Ambient Air Quality Standards in India

Ambient air quality refers to the condition or quality of air surrounding us in the outdoors.
National Ambient Air Quality Standards are the standards for ambient air quality set by
the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) that is applicable nationwide. The CPCB has been
conferred this power by the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.

Ambient Air Quality Standards in India

The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1981 was enacted by the Central Government
with the objective of arresting the deterioration of air quality. The Air (Prevention and Control of
Pollution) Act 1981 describes the main functions of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)
as follows:

 To advise the Central Government on any matter concerning the improvement of the
quality the air and the prevention, control and abatement of air pollution.
 To plan and cause to be executed a nation-wide programme for the prevention, control
and abatement of air pollution.
 To provide technical assistance and guidance to the State Pollution Control Board.
 To carry out and sponsor investigations and research related to prevention, control and
abatement of air pollution.
 To collect, compile and publish technical and statistical data related to air pollution; and
 To lay down and annul standards for the quality of air

The mandate provided to the CPCB under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act
empowers it to set standards for the quality of air.

The current National Ambient Air Quality Standards were notified on 18 November 2009 by the
Central Pollution Control Board.
Table 1: National Ambient Air Quality Standards

Pollutant Time Weighted Concentration in Ambient Air

Average
Industrial, Residential, Rural Ecologically Sensitive Area (notified by
and Other Areas Central Government)

Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), Annual* 50 80 20 80

µg/m3 24 hours**

Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), Annual* 40 80 30 80

µg/m3 24 hours**

Particulate Matter (size less than 10 µm) Annual* 60 100 60 100

or PM10 µg/m3 24 hours**

Particulate Matter (size less than 2.5 µm) Annual* 40 60 40 60

or PM2.5 µg/m3 24 hours**

Ozone (O3) µg/m3 8 hours* 100 180 100 180

1 hour**

Lead (Pb) Annual* 0.50 1.0 0.50 1.0

µg/m3 24 hours**

Carbon Monoxide (CO) mg/m3 8 hours* 02 04 02 04

1 hour**

Ammonia (NH3) µg/m3 Annual* 100 400 100 400

24 hours**

Benzene (C6H6) µg/m3 Annual* 5 5

Benzo(a)Pyrene (BaP)- particulate phase Annual* 1 1

only,
ng/m3

Arsenic(As), Annual* 6 60
ng/m3

Nickel (Ni), Annual* 20 20

ng/m3

* Annual arithmetic mean of minimum 104 measurements in a year at a particular site taken twice a week 24 hourly at uniform intervals.
** 24 hourly or 8 hourly or 1 hourly monitored values, as applicable, shall be complied with 98% of the time, they may exceed the limits but not
on two consecutive days of monitoring.
Source: National Ambient Air Quality Standards, Central Pollution Control Board Notification in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, New Delhi,
18th November, 2009

Prior to the November 2009 standards, India had set Air Quality standards on 11 April 1994, and
this was later revised on 14 October 1998. The 2009 standards further lowered the maximum
permissible limits for pollutants and made the standards uniform across the nation. Earlier, less
stringent standards were prescribed for industrial zones as compared to residential areas.
Further, a new National Air Quality Index (AQI) has been launched in October 2014 to
disseminate information on air quality in an easily understandable form for the general public.
The measurement of air quality is based on eight pollutants, namely, PM 10, PM2.5, NO2, SO2,
CO, O3, NH3, and Pb for which short-term (up to 24-hourly averaging period) National Ambient
Air Quality Standards are prescribed and the worst reading in these pollutants represents the AQI
for that city.

International Standards

The 2005 World Health Organization's "WHO Air quality guidelines" offer global guidance on
thresholds and limits for 4 key air pollutants that pose health risks - particulate matter (PM),
ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and sulfur dioxide (SO2).

Guideline values prescribed by WHO are

PM2.5 10 μg/m3 annual mean ;25 μg/m3 24-hour mean
PM10 20 μg/m3 annual mean; 50 μg/m3 24-hour mean
O3 100 μg/m3 8-hour mean;

NO2 40 μg/m3 annual mean; 200 μg/m3 1-hour mean

SO2 20 μg/m3 24-hour mean; 500 μg/m3 10-minute mean

National Air Quality Index

National Air Quality Index (AQI) transforms complex air quality data of eight pollutants into a
single number (index value), nomenclature and colour.

National Air Quality Index (AQI) was launched on 17 October 2014 to disseminate information
on air quality in an easily understandable form for the general public. The measurement of air
quality is based on eight pollutants, namely,

 Particulate Matter (size less than 10 µm) or (PM10),

 Particulate Matter (size less than 2.5 µm) or (PM2.5),
 Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2),
 Sulphur Dioxide (SO2),
 Carbon Monoxide (CO),
 Ozone (O3),
  Ammonia (NH3), and
 Lead (Pb)

for which short-term (up to 24-hourly averaging period) National Ambient Air Quality
Standards are prescribed. It may be noted that ambient air quality standards are specified
separately in India for around 12 pollutants including the 8 that constitute the Air Quality Index.

