Question raised in Lok Sabha on Degraded Air/Water Quality, 01/03/2016
Question raised in Lok Sabha on Degraded Air/Water Quality, 01/03/2016. Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in association with State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) / Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) is monitoring air and water bodies across the country under National Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP) and National Water Quality Monitoring Programme (NWMP). Three air pollutants viz. Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) and Particulate Matter (PM) of size less than or equal to 10 micron (PM10) are being monitored at all the locations. The air quality data for 41 major cities for the year 2015 indicate that all the cities were within the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) of 50 μg/m3 in respect of SO2, 9 cities exceed the NAAQS of 40 μg/m3 in respect of NOx, 38 cities exceeded NAAQS of 60 μg/m3 in respect of PM10. Out of 15 cities, 6 cities exceed the NAAQS of 40 μg/m3 in respect of PM2.5. The water quality monitoring of water bodies at 2500 locations across the country under NWMP indicate that organic pollution is the predominant cause of water pollution. Based on the magnitude of organic pollution, CPCB has identified 302 polluted river stretches in 2015. The river stretches are polluted mainly due to discharge of untreated / partially treated sewage and discharge of industrial wastewater.