Executive Summary:
This document, a response to a parliamentary question, details the air quality in Delhi NCR, steps taken by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to manage air quality, and measures to address environmental issues related to poultry farms and slaughterhouses. It includes air quality data from 2024 and references guidelines and actions implemented by the CPCB and other stakeholders. The document highlights ongoing monitoring and enforcement actions, particularly concerning stubble burning, industrial emissions, and construction/demolition waste.
Key Points / Main Content:
Air Quality Monitoring:
* Air quality is monitored via Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) in Indirapuram, Vasundhara, Anand Vihar, and Patparganj; data for 2024 (SO2, NO2, PM10, PM2.5) is provided.
* Air pollution is attributed to vehicular, industrial, construction/demolition activities, road dust, biomass burning, and municipal solid waste burning.
* CPCB operates a centralized air quality monitoring portal providing real-time data, AQI, and related reports.
CPCB Actions for Air Quality Management:
* CPCB has framed guidelines for financial assistance to encourage setting up of paddy straw based pelletisation and Torrefaction plants.
* Flying squads were deployed to assist CAQM for monitoring and enforcing actions against stubble burning.
* Directions issued for conversion of brick kilns to zigzag technology in Delhi and NCR.
* CPCB provides funds for retrofitment/upgradation of DG sets in government hospitals and has a system for emission compliance testing of retrofit emission control devices.
* CPCB teams conduct inspections of polluting industries, construction/demolition sites, and DG sets to check compliance.
Construction and Demolition (C&D) Waste Management:
* CPCB has published guidelines for environmental management of C&D wastes, dust mitigation, and disposal of legacy waste.
* Directions issued to SPCBs/PCCs for deployment of anti-smog guns and dust mitigation measures at construction sites exceeding 20,000 sq. meters.
Poultry Farms and Slaughter Houses:
* CPCB issued Environmental Guidelines for Poultry Farms (revised January 2022) addressing odour and solid waste management, circulated to SPCBs/PCCs.
* CPCB issued Comprehensive Industry Document on Slaughter Houses (October 2017) stipulating best practices for wastewater, air pollution, solid waste, and odour control.
Other Measures:
* CPCB provides gap funding to Delhi NCR ULBs for road construction/repair, anti-smog guns, mechanical sweepers, and MSW vehicles.
* The "SAMEER" mobile app provides real-time air quality data and facilitates public complaints.
Impact Analysis:
State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) / Pollution Control Committees (PCCs):
* Impact: Responsible for implementing and enforcing CPCB guidelines related to poultry farms, slaughterhouses, C&D waste management, and other pollution control measures.
* Action Required: Ensure compliance with CPCB guidelines and directives within their respective jurisdictions.
Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in Delhi NCR:
* Impact: Benefit from gap funding support for infrastructure improvements related to pollution control, such as road maintenance and procurement of equipment.
* Action Required: Utilize funding to improve infrastructure and services related to air quality management.
Construction Project Sites:
* Impact: Required to implement dust mitigation measures and potentially use anti-smog guns for projects exceeding 20,000 sq. meters.
* Action Required: Comply with CPCB guidelines on dust control and deploy necessary equipment.
Brick Kiln Owners:
* Impact: Those in Delhi and NCR are required to convert to zigzag technology.
* Action Required: Convert brick kilns to zigzag technology or face operational restrictions.
Public (Residents of Delhi NCR):
* Impact: Benefit from improved air quality monitoring, complaint mechanisms (SAMEER app), and enforcement of pollution control measures.
* Action Required: Utilize the SAMEER app to report air pollution-related complaints and stay informed about air quality through available data.
Key Entities Referenced
Delhi NCR: The National Capital Region of Delhi, a metropolitan area encompassing Delhi and surrounding districts from neighboring states.
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB): A statutory organisation under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, responsible for pollution control in India.
Anand Vihar Delhi: A residential area in Delhi, India, which also has a Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Station (CAAQMS).
Indirapuram Ghaziabad: A residential area in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, with a Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Station (CAAQMS).
Vasundhara Ghaziabad: A residential area in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, with a Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Station (CAAQMS) that serves as a nearby location for air quality monitoring of Kaushambi.
Patparganj Delhi: A residential area in Delhi, India, with a Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Station (CAAQMS) that serves as a nearby location for air quality monitoring of Khicharipur and Mayur Vihar PhaseIII.