AQI has six categories of air quality. These are: Good, Satisfactory, Moderately Polluted, Poor,
Very Poor and Severe. The AQI values and corresponding ambient concentrations (health
breakpoints) for the identified eight pollutants are as follows:

AQI Category, Pollutants and Health Breakpoints

AQI Category (Range)↓ → Categories for the various readings of the pollutant based on the health breakpoints or health impacts

PM10 PM2.5 NO2 O3 CO SO2 NH3 Pb

24-hr 24-hr 24-hr 8-hr 8-hr (mg/m3) 24-hr 24-hr 24-hr

Good (0-50) 0-50 0-30 0-40 0-50 0-1.0 0-40 0-200 0-0.5

Satisfactory (51-100) 51-100 31-60 41-80 51-100 1.1-2.0 41-80 201-400 0.5 –1.0

Moderately polluted (101-200) 101-250 61-90 81-180 101-168 2.1- 10 81-380 401-800 1.1-2.0

Poor (201-300) 251-350 91-120 181-280 169-208 10-17 381-800 801-1200 2.1-3.0

Very poor (301-400) 351-430 121-250 281-400 209-748* 17-34 801-1600 1200-1800 3.1-3.5

Severe (401-500) 430 + 250+ 400+ 748+* 34+ 1600+ 1800+ 3.5+

*One hourly monitoring (for mathematical calculations only)

The AQI Index values and their associated health impacts are as follows:

AQI Associated Health Impacts

Good (0–50) Minimal Impact

Satisfactory (51–100) May cause minor breathing discomfort to sensitive people.

Moderately polluted May cause breathing discomfort to people with lung disease such as asthma, and discomfort to people with heart disease,
(101–200) children and older adults.

Poor (201–300) May cause breathing discomfort to people on prolonged exposure, and discomfort to people with heart disease

Very Poor (301–400) May cause respiratory illness to the people on prolonged exposure. Effect may be more pronounced in people with lung
and heart diseases.

Severe (401-500) May cause respiratory impact even on healthy people, and serious health impacts on people with lung/heart disease. The
health impacts may be experienced even during light physical activity.
Water Quality Requirement for Different Uses

For any water body to function adequately in satisfying the desired use, it must have
corresponding degree of purity. Drinking water should be of highest purity. As the magnitude of
demand for water is fast approaching the available supply, the concept of management of the
quality of water is becoming as important as its quantity.

Each water use has specific quality need. Therefore, to set the standard for the desire quality of a
water body, it is essential to identify the uses of water in that water body. In India, the Central
Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has developed a concept of designated best use. According to this,
out of the several uses of water of a particular body, the use which demands highest quality is
termed its designated best use. Five designated best uses have been identified. This classification
helps the water quality managers and planners to set water quality targets and design suitable
restoration programs for various water bodies.
Designated Best Uses of Water

Designated Best Use Class Criteria

Drinking Water Source without A 1.Total Coliforms Organism MPN/100ml shall be 50 or less
conventional treatment but after
disinfection 2. pH between 6.5 and 8.5

3. Dissolved Oxygen 6mg/l or more

4. Biochemical Oxygen Demand 5 days 20 C, 2mg/l or less

Outdoor bathing (Organised) B 1.Total Coliforms Organism MPN/100ml shall be 500 or less

2. pH between 6.5 and 8.5

3. Dissolved Oxygen 5mg/l or more

4. Biochemical Oxygen Demand 5 days 20 C, 3mg/l or less

Drinking water source after C 1. Total Coliforms Organism MPN/100ml shall be 5000 or less
conventional treatment and
disinfection 2. pH between 6 and 9

3. Dissolved Oxygen 4mg/l or more

4. Biochemical Oxygen Demand 5 days 20 C, 3mg/l or less

Propagation of Wild life and Fisheries D 1. pH between 6.5 and 8.5

2. Dissolved Oxygen 4mg/l or more

3. Free Ammonia (as N)

4. Biochemical Oxygen Demand 5 days 20 C, 2mg/l or less

 Irrigation, Industrial Cooling, E 1. pH between 6.0 and 8.5
Controlled Waste disposal
2. Electrical Conductivity at 25 C micro mhos/cm, maximum 2250

3. Sodium absorption Ratio Max. 26

4. Boron Max. 2mg/l

Below-E Not meeting any of the A, B, C, D & E criteria

Source: CPCB
A colour coding frequently used to depict the quality of water on maps
Blue water This water can be directly used for drinking, industrial use, etc.

Green water Water contained in soil and plants is termed as green water
White water Atmospheric moisture is white water

Brown or grey water Various grades of wastewater are shown by brown or grey colour

In India, CPCB has identified water quality requirements in terms of a few chemical
characteristics, known as primary water quality criteria. Further, Bureau of Indian Standards has
also recommended water quality parameters for different uses in the standard IS 2296:1992.

