission standards, and adopt cleaner energy sources where feasible.
Local Communities (Including Economically Weaker Sections):
Impact: Directly affected by air quality and health outcomes.
Action Required: No direct action required but will benefit from improved air quality due to the implementation of these measures.
Key Entities Referenced
National Clean Air Programme NCAP: A national level strategy launched in 2019 by the Government to reduce air pollution levels across the country.
Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh: A city in Andhra Pradesh, specifically mentioned as a focus area for air pollution mitigation efforts.
Central Pollution Control Board CPCB: A government organization that has identified 130 million plus nonattainment cities exceeding National Ambient Air Quality Standards NAAQS.
National Ambient Air Quality Standards NAAQS: Standards for ambient air quality, which are exceeded in 130 cities identified by the CPCB.
Air Act, 1981: A law under which State Pollution Control Boards and Pollution Control Committees impose emission standards on industries.
Water Act, 1974: A law under which State Pollution Control Boards and Pollution Control Committees impose emission standards on industries.
Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board APPCB: The state pollution control board that has prepared action plans to mitigate environmental pollution in Andhra Pradesh.
Indian Oil Corporation Limited IOCL: A corporation laying pipelines for supplying PNG to industries located in Atchuthapuram Parawada.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1377
TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.07.2025
Air Pollution Mitigation in Industrial Areas
1377. SHRI P.V. MIDHUN REDDY:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) the details of the measures taken/being taken by the Government to combat air pollution
in industrial areas of Andhra Pradesh, particularly in Visakhapatnam;
(b) the impact of these measures on the health of local communities, especially those from
economically weaker sections; and
(c) the details of plans to promote clean energy adoption in these industrial clusters?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE
CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) to (c):
Government has launched National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) in 2019 as a national level
strategy to reduce air pollution levels across the country including Visakhapatnam city in Andhra
Pradesh. NCAP targets to achieve reduction in Particulate Matter level up to 40% from the levels
of FY 19-20 or achievement of national standards (60 µg/m3) by 2025-26.
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has identified 130 million plus/non-attainment cities
(cities exceeding National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), consecutively for five
years) including 13 cities namely Guntur, Kurnool, Nellore, Vijayawada, Vishakhapatnam,
Anantapur, Chitoor, Eluru, Kadapa, Ongole, Rajahmundry, Srikakulam, and Vizianagaram cities
of Andhra Pradesh. City Specific Clean Air Action Plans have been prepared and rolled out for
implementation in all these 130 non-attainment/million plus cities to improve the air quality.
CPCB issued directions to all SPCBs/PCC to conduct the CEPI monitoring in all Severely
Polluted Areas (SPAs) and Critically Polluted Areas (CPAs) during pre-monsoon and post
monsoon seasons of every year based on the revised CEPI concept, 2016 to evaluate CEPI
scores.
Further, CPCB classifies various sectors/activities under colour coded categories based on theirpollution potential (Classification-2025). The Classification-2025 includes incentive mechanism
for the units in any sector that adopt environment friendly practices such as use of 100% cleaner
fuel/renewal energy etc. and ensuring continuous compliance.
The State Pollution Control Boards and Pollution Conrol Committees (SPCBs/ PCCs) impose
emission standards on the industries for granting prior consent (Consent to Establish/ Consent to
Operate), as per the provisions of the Air Act, 1981, apart from the Water Act, 1974.
During 2020, Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) has prepared action plan to
mitigate environmental pollution. In addition, APPCB has imposed stringent standards on the
industries operating in Andhra Pradesh and, especially, the Visakhapatnam Industrial area, in
respect of, inter alia, Particulate Matter, Sulphur Dioxide and Flourine.
All the industries located in Pharma city, Parawada and APIIC, Atchuthapuram areas have
installed bag filter irrespective of boiler capacity and boiler capacity > 10 TPH have installed
online emission monitoring system, which is connected with APPCB to verify the real time data.
If any non-compliance is found, alert is sent to the defaulting industry for rectification.
Andhra Pradesh has adopted clean energy initiatives, inter alia, through the following measures:
i. There are 250 major industries located in Visakhapatnam & Anakapalli districts. As per
the government policy, the Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) has laid pipelines for
supplying PNG to the industries located in Atchuthapuram & Parawada. The IOCL is
supplying PNG to 10 industries in Duvvada, Atchthapuram & Parawada.
ii. M/s. Coromandel International Ltd., Sriharipuram, Malkapuram (PO), Visakhapatnam
District is generating 21 MW power from the waste heat recovery of the Sulphuric Acid
Plants.
iii. M/s Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (Visakh Refinery), Malkapuram,
Visakhapatnam is using Fuel oil of Sulphur content less than 0.5% and Fuel gas of
sulphur content less than 100ppm is used as fuel for furnaces. The refinery uses fuels
with low sulphur content like Low Sulphur Heavy Stock (LSHS), Naphtha and treated
Fuel Gas (FG) to maintain SOx emissions within norms. Sulphur Recovery Units (SRUs)
are also installed to recover sulphur for sour gases and thus reduce the SOx emissions.
Carbon monoxide (CO) boilers are installed to eliminate CO emissions. Amine treatment
facilities are provided in Crude Distillation Units (CDUs) to treat the hot-well off gases.
Flare Gas Recovery Units (FGRUs) are installed to control flare loss. Volatile Organic
Compounds (VOCs) removal system is provided in Integrated Effluent Treatment Plant
(IETP) to eliminate VOC emissions. The HPCL has installed & operating green hydrogen
project (Demo Plant) – 370 TPA.iv. RINL is generating 15-20 MW power from waste heat recovery of coke oven gas, 7-10
MW power from waste pressure recovery of blast furnace gas, 100 MW power from
waste gas recovery of blast furnace. LD gas generated is used as fuel to the rolling mills.
v. M/s. Kanoria Chemicals & Industries Ltd., Plot No. 32, J.N. Pharma City, Parawada,
Anakapalli District has installed Waste Heat recovery Boilers of 8 TPH & 1 TPH.
vi. M/s. Visakhapatnam Port Authority, Visakhapatnam has installed & is operating 10 MW
solar power generation.
vii. M/s. Simhadri Super Thermal Power Project (Stage I & II), NTPC Limited, Parawada,
Anakapalli District has installed and is operating 25 MW Floating solar power plant on
raw water reservoir inside the plant area.
viii. Waste to Energy plant was established & operated by Jindal Urban Waste Management
in Visakhapatnam covering 27 ULBs by utilizing solid waste as fuel source for
generating electrical power of 1372 TPD.
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