Environmental Guidelines for Poultry Farms: Guidelines issued by CPCB in August 2021 and revised in January 2022, addressing environmental issues associated with poultry farms.
Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981: An Act of the Parliament of India to provide for the prevention, control and abatement of air pollution
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4099
TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.08.2025
Pollution in Delhi NCR
4099. SHRI LAXMIKANT PAPPU NISHAD:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) the details of air quality in the areas of the NCR-Delhi especially Kaushambi, Vaishali,
Indrapuram, Anand Vihar, Khicharipur and Mayur Vihar Phase-III along with data of
composition of air in these areas during the last one year, month-wise;
(b) whether the Central Pollution Control Board has taken any steps regarding air quality,
if so, the details thereof; and
(c) whether the Government has taken any steps to stop unauthorised poultry farms and
Slaughter Houses to prevent from unpleasant odour in the surrounding living area and
communicable diseases?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) and (b):
Air quality monitoring is being conducted through Continuous Ambient Air Quality
Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) at Indirapuram (Ghaziabad) and Anand Vihar (Delhi) and for
the air quality of Kaushambi nearby CAAQMS location is at Vasundhara (Ghaziabad), for
Vaishali nearby CAAQMS location is at Anand Vihar (Delhi), for Khicharipur and Mayur
Vihar Phase-III nearby CAAQMS location is at Patparganj (Delhi).
The month-wise ambient air quality data of year 2024 with respect to SO , NO , PM and
2 2 10
PM of these four locations (Indirapuram, Vasundhara, Anand Vihar, & Patparganj) is at
2.5
Annexure I.
Air pollution is a collective result of multiple factors including high level of anthropogenic
activities in the high-density populated areas in NCR, arising from various sectors viz.
Vehicular Pollution, Industrial Pollution, Dust from Construction & Demolition activities,
Road Dust, Biomass Burning, Municipal Solid Waste burning etc. Sector specific actions are
taken by the Government though various stakeholders. In this regard, various steps taken by
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) for air quality management is at Annexure II.
(c) :
To address the environmental issues associated with the poultry farms, CPCB issued
“Environmental Guidelines for Poultry Farms” in August 2021, which were further revised in
January 2022. The said guidelines address the environmental issues associated with poultryfarms with respect to odour, solid wastes management such as disposal of dead birds, Poultry
litter/manure etc. and control measures. The guidelines were circulated to all the State Pollution
Control Boards (SPCBs)/Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) for its compliance.
CPCB issued “Comprehensive Industry Document on Slaughter Houses” in October, 2017.
The document stipulates the best available waste management practices with respect to
wastewater, air pollution, solid waste, and odour control in slaughter houses. The proper
implementation of above said guidelines ensure proper environmental management and
prevention of communicable diseases due to poultry farms and slaughter houses in the
surrounding area.
******Annexure – I
Month-wise Ambient air quality with respect to SO , NO , PM & PM during 2024
2 2 10 2.5
(Concentration in µg/m3)
Concentration in µg/m3
CAAQMS Paramet Annual
State City
Location er Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Averag
e
SO 12 12 10 13 8 11 15 12 4 15 13 9 11
2
NO 91 61 49 48 47 41 34 26 32 57 64 70 52
2
Indirapuram
PM 319 200 157 215 277 213 99 68 110 230 254 214 197
10
Uttar Ghazi PM 132 66 44 55 70 57 36 28 43 105 137 142 76
2.5
Pradesh abad SO 13 15 18 31 21 12 3 4 10 22 13 16 15
2
Vasundhara
NO 55 53 47 64 47 32 24 22 22 41 76 67 46
(covering 2
PM 227 144 116 136 159 127 74 67 107 222 291 163 153
Kaushambi also) 10
PM 155 75 50 45 49 28 32 30 46 99 186 102 74
2.5
SO 15 18 24 27 26 17 15 13 10 20 14 11 17
2
Anand Vihar
NO 83 105 62 79 74 61 25 65 62 87 107 146 81
(covering 2
PM 404 337 225 281 333 289 135 128 234 500 542 359 320
Vaishali also) 10
PM 253 161 87 88 118 75 51 44 91 156 306 210 142
2.5
Delhi Delhi Patparganj SO 8 8 14 7 4 11 7 5 4 6 8 4 7
2
(covering NO 47 44 36 41 26 41 27 24 27 48 72 67 42
2
Khicharipur & PM 387 281 189 219 291 229 101 70 114 292 454 319 245
10
Mayur Vihar
PM
Phase-III also) 2.5 236 131 45 57 80 53 40 28 42 120 273 186 108
Note: Concentrations are based on CAAQMS data.Annexure II
Steps taken by CPCB for abatement of Air Pollution:
1. Air Quality Monitoring and Network:
Ambient Air Quality Network: The country has a network of 1524 ambient air quality
monitoring stations (558 continuous and 966 manual) covering 550 cities in the country
including Delhi and NCR cities.