Water Quality Standards in India (Source IS 2296:1992)

Characteristics Designated best use

A B C D E

Dissolved Oxygen (DO)mg/l, min 6 5 4 4 -

Biochemical Oxygen demand 2 3 3 - -

(BOD)mg/l, max

Total coliform organisms MPN/100ml, 50 500 5,000 - -

max

pH value 6.5-8.5 6.5-8.5 6.0-9.0 6.5-8.5 6.0-8.5

Colour, Hazen units, max. 10 300 300 - -

Odour Un-objectionable - -

Taste Tasteless - - - -
Total dissolved solids, mg/l, max. 500 - 1,500 - 2,100

Total hardness (as CaCO3), mg/l, max. 200 - - - -

Calcium hardness (as CaCO3), mg/l, 200 - - - -

max.

Magnesium hardness (as CaCO3), mg/l, 200 - - - -

max.

Copper (as Cu), mg/l, max. 1.5 - 1.5 - -

Iron (as Fe), mg/l, max. 0.3 - 0.5 - -

Manganese (as Mn), mg/l, max. 0.5 - - - -

Cholorides (as Cu), mg/l, max. 250 - 600 - 600

Sulphates (as SO4), mg/l, max. 400 - 400 - 1,000

Nitrates (as NO3), mg/l, max. 20 - 50 - -

Fluorides (as F), mg/l, max. 1.5 1.5 1.5 - -

Phenolic compounds (as C2H5OH), 0.002 0.005 0.005 - -

mg/l, max.

Mercury (as Hg), mg/l, max. 0.001 - - - -

Cadmium (as Cd), mg/l, max. 0.01 - 0.01 - -

Salenium (as Se), mg/l, max. 0.01 - 0.05 - -

Arsenic (as As), mg/l, max. 0.05 0.2 0.2 - -

Cyanide (as Pb), mg/l, max. 0.05 0.05 0.05 - -

Lead (as Pb), mg/l, max. 0.1 - 0.1 - -

Zinc (as Zn), mg/l, max. 15 - 15 - -

Chromium (as Cr6+), mg/l, max. 0.05 - 0.05 - -

Anionic detergents (as MBAS), mg/l, 0.2 1 1 - -

max.

Barium (as Ba), mg/l, max. 1 - - - -

Free Ammonia (as N), mg/l, max - - - 1.2 -

Electrical conductivity, micromhos/cm, - - - - 2,250
max

Sodium absorption ratio, max - - - - 26

Boron, mg/l, max - - - - 2

Hazardous Waste: "Hazardous waste" means any waste which by reason of any of its
physical, chemical, reactive, toxic, flammable, explosive or corrosive characteristics causes
danger or is likely to cause danger to health or environment, whether alone or when in contact
with other wastes or substances.

Hazardous substances or contaminants in the municipal waste stream:

 Components of electronic waste such as cadmium and lead and PVC sheathing on cables.
 Household chemicals such as bleach, oven cleaners, mineral turpentine and paints.
 Products incorporating nano particules (nano sized ingredients) such as zinc and titanium
oxide in sunscreen and cosmetics and skin gel containing nano silver.
 Hazardous substances in the commercial and industrial waste stream (e.g., chemicals,
heavy metals).
 Hazardous materials in the construction and demolition waste stream (e.g. Asbestos).
 Outside those waste streams bi-solids, particularly sewage sludge, may be contaminated
by a range of household chemicals, heavy metals and pharmaceuticals'.

Improper disposal of hazardous waste may pose serious risks to human health and the
environment. For example, waste that is disposed of improperly may leach into the groundwater,
where they may cause long term contamination of a region's water supply. This may have
particularly serious consequences in agricultural communities, which depend on groundwater
aquifers for irrigation and personal consumption.
Contamination due to improper disposal of hazardous waste can also be harmful in urban areas,
especially slums, if untreated waste flows into open drains and enters water distribution systems.
At the same time, exposure to hazardous waste through consumption, inhalation of polluted air,
or through direct contact with skin may cause many acute and long term health risks. These
threats vary greatly depending on the type of hazardous waste at issue, but may include
carcinogenesis, reproductive abnormalities, and central nervous system disorders.

Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management & Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016
 The rules make state governments responsible for environmentally sound management of
hazardous and other wastes and mandate them to set up industrial space or sheds for
recycling, pre-processing and other utilization of hazardous or other waste.
 Producers and consumers of electronic goods have a responsibility under the E-waste
(Management and Handling) Rules 2011 to ensure proper disposal, but progress has been
slow for various reasons. Now the E-waste (Management) Rules 2016 provide several
options to manufacturers, such as collection of a refundable deposit and paying for the
return of goods to meet the requirements of law.
 The onus on garbage management would continue to be the responsibility of municipal
bodies, they would be allowed to charge user fees and levy spot fines for littering and
non-segregation.
 Making it incumbent on a wide variety of groups- hotels, residential colonies, large bulk
producers of consumer goods, ports, railway stations, airports and pilgrimage spots to
ensure that the solid waste generated in their facilities are treated and recycled.
 The new rules distinguish hazardous waste from others such as waste tyre, paper waste,
metal scrap and used electronic items
 India has banned the import of solid plastic waste, including PET bottles, as part of new
hazardous waste management rules that aims to prevent the country from becoming a
dumping yard for industrialized nations.
 Procedure has been simplified to merge all the approvals as a single window clearance
for setting up of hazardous waste disposal facility and import of other wastes.
 The state authorities have also been asked to register the workers involved in recycling,
undertake industrial skill development activities and ensure safety and health of workers.
 States must also submit annual reports regarding implementation of these rules to
environment ministry. This is because workers employed in unscientific hazardous waste
management practices suffer from neurological disorders, skin diseases, genetic defects
and cancer.
 The rules also mandates state pollution control boards to prepare an annual inventory of
the waste generated, recycled, recovered, utilised including co-processed, waste re-
exported and waste disposed.
 The following items have been prohibited for import:
a) Waste edible fats and oil of animals, or vegetable origin;
b) Household waste;
c) Critical Care Medical equipment
d) Tyres for direct re-use purpose
e) Solid Plastic wastes including Pet bottles
f) Waste electrical and electronic assemblies scrap
g) Other chemical wastes especially in solvent form.
Electronic Waste - E-waste Management Rules 2016

Electronic waste is discarded electronic or electrical equipment and devices. Used electronics
that are intended for reuse, salvage, resale, disposal, or recycling are also referred to as e-waste.
Informal or unorganized processing of e-waste particularly in developing nations can affect
human health adversely and also cause pollution of the environment.

As India is the fifth largest E-waste producing country in the world, aspirants should know that
E-waste is a term used for those electronic products which are near to the end of their useful life.

Some examples of E-waste are:

 Computers
 Televisions
 VCRs
 Stereos
 Copiers, and
 Fax machines
Classification of waste

 Biodegradable waste: These can be degraded through microbial activity. E.g: food
residue, human excreta, etc.
 Non-Biodegradable waste: Petroleum, plastic, glasses, etc.
 Bio medical: Needle, syringe, body parts, etc.
 E-waste: Computer parts, batteries, CFL bulbs, etc.

Sources of Waste

 Domestic waste: polythene, bottles, food, cotton, etc.

 Industrial waste

a) Food processing: Organic wastes, pathogens, etc.

 b) Paper: Chlorine, sulphur dioxide, methyl mercaptan, etc.

c) Textile: From boiling and processing of fibre

d) Petroleum: Inorganic sulphur, hydrocarbons, organic acids, etc.

e) Chemical: Phosphorus, fluorine, silica, etc.

f) Metal: Copper, lead, chromium, cadmium.

g) Cement: Particulate matter, dust.

h) Nuclear reactor: Radioactive waste.

i) Agricultural waste: Fertilizer, crop residue, pesticide (like DDT), fumigants.

Radioactive waste: X-Ray machines, nuclear plants, laboratories etc.

Municipal waste: Waste produced by public offices, parks, shops etc.

Electronic scrap materials like CPUs consist of possibly harmful substances like lead, beryllium,
cadmium, or brominated flame retardants. The recycling and disposal of such electronic waste
involve great risk to the workers and communities in developing nations. A lot of care must be
taken to prevent hazardous exposure in recycling operations. Care must also be taken to prevent
the leaking of harmful materials such as heavy metals from incinerator ashes and landfills.

E-waste Management Rules in India:

The Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Ministry (MoEF&CC) have announced the E-
Waste Management Rules 2016. These new rules replaced the earlier E-Waste (Management and
Handling) Rules of 2011.

The new Rules make for stricter norms and are a part of the government’s increased commitment
towards environmental governance.

Highlights of the new E-waste Management Rules 2016:

1. It includes CFLs or Compact Fluorescent Lamps as well as other lamps with mercury,
and similar equipment.
2. The Rules for the first time, bring producers under the ambit of the Extended Producer
Responsibility or EPR, together with the targets.
 3. Producers have been made accountable for e-waste collection and e-waste exchange as
well.
4. Additional stakeholders included are:
1. Manufacturers
2. Dealers
3. Refurbishers and Producer Responsibility Organizations.
5. Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) and other mercury-containing lamps have been
brought under the purview of the rules.

India’s Environment Ministry has notified rules targeting the wide range of groups like hotels,
residential colonies, bulk producers of consumer goods, ports, railway stations, airports, and
pilgrimage spots. This is to ensure that the solid waste generated in their facilities is treated and
recycled.