A centralized air quality monitoring portal is operated by CPCB wherein, tracking of
various information such as hourly PM concentrations, Live Air Quality Data of
Monitoring stations and Live Air Quality Index is being carried out.
CPCB issues a daily report comprising of AQI, comparative AQI status, year-wise
trends of PM concentration, hotspots for the day, stubble burning cases, contribution of
stubble burning and meteorological forecast. This report is prepared based on the inputs
available from various sources such as India Meteorological Department (IMD),
System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), Indian
Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) etc., and disseminated through CPCB website.
2. Measures for control of emissions from Stubble Burning in Delhi-NCR:
CPCB has framed guidelines for providing one-time financial assistance for setting
up of paddy straw based pelletisation and Torrefaction plants which may help in
addressing the supply chain issues and the issue of open burning of paddy straw in
agriculture fields in Northern Region.
During stubble burning season of 2023 (10.11.23 onwards), 33 scientists of CPCB were
deployed as flying squads for assisting CAQM in NCR and adjoining areas for
intensifying monitoring and enforcement actions towards prevention of paddy stubble
burning incidents in 22 districts of Punjab and 11 districts of Haryana. The flying
squads coordinated with state govt/nodal officers//officers from respective districts and
sent their daily report to CAQM.
CPCB has deployed 26 teams (in 16 districts of Punjab and 10 districts of Haryana) for
the period 01st October - 30th November, 2024 to intensify monitoring and enforcement
actions regarding stubble burning. These teams are coordinating with concerned
authorities/ officers deployed at the district level by the State Govt. and reporting to
CAQM.
3. Measures for control of industrial emission:.
Directions have been issued by CPCB for conversion of brick kilns to zig-zag
technology in Delhi and NCR. A total of 3003 out of 4608 brick kilns have converted
to zig-zag technology including 1762 kilns in Haryana, 1024 kilns in U.P. and 217 kilns
in Rajasthan. Brick kilns not converted to zig-zag technology are not permitted to
operate.
CPCB has come out with System and Procedure for Emission Compliance Testing of
Retro-fit Emission Control Devices (RECD) for Diesel Power Generating Set Engines
up to Gross Mechanical Power 800 kW.
In order to control DG set emissions, CPCB also provides funds for retrofitment/
upgradation of DG sets in Govt. hospitals in Delhi-NCR and guidelines have been
issued in this regard.
4. Close Monitoring & Ground level implementation in Delhi-NCR:
40 teams have been deputed by CPCB since December 2021, to assist CAQM, for
conducting incognito inspections of air polluting industries, C&D sites, DG sets in
Delhi-NCR to check implementation status of pollution control measures andcompliance of other provisions of the Air (P&CP) Act,1981. A total of 18976 units/
entities/ projects have been inspected as on Nov 08, 2024.
5. Construction & Demolition (C&D) Waste:
CPCB published following guidelines (available on website of CPCB)
1. Environmental Management of Construction & Demolition (C & D) Wastes’ in
March, 2017
2. ‘Guidelines on DUST Mitigation Measures in Handling Construction Material
& C&D Wastes’ in November 2017.
3. Disposal of legacy waste by bio-mining and bio-remediation to address open
burning and landfill fires
CPCB has issued direction to all SPCBs/ PCCs for deployment of Anti-Smog Gun and
implementation of adequate dust mitigation measures at construction projects/ sites
having area more than 20,000 sq. meters. CPCB has issued guidelines/ mechanism for
use of anti-smog guns in Construction and Demolition projects.
6. Others:
CPCB is providing gap funding support to Delhi-NCR ULBs for Construction/ repair
of roads, Procurement of anti-smog guns, Mechanical road sweepers and MSW
collection vehicles.
CPCB has developed a mobile app i.e. SAMEER, where Real-time Ambient air quality
data of various parameters including AQI is also given. Sameer app also facilitates the
public in lodging of air pollution related complaints in NCR region and such complaints
are assigned to various local agencies.
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