E-waste Management Rules 2016:

 Local bodies with a population of one lakh or above were supposed to establish solid
waste processing facilities within two years,
 Census towns below a lakh would be given three years to establish solid waste processing
facilities
 Old and discarded dump sites would have to be shut-down or bio-remedied within five
years.
 The rules on solid waste management have been amended after 16 years.
 Garbage management is the responsibility of municipal bodies, they would have the
rights to charge user fees and levy spot fines for littering and non-segregation.
 A transition period of two to five years would be in place beyond which fines would be
imposed as per the country’s Environment Minister.
Central Pollution Control Board Report

 Municipal authorities until 2013-14, have so far established only 553 compost and
vermin-compost plants, 56 bio-methanation plants, 22 refuse-derived fuel plants, and 12
waste-to-energy plants.
  By 2031, municipal solid waste is supposed to rise to 165 million tonnes and, if
unprocessed, would require 1240 hectares of land for disposal.
Approximately 62 million tonnes of waste are generated annually in India, of which only 11.9
million are treated, and around half i.e. 31 million tonnes are dumped in landfill sites.

Web-Based Application on Integrated Waste Management System

The application was launched by the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change in
May 2016. The purpose of the web-based application is to better manage the waste. The
application can also track the movement of hazardous waste and will also help in ensuring its
proper management.
Ganga Action Plan
The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) recently has issued a 15-point directive to
the 11-Ganga basin states to prevent idol immersion into river Ganga and its tributaries and on
their banks, including cordoning off the ghats.

 According to the directive, a fine of Rs. 50,000 would be imposed if immersion of idols
took place in the Ganga or its tributaries during festivals, including Dussehra, Diwali,
Chhath and Saraswati Puja.

o According to NMCG officials, the large-scale immersion of idols and puja

material in the Ganga and its tributaries during festive occasions led to
an alarming rise in pollutants in the river.

 The directive has been sent to officials of these 11 states namely- Uttarakhand, UP,
Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya
Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh.

o The Chief Secretaries of these 11 states have also been asked to submit
an action taken report within seven days from the end of each festival.

 These directives were issued by NMCG under Section-5 of the Environment

(Protection) Act, 1986.

Initiatives to Clean Ganga:

 Ganga is a trans-boundary river of Asia which flows through India and Bangladesh.
It is the longest river in India and is a lifeline to millions of people who live along its
course.

 Causes of Ganga Pollution: The main causes of water pollution in the river Ganga
are:
 o Industrial waste (dumping of various harmful & untreated industrial waste
into the river),

o Human waste (human activities such as bathing, washing clothes, etc.),

o Religious waste (religious bath, cremation near the ghats, idol immersion,
etc.)

Initiatives to Prevent Ganga Pollution

o Ganga Action Plan: It was the first River Action Plan that was taken up by
the Ministry of Environment & Forests in 1985, to improve the water quality by
the interception, diversion, and treatment of domestic sewage. It also aimed to
prevent toxic and industrial chemical wastes (from identified polluting units) from
entering the river.
National River Conservation Plan was an extension to the Ganga Action Plan,
so as to cover all the major rivers of the country.

o ‘National River Ganga Basin Authority (NRGBA)’ was formed by the

Central Government of India in the year 2009 under Section-3 of the
Environment Protection Act, 1986. It is chaired by the Prime Minister of
India.
It declared the Ganga as the ‘National River’ of India.

 In 2010, ‘Government clean-up campaign’ was started to ensure that by 2020 no

untreated municipal sewage or industrial runoff enters river.

o In 2014, ‘Namami Gange Programme’ was launched as an Integrated

Conservation Mission, to accomplish the twin objectives of effective abatement
of pollution, conservation, and rejuvenation of National River Ganga.

o The program is being implemented by the National Mission for Clean Ganga
(NMCG), and its state counterpart organization viz., State Program Management
Groups (SPMGs).
 o It is the flagship programme of the Union Government with a budget outlay
of Rs. 20,000 crore.

 The main pillars of the programme are:

Sewerage Treatment Infrastructure & Industrial Effluent Monitoring,

 River-Front Development & River-Surface Cleaning,

 Bio-Diversity & Afforestation,

 Public Awareness.

National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG)

 It is the implementation wing of the National Council for Rejuvenation, Protection, and
Management of River Ganga also known as National Ganga Council (set in 2016;
which replaced the NRGBA).

 NMCG was established in the year 2011 as a registered society.

 It has a two-tier management structure and comprises of Governing Council and

Executive Committee.

 The aims and objectives of NMCG are:

o To ensure effective control of pollution and rejuvenation of the river Ganga

by adopting a river basin approach to promote inter-sectoral coordination for
comprehensive planning and management.

o To maintain minimum ecological flows in the river Ganga with the aim of
ensuring water quality and environmentally sustainable development.

 Ganga Manthan- It was a national conference that was held in 2014 to discuss issues
and possible solutions for cleaning the river. The event was organized by the National
Mission for Clean Ganga.
  In 2014, Clean Ganga Fund was also formed for cleaning up of the Ganga, setting up
of waste treatment plants, conservation of biotic diversity of the river,
and development of public amenities (activities such as Ghat redevelopment, and
Research and Development and innovative projects). This fund will also be used to
finance National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG).

 In 2017, the National Green Tribunal banned the disposal of any waste in the Ganga.

Suitable alternative arrangements for idol immersion must be made in an environmental-

friendly manner in order to preserve and conserve both the religious beliefs & sentiments and
the environment.

The concerned authorities must ensure effective monitoring and strict enforcement of the
enacted rules and regulations.

Even though the government has claimed that significant progress has been made, the data
from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) from earlier this year (2019) stated that
water from River Ganga at several stretches is still unfit for direct drinking and bathing. So
proper auditing and reporting must be done to take relevant actions.
Air Pollution in Delhi

North India is reeling under a wave of severe air pollution accompanied with smog as at least 12
cities regularly recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 400 and above, falling in the severe
category.

Causes of sever air pollution in Delhi

 Growing population of the city -The pressure and haphazard growth of the population is
deteriorating the environment.
 There has been highly haphazard and unplanned development of industries and
factor Studies have revealed that only about 20% of the industrial units are set up in the
approved industrial areas whereas the rest of them are in residential and commercial
areas.
 There has been a huge rise in the vehicular population, despite the metro railways,
aggravating traffic congestion and increasing air and noise pollution. It has also been
reported that the number of vehicles plying on the roads of Delhi is more than that of the
three metropolitan cities of Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai taken together.
 There has also been an ever-increasing number of diesel vehicles plying on the roads,
which are largely responsible for the air pollution.
 It has been reported by the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute
(NEERI) that everyday almost 8,000 m tonnes of solid waste is being generated in
Delhi. Plus, we also have the industrial hazardous and non-hazardous waste. On an
average, every day, the MCDs and the NDMC manage to clear about 5,000-5,500 m
tonnes of garbage. This results in the accumulation of more and more garbage in the city.
 There has been no proper technology or methods to treat solid, liquid, waste water,
industrial and hospital wastes in the city.
 There has been too much dependence on fossil fuels like coal-fired power plants,
improper use of energy in buildings and the excessive use of biomass for cooking and
heating, etc.

Major reasons for extremely poor Delhi air in winters

  Burning of Crop Stubble – Burning of crop residue by farmers in Northern states of
Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh is considered as the prime reason for a spike in air
pollution during the winter months in Delhi and NCR. This is a traditional practice
followed by farmers in these states to prepare their fields for sowing crops after
harvesting their fields.
 Winter season - As the winter season sets in, dust particles and pollutants in the air
become unable to move. Due to stagnant winds, these pollutants get locked in the air and
affect weather conditions, resulting in smog.
 Burning crackers - Despite the ban on cracker sales, firecrackers are usually a common
sight every Diwali. It may not be the top reason for this smog, but it contributes to its
build up.

Health issues due to Air Pollution

 There is concrete evidence that air pollution leads to low birth-weight, tuberculosis,
ischemic heart disease, cataracts, asthma and nasopharyngeal and laryngeal cancers.
 New research has found that air pollution might also affect cognitive development.
PM2.5 are so small that when inhaled they can enter the bloodstream, and recent medical
research indicates that it can cause the degeneration of blood-brain barriers, leading to
oxidative stress, neuro-inflammation and damage of neural tissue.
 Air pollution is linked to diseases and infections that kill around 600,000
children under five years of age per year.
 A study even shows that about 2.2 million school children in Delhi are growing up with
irreversible lung damage which they will never recover.
 The number of premature deaths due to outdoor air pollution is projected to increase
from three million people globally in 2010 to a global total of six to nine million people
in 2060.
 The number of cases of bronchitis is projected to increase substantially, going from 12 to
36 million new cases per year for children aged six to twelve and from 3.5 to 10 million
cases for adults.
  Total welfare costs of air pollution in the world is expected to increase
from 3,160billionin2015to3,160billionin2015to18,300 – $25,330 billion in 2060 (as per
2010 PPP exchange rates).

Government initiatives taken to control Delhi Pollution

 There are mobile enforcement teams deployed at various locations for monitoring
polluting vehicles and vehicles not having PUC certificates.
 A Mass Rapid Transport System (MRTS) is being constructed with the aim of
providing a non-polluting, useful and affordable rail-based mass rapid transit system for
Delhi, integrated with other modes of transport.
 With a view to reducing vehicular pollution, there has been a ban imposed on the
plying of more than 15 years old commercial/transport vehicles, taxis and autos that
run on conventional fuels, including diesel driven city buses.
 There has also been tightening of mass emission standards for new vehicles.
 The quality of the fuel being supplied in Delhi has been significantly improved over the
years by the ban of selling leaded petrol, introduction of low sulphur diesel, reduction of
sulphur and benzene content in petrol.
 There has been regular placement of dustbins, purchase of additional front-end
loaders, mechanical sweepers, dumper placers, tipper trucks, to collect and dispose of
garbage.
 The biggest positive step taken by the Delhi government was to permanently shut down
the old, polluting Badarpur coal-fired power plant in the southeastern outskirts of
Delhi. The plant, a major cause of the Capital Region’s air pollution, had been shut down
every winter for the past three years to scale back pollution.
 The Centre constituted the Supreme Court-empowered Environment Pollution
(Prevention and Control) Authority or the EPCA, which is tasked with taking various
measures to tackle air pollution in the National Capital Region.
 Delhi government regularly comes up with emergency measures like Odd-Even
formula for vehicles to control rising pollution.
 Plastic Waste:

Introduction

 Unlike other forms of wastes like paper, food peels, leaves etc, which are biodegradable
(capable of being decomposed by bacteria or other living organisms) in nature, plastic waste
because of its non-biodegradable nature persists into the environment, for hundreds (or
even thousands) of years.

 Plastic pollution is caused by the accumulation of plastic waste in the environment. It

can be categorized in primary plastics, such as cigarette butts and bottle caps, or secondary
plastics, resulting from the degradation of the primary ones.

 Plastic Waste in India:

o According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), India generates

close to 26,000 tonnes of plastic a day and over 10,000 tonnes a day of plastic waste
remains uncollected.

o According to a Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry

(FICCI) study the plastic processing industry is estimated to grow to 22 million tonnes
(MT) a year by 2020 from 13.4 MT in 2015 and nearly half of this is single-use plastic.

o India’s per capita plastic consumption of less than 11 kg, is nearly a tenth of
the United States of America (109 kg).

Impact of Plastic Waste:

 Economic Losses: Plastic waste along shoreline has a negative impact on tourism
revenue (creates an aesthetic issue).

o For example, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, are under the plastic threat and
facing the aesthetic issue because of the international dumping of plastic waste at the
island.

 Implications for Animals: Plastic wastes have profoundly affected animals in aquatic,
marine, and terrestrial ecosystems.
 o Plastic ingestion upsets or fills up the digestive systems of the animals thus
contributing to their death due to intestinal blockage or starvation.

o Marine animals can also be trapped in plastic waste where they are exposed to
predators or starve to death.

o The plastics may also contain toxic chemicals which can harm the animal’s
vital organs or biological functions.

 Implications for Human Health: The chemicals leached from the plastics contain
compounds, like polybrominated diphenyl ether (anti-androgen), bisphenol A (mimics the
natural female hormone estrogen) and phthalates (also known as anti-androgens), impact
human health leading to various hormonal and genetic disorders.

o These chemicals can interfere with the functioning of the endocrine

system and thyroid hormones and can be very destructive to women of reproductive age
and young children.

 Land Pollution: Plastics leach hazardous chemicals on land, resulting in the destruction
and decline in quality of the earth’s land surfaces in term of use, landscape and ability to
support life forms.

 Air Pollution: Plastic burning releases poisonous chemicals into the atmosphere
impacting general well-being and causing respiratory disorders in living beings.

 Groundwater Pollution: Whenever plastics are dumped in landfills, the hazardous

chemicals present in them seep underground when it rains. The leaching chemicals and toxic
elements infiltrate into the aquifers and water table, indirectly affecting groundwater quality.

 Water Pollution: Many lakes and oceans have reported alarming cases of plastic debris
floating on water surfaces, affecting a great number of aquatic creatures. It leads to dreadful
consequences to marine creatures that swallow the toxic chemicals. In 2014, United Nation
report estimated the annual impact of plastic pollution on oceans at US$ 13 billion.

o Interference with the Food Chain: Studies determine that the chemicals affect
the biological and reproduction process resulting in reduced numbers of offspring thus
 disrupting the food chain.

o When the smaller animals (planktons, mollusks, worms, fishes, insects, and
amphibians) are intoxicated by ingesting plastic, they are passed on to the larger animals
disrupting the interrelated connections within the food chain.

 Poor Drainage: Drainage system clogged with plastic bags, films, and other plastic
items, causes flooding.

 Impact on Habitats: Seafloor plastic waste sheets could act like a blanket, inhibiting
gas exchange and leading to anoxia or hypoxia (low oxygen levels) in the aquatic system,
which in turn can adversely affect the marine life.

 Invasive Species: Plastic waste can also be a mode of transport for species, potentially
increasing the range of certain marine organisms or introducing species into an environment
where they were previously absent. This, in turn, can cause subsequent changes in the
ecosystem of the region.

Plastic Waste Management Rules

 These rules were framed in 2016 which extended the responsibility to collect waste
generated from the products to their producers (i.e persons engaged in the manufacture, or
import of carrying bags, multi-layered packaging and sheets or like and the persons using
these for packaging or wrapping their products) and brand owners.

o They have to approach local bodies for the formulation of plan/system for the
plastic waste management within the prescribed time frame.

 The rules have been extended to villages as well. Earlier, it was limited to municipal
districts.

 Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has been mandated to formulate the guidelines
for thermoset plastic (plastic difficult to recycle).

o Earlier, there was no specific provision for such type of plastic.

 o Manufacturing and use of non-recyclable multi-layered plastic are to be phased
in two years, i.e. by 2018.

 The 2016 rules were amended in 2018, laying emphasis on the phasing out
of Multilayered Plastic (MLP), which are "non-recyclable, or non-energy recoverable, or
with no alternate use."

o The amended Rules also prescribe a central registration system for the
registration of the producer/importer/brand owner.

o The amendment provided that registration should be automated and take into
account ease of doing business for producers, recyclers and manufacturers.

o While a national registry has been prescribed for producers with a presence in
more than two states, a state-level registration has been prescribed for smaller
producers/brand owners operating within one or two states.

Central Pollution Control Board

 The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) of India is a statutory organisation under
the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

 It was established in 1974 under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act,
1974.

 The CPCB is also entrusted with the powers and functions under the Air (Prevention
and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
Bhopal Gas Tragedy - [December 2, 1984] This Day in History

On the night of 2 December 1984, a gas leak at the Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL)
pesticide plant in Bhopal led to the deaths of about 4000 people and adversely affected the health
of lakhs of people. The disaster’s after-effects continue to this day.

1. UCIL was a pesticide plant which manufactured the pesticide carbaryl (chemical name:
1-naphthyl methylcarbamate) under the brand name Sevin.
2. Carbaryl was discovered by an American company Union Carbide Corporation (UCC)
which was UCIL’s parent company holding a majority stake. Minority stakes were held
by Indian banks and the public.
3. UCIL manufactured carbaryl using methyl isocyanate (MIC) as an intermediate.
Although there are other methods to produce the end-product, they cost more.
4. MIC is a highly toxic chemical and extremely dangerous to human health.
5. Around midnight of 2 December 1984, residents of Bhopal surrounding the pesticide
plant began to feel the irritating effects of MIC and started fleeing from the city.
However, thousands were dead by morning.

Effects of the Bhopal Tragedy

1. Initial effects of exposure:

 Coughing
 Feeling of suffocation
 Severe eye irritation
 Burning in the respiratory tract
 Breathlessness
 Stomach pain and vomiting
 Blepharospasm (abnormal contraction or twitching of the eyelid)
2. By the morning of 3rd December, thousands of people had perished due to choking,
pulmonary oedema and reflexogenic circulatory collapse. Autopsies indicated that not
only lungs, people’s brains, kidneys and liver were also affected.
3. The stillbirth rate went up by 300% and the neonatal mortality rate shot up by 200%.
4. There were mass burials and cremations in Bhopal.
5. Flora and fauna were also severely affected evident by a large number of animal
carcasses being seen in the vicinity. Trees became barren within a few days. Supply of
food became scarce due to fear of contamination. Fishing was also prohibited.
6. The Indian government passed the Bhopal Gas Leak Disaster Act in March 1985 which
gave the government the rights to legally represent all victims of the disaster whether in
India or elsewhere.
7. At least 200,000 children were exposed to the gas and they were more vulnerable owing
to their small heights.
8. Hospitals and clinics were flooded with victims and the medical staff was not adequately
trained to handle MIC exposure.
9. Lawsuits were filed against UCC in the US federal court. In one lawsuit, the court
suggested UCC provide between $5 million and $10 million to help the victims. UCC
agreed to pay $5 million. But the Indian government refused this offer and claimed $3.3
billion.
10. An out-of-court settlement was reached in 1989 when UCC agreed to pay $470 million
for damages caused and paid the sum immediately.
11. In 1991, Bhopal authorities charged Warren Anderson, the CEO and Chairman of UCC at
the time of the tragedy with manslaughter. He had come to Bhopal immediately after the
disaster and was ordered by the Indian government to leave. After being charged, he
failed to turn up in court and was declared a fugitive from justice by the Bhopal court in
February 1992. Even though the central government pressed the US for extraditing
Anderson, nothing came of it. Anderson died in 2014 never having faced trial.
Some point high lights:

1. In 2010, 7 former UCIL employees were sentenced to 2 years imprisonment and fined Rs
1 lakh for causing death by negligence. Most of them were in their seventies and were
released on bail.
2. The gas leak has significant long-term health effects because of which people who were
exposed are suffering till date. Problems include chronic eye problems, problems in the
respiratory tract, neurological and psychological problems due to the trauma. Children
who were exposed have problems such as stunted growth and intellectual impairments.
3. A 2014 report said that survivors still suffer from serious medical conditions including
birth defects for subsequent generations and heightened rates of cancer and tuberculosis.
4. The disposal of toxic waste lying inside and in the vicinity of the factory is still a
problem. The groundwater and the soil have also been severely polluted.
5. The fight for justice by the victims of this man-made disaster is still going on.
6. UCIL is now owned by Dow Chemical Company. UCC still maintains that the accident
was a result of sabotage by disgruntled employees.
7. It was reported in June 2020, that in the wake of the Wuhan Coronavirus pandemic,
survivors of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy and their children accounted for 80% of the Covid-
19 deaths in the city of Bhopal. As the virus targets those with weakened immune
systems, the fatalities would increase in the coming